Quinnipiac vs. Merrimack prediction and game preview - March 24, 2023 | NCAA Hockey

The NCAA tournament is back in action today as Quinnipiac and Merrimack face off in the NCAA Bridgeport Regional Semifinal. The Bobcats enter the game as the one seed in the Bridgeport Regional outside of the ECAC. Meanwhile, Merrimack enters out of the Hockey East conference as an at-large bid after losing the conference final.

Quinnipiac and Merrimack set to face off in first round of the NCAA Allentown Regional

Both of these teams have been red hot all season. First, Quinnipiac. The Bobcats had only lost three games in the regular season until the ECAC tournament, where they were shocked by the ECAC Cinderella story, Colgate.

Quinnipiac could have had the top overall seed in the entire tournament if they had conquered Colgate and Harvard after. Instead, they will have to settle for the third number one seed in the tournament.

The Merrimack Warriors have been red hot as well. The Warriors won seven games in a row, leading into the Hockey East Final where they were defeated by only a goal by the Boston Terriers. The Warriors will look to get back to their winning ways in the NCAA Tournament by taking down one of the top seeds in the entire tournament.

The Warriors have several players with NHL talent, including forward Alex Jefferies, who was picked by the New York Islanders in the fourth round in 2020. Defenseman Slava Demin was also selected in the fourth round, but in 2018 by the Vegas Golden Knights. Finally, goaltender Hugo Ollas was a seventh-round selection by the New York Rangers in 2020. Jefferies is well-ahead for the team lead in points and is tied with Matt Capponi and Ben Brar for the team lead in goals.

The Bobcats have NHL talent as well. Carolina Hurricanes legend Rod Brind’Amour’s son Skylar was taken in the sixth round by the Edmonton Oilers in 2017. Goaltender Chase Clark was selected in the sixth round in 2021 by the Washington Capitals. Collin Graf leads the team in points with 55, as well as goals with 20.

In net, the Bobcats have leaned on Yaniv Perets all season, and he’s delivered. The sophomore owns a .929 save percentage and a 1.52 GAA as one of the best statistical goaltenders in the NCAA. The Warriors have evenly split time between Hugo Ollas and Zachary Borgiel, and both have save percentages in the high .910s.

Prediction: Quinnipiac may have less NHL talent, but they’re young and hungry as a team. The last time Quinnipiac was a major player in the tournament was the last time it was in Tampa, when they lost to North Dakota in the NCAA Frozen Four Final. Merrimack’s Cinderella story ends here- Bobcats 4-1.

The winner of the game will play the winner of the other NCAA Bridgeport regional game between Harvard and Ohio State.