Previewing Michigan at Minnesota with Mel Pearson, as well as the other first-round playoffs, plus NCHC, Hockey East runs to the finish: Game of the Week episode 21

JAN 26, 2018: Hayden Lavigne (Michigan - 30) The #6 Ohio State Buckeyes shut out the #20 Michigan Wolverines 4-0 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. (Rachel Lewis - USCHO) (Rachel Lewis/©Rachel Lewis)
Solid goaltending will be a necessary part of Michigan’s success this weekend (file photo: Rachel Lewis).

Four of six D-I conferences enter the playoffs this weekend. USCHO’s Game of the Week is Michigan at Minnesota on Saturday, the second night of a best-of-three series. Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger preview the game and series with Michigan coach Mel Pearson.

We also look at the race for position in Hockey East and the NCHC as well as playoff first rounds in the rest of the Big Ten, Atlantic Hockey, ECAC Hockey, and the WCHA.

This episode is sponsored by the 2019 NCAA Frozen Four, April 11 and 13 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour for more information.

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About the hosts

Jim Connelly (@JimmyConnelly) is a senior writer at USCHO.com and has been with the site since 1999. He is based in Boston and regularly covers Hockey East. He began with USCHO.com as the correspondent covering the MAAC, which nowadays is known as Atlantic Hockey. Each week during the season, he co-writes “Tuesday Morning Quarterback.” Jim is the winner of the 2012 Joe Concannon award. He a former color analyst for UMass Lowell hockey’s radio network and studio analyst for NESN.

Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) has been part of USCHO since 1999 and now serves as a senior writer and director of technology. He is the radio play-by-play voice for Rochester Institute of Technology hockey on the RIT Tigers Sports Network, and has been involved with the broadcasts as a producer, studio host, and color commentator since their inception. He is co-owner and president of broadcasting company Genesee Media, and was general manager of the former Rochester, N.Y., sports radio station 97.5 The Team.