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Tonight on NBCSN: College doubleheader teeming over with prospects

Chris Kreider

Friday Night Ice is set to have an explosive doubleheader on NBCSN tonight with up to 42 players that have been drafted by NHL teams.

No. 5 Boston College (16-10-1) kicks things off at 7:30 p.m. ET traveling to Burlington to take on the University of Vermont (5-21-1). BC is led by Rangers prospect, junior forward Chris Kreider whose 30 points is tops for the Eagles. Kreider’s had a feisty year scoring 16 goals and leading the team with 48 penalty minutes. The rest of their offense, however, is strong with undrafted senior Barry Almeida, junior Steven Whitney, and sophomore Bill Arnold (Calgary) leading the charge.

With junior defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Carolina) on defense and junior goalie Parker Milner there to keep opponents off the board, the Eagles are putting things together at the right time leading up to the postseason.

Dealing with a struggling Vermont team tonight led by junior forward Sebastian Stalberg, brother of Chicago’s Viktor Stalberg, as well as sophomore forward Connor Brickley (Florida) and sophomore defenseman Drew MacKenzie (Buffalo) on their home ice at Gutterson Field House might be a bit easier than expected. Vermont is coming off a weekend that saw them soundly humbled by No. 7 UMass-Lowell. If ever there was a team to get fired up for, however, it’s Boston College.

Nick Bjugstad,  Taylor Johnson

Minnesota’s Nick Bjugstad skates around St. Cloud State’s Taylor Johnson in the second period of an NCAA college hockey game in Minneapolis, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Bjugstad scored three goals. Minnesota won 5-0. (AP Photo/Janet Hostetter)

The Associated Press

In the night cap, a pair of ranked teams do battle in a potential Frozen Four showdown as No. 2 Minnesota (19-9-1) visits No. 14 Denver (15-9-4) (10:00 p.m. on NBCSN). Leading the way for Minnesota ( is Panthers prospect, and Team USA World Junior Championships teammate of Chris Kreider, sophomore Nick Bjugstad. With 21 goals and 33 points Bjugstad has been a monster for the Golden Gophers.

Bjugstad getting support from fellow Panthers draftee, freshman Kyle Rau as well as sophomore and Wild prospect Erik Haula has helped get the Gophers back into the national spotlight. Senior forward and Blue Jackets prospect Jake Hansen hasn’t been a slouch either. Goalie and Avalanche prospect Kent Patterson has the unenviable job of being the guy to carry the full load in net as he’s played every minute in goal this season. Things haven’t always been easy for Minnesota against Denver, however.

Denver comes in angry after not earning a win last weekend against rival Colorado College, especially after rattling off wins in seven of their previous eight before that (losing only in a shocker to Alabama-Huntsville). The Pioneers are led by Panthers prospect junior forward Drew Shore. Shore has been dominating with 17 goals and 40 points. Getting to team up with his brother, sophomore Kings prospect Nick Shore, has made life easier in Denver but the most dynamic player for the Pioneers might be Jason Zucker.

Zucker, a sophomore, is a draftee by the Minnesota Wild and a player we’ve seen playing great for Team USA at the World Juniors. With 14 goals and 19 assists he can do it all and when out there at all with the Shore brothers, coach George Gwozdecky’s Denver team is a dangerous one. They’ll all need to be on top of their game against the Gophers, however, as their top line will give them fits.