Strengths: Freshman goaltender Matt Climie has been red-hot as of late, allowing just two goals in his last four starts, a stretch punctuated by back-to-back shutouts to close out the CHA playoffs.

He’ll need to be every bit as good as his 1.69 goals-against average suggests if the Beavers are to shut down Denver’s high-flying offense.

Weaknesses: While Bemidji State’s non-conference schedule is tougher than those played by most of its CHA peers and has likely given the Beavers a taste of what to expect tomorrow, the squad’s lack of success against the nation’s premiere conferences is troubling. Tom Serratore’s bunch posted a 2-4-0 record against the CCHA—defeating Ferris State and Western Michigan—and an 0-5-1 mark versus the WCHA.

Key To Victory: Bemidji State will need to execute flawlessly if it is to have any hope of defeating the Pioneers.

Denver’s goaltending is steady, but nowhere near as deserving of respect as its offense, so the Beavers will have to clamp down in front of Climie at their own end, then hope to steal a goal or two at the other and pray that the bounces all go their way.

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Rebecca A. Seesel can be reached at seesel@fas.harvard.edu.