Providence, Nebraska-Omaha, BU and North Dakota set for Frozen Four

Frozen Four preview: Jack Eichel and Boston University, NHL talent-laden North Dakota, Providence and Omaha-Nebraska battle for the national championship in Boston.

BOSTON — The original field of 16 whittled down, the puck drops on the Frozen Four at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday night. Semifinal action begins with Providence vs. Nebraska-Omaha (5 p.m. ET on ESPN2) followed by No. 2 seeded North Dakota taking on coveted NHL prospect Jack Eichel and No. 3 Boston University (8:30; ESPN2). The championship game will take place at TD Garden on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN).

Here’s a look at the teams and their players to watch:

No. 4 Providence Friars

Looking Out For No. 1: Jack Eichel is an NHL team changing talent

A few surprises in Central Scouting's final 2015 NHL draft rankings

NHL teams eyeing cream of college hockey's 2015 free agent class

Top NHL prospect Jack Eichel among 2015 Hobey Baker Award finalists

Prediction: This will be a game between bona fide powerhouses. North Dakota’s devoted fan base will be represented but the Garden will mostly be filled with red and white. No one has been able to stop Eichel, Rodrigues, and O’Regan to this point and that trend will likely continue. There should be a lot of open ice chances with both teams willing to take risks and that will make for a very busy night for O’Connor and McIntyre. But in the end, BU will light the lamp just enough to make it to the final. Terriers 5–4.