Cornell vs Boston Prediction & Game Preview - March 25, 2023 | NCAA Hockey

The NCAA Hockey Tournament is heating up, and this afternoon one of the two teams will try to make their claim for a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four. The Cornell Big Red and the Boston Terriers will face off for the Manchester Regional Final, with the winner heading to Tampa Florida for a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four.

Boston and Cornell showdown in NCAA Manchester Regional Final

The Cornell Big Red are coming off of a monumental win in the regional semifinals. The #4 seed upset NCHC champion, #1 seed and defending national champion Denver 2-0.

Boston (#2 seed) took down Western Michigan in dominating fashion on Thursday, dismantling them by a score of 5-1.

Jack O’Leary was huge for the Big Red in their upset of the Pioneers. O’Leary scored the game’s opening goal just three minutes into the game, going across the crease to score on Magnus Chrona. O’Leary was a major part of the second goal as well, freeing the puck on the board to make a backhand pass to Ben Berard out front.

Cornell’s Ian Shane was electric in the net, stopping all 27 shots from the Denver Pioneers’ elite NHL level attack. He’ll have to be counted upon again against the Boston Terriers.

The Boston Terriers were able to put points on the board against Western Michigan from all over the ice. Lane Hutson put the Tarriers up by a goal in the first period, then in the second, his brother Quinn lit the lamp. Matt Brown, Wilmer Skoog, and Ethan Phillips all added to the lead before the final horn.

Terriers goalie Drew Comesso was feeling it in the net as well. The Boston Netminder stopped all but one of the 24 shots sent his way. The second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020 is looking to continue his hot streak against the Big Red.

Cornell vs Boston: Prediction

The scary thing for Cornell is the amount of sheer NHL talent going against them. The Terriers have 10 skaters that were taken in the fourth round of the NHL draft or higher. These include 2018 Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick Jay O’Brien and 2022 Chicago Blackhawks second-rounder Jay Greene.

On paper, Cornell shouldn't be able to match the sheer talent being brought by the Terriers. But this game isn't going to be played on paper and the draft means nothing on the NCAA ice.

The Cornell story should come to an end here, but that’s what they said when they went up against the Denver Pioneers. Cornell plays a defensive style of hockey, which will benefit them again.

Score: Cornell 2-1 Boston.