Editor's note: Bob Daniels is the head coach at Ferris State, which recently faced both Michigan and Minnesota.

Style of play
These teams are very similar, and when you see one play, you can't help but think of the other.

	Stats Class
	April 10 ESPN2 6 ET
	Record	30-9-3	26-8-9
	Last 10	7-1-2	8-0-2
	Road/Neutral	12-7-3	12-4-3
	Goals/Game	3.93	4.21
	GAA	2.38	2.77
	Power Play	.221 (49-222)	.254 (62-244)
	Penalty Kill	.889 (23-208)	.801 (38-191)

Both Michigan and Minnesota are very similar in the respect that they are very aggressive teams. Both squads are excellent skating teams, both squads attack very well, both squads have two lines with excellent goal-scoring ability.

They are aggressive teams, and have a number of players that can really wheel around the ice. Michigan is also very physical - the Wolverines forecheck hard, are not hesitant on the penalty kill and they like to crash the net. It reminds me a lot of Minnesota. Both attack very well.

So what will be the difference?

Strengths
Michigan
The edge for the Wolverines will be in net with freshman goaltender Al Montoya. He has been more consistent during the season, and when we faced him, we had to work real hard to get goals. Montoya has good size (6-2, 195 pounds), he's athletic, he's technically solid and he's aggressive. What is most impressive is he plays the puck so well with strong passes and good decisions. He's a real asset to his team in breaking the puck out. Sure, there's a risk because a goalie is prone to make turnovers, but since he's able to get back in net so quickly and able to make plays, it pays off.

Minnesota
The edge for the Golden Gophers is the mobility of their defense. Their roster is six deep in defensemen. The unit is very mobile and really good at holding their blue line. It is very difficult to get into their zone with control of the puck. And since they are so active, it's tough to generate speed against them in the neutral zone, where they often create turnovers and create transitional opportunities. Even when they are in the offensive zone, they are active. Any of them will come down from the blue line, and the forwards know it and can find the defensemen on the back door. And if they do turn it over, it's hard to come back against them up ice.

Plan of attack
Michigan
First, you have to stay out of the penalty box. The Wolverines have too many good offensive players, so you don't want to put them on the power play.

Minnesota
You can't over handle the puck against their defensemen in the neutral zone, almost excepting the fact that you can't carry the puck into their own end. The Wolverines will have to either dump or chip the puck past the Golden Gophers' defense and out chase them back to the puck.

Standout players
Michigan
They have a lot of very good players, but the guy that really is the key is senior forward Jed Ortmeyer. He's just a dynamite hockey player. As much as he means on the ice, he's that much of a leader for them beyond the playing. He's the key component in the locker room. It all starts there.

Minnesota
Maybe not one player, but one line. The Golden Gophers' second line with Gino Guyer centering Grant Potulny and Barry Tallackson becomes so critical in a game like this. Not that the top line of Thomas Vanek-Matt Koalska-Troy Riddle doesn't create opportunities, but we were very impressed with their second line. That second line might have been more dominant at times, especially at 5-on-5.

Coaches' preparation
Michigan's Red Berenson
Over the years, Red has been involved in a number of big games -- as a player in the NHL and as a college hockey coach. He's been in these situations, he knows exactly how to prepare his team. He'll make sure they're ready. He'll allow the emotions to work for his team, but harness that emotion so that it won't go against his players.

Minnesota's Don Lucia
He's obviously got his program believing that this is their time of year. This is when the Golden Gophers peak. Even more important, he's got the team ready to play when they hit the playoffs. Even if it's not there in the beginning of the season, toward the end of the year there is confidence within the program.