Frozen Four: Five Players to Watch on Boston College

With the Frozen Four quickly approaching, some of the most exciting hockey during the NCAA season is just around the corner. In a do-or-die game, anything is possible. With Quinnipiac being ousted by Boston College in an overtime thriller on March 31, there will be a new national champion this year. 

With Boston College set to face Michigan, it will be a matchup between two of the top programs in the country. With both teams filled with star power, here are five players to watch on the Eagles.

The leading scorer in the nation this past season, the 2023 San Jose Sharks first-round pick has been a go-to player for the Eagles. 

Playing on one of the top lines in the country between Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, Smith has seven points in his last three games, including an impressive five point performance against Boston University in the Hockey East title game. 

While Michigan will certainly be game planning to try and stop him, Smith has the ability to make his impact felt in more than one way.

Smith navigates really well with the puck in tight spaces, drawing defenders in to create space around the net and in the slot for his line mates. He is always scanning the ice and does a great job at finding others through seams. 

While it is up in the air whether Smith will turn pro after this season, fans will no doubt be rewarded with a great game. If Boston College comes away with the win, it will be no surprise if Smith's name is all over the scoresheet. 

Coming off of back-to-back two goal games, Leonard is on fire and shows no signs of slowing down.

Another third of one of the top lines in the country, the Washington Capitals prospect is the driver that keeps his line going. Leonard never hesitates to drive towards the net and the corners to try and win the puck back. 

Leonard has the unique ability to get under the opposing players' skin like few other people in college hockey. With his fearlessness and never-back-down attitude, it will be no surprise to see Leonard mixing it up with the Michigan defenders and making life difficult for the opposition. Mix in his ability for timely goals, and he is certainly going to be one to watch.  

Few players in college hockey are as dangerous with the puck on their stick than Cutter Gauthier and he will look to use that to his full advantage against Michigan. 

The Anaheim Ducks prospect has been on fire as of late. In his last four games, he has scored five goals and collected 12 points, including a two-assist game against Quinnipiac that saw him get the primary assists on Adam Minnetian's goal that tied the game for the Eagles late in the third period.

The Wolverines are going to have to be weary whenever Gauthier gets the puck. While he may be known for his shooting mentality, Gauthier has great vision as well, making him a dual threat that will make Michigan players and fans alike weary when he is on the ice. 

The senior of out Marcellus, N.Y., has been solid for the Eagles all season long but his game has seemingly taken another step since the Hockey East title game. 

In the last three games, Powell has seven assists including two against Quinnipiac to send them to the Frozen Four. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect consistently makes smart decisions with the puck, remaining calm under pressure while assessing his options. He does a great job at walking the blue line in the offensive zone and can find teammates through traffic.

Michigan already have enough to handle with the Eagles' firepower up front without Powell. If the Wolverines allow him to play his confident, puck moving game, it be spell trouble for them.

Going back as far as his AAA days with Florida Alliance and Selects Academy, Fowler has been the epitome of consistency in net. 

The Montreal Canadiens prospect has been amazing all season long for the Eagles, currently sporting a 31-5-1 record to go along with a .924 save percentage. 

Fowler is almost rarely caught out of position, stepping up to challenge shooters in the slot and using his strong lateral movement to stay on pucks and not get caught out of position. 

While Fowler struggled against Quinnipiac, he has always rebounded after a difficult game this season and should be able to do the same against the Wolverines. 

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