The No. 7 Pioneers (23-9-6) take on No. 12 Boston University (21-12-5) in an NCAA Tournament West Regional semifinal at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Time/TV/Radio: 4:30 p.m. MDT/ESPNU/1600 AM

Here are three keys to Saturday’s game:

1. Which top line plays better? We know about the Pioneers’ dynamic Pacific Rim Line of junior Trevor Moore (42 points), sophomore Danton Heinen (42) and freshman Dylan Gambrell (43). They’ve been superlative since the calendar turned to 2016, amassing 94 points in 22 games, 22 games in which DU has gone 16-2-4. Heinen has 28 points in a 16-game scoring streak. … BU’s top line, meanwhile, presents a sizable problem with senior Danny O’Regan (43) and freshmen Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (29) and Jordan Greenway (25). The 6-foot-1 Forsbacka Karlsson, like Heinen, is a Boston Bruins prospect. Greenway is 6-5, 230 pounds. The 5-10 O’Regan is a San Jose Sharks prospect. They’re supported by senior Ahti Oksanen (36), who scored twice in an Oct. 31, overtime victory over the Pioneers.

BU coach David Quinn: “I think they all bring something different to the table. Jordan certainly brings the size aspect to it. Jakob is a great two-way player and he’s responsible in all three zones. Danny is a dynamic player who is also responsible in all three zones. One of the things that all three of them do is compete around the puck. When you have three guys with that kind of talent who compete around the puck they possess it more times than not, they are more of an offensive threat. I think they can generate offense once the play is established in the offensive zone, but I also think they have the ability to create offense off transition, I think that’s hard to do at any level. When you’ve got the ability to generate offense off transition and establish a half-court game it makes for a very dangerous line.”

2. Who gets the better of special teams? The Terriers have a good power play (21.4 percent), one that has shown much better than the Pioneers’ (17 percent). The penalty kills are comparable. DU wasn’t especially strong in either department in the 5-4 overtime loss in October, but Quentin Shore did score a game-tying goal shorthanded. DU’s defensive core, which has improved considerably since the first meeting, will have its hands full with the 6-5 Greenway, the 6-3 Oksanen and several more forwards who are 6-1 and in the 200-pound neighborhood.

DU coach Jim Montgomery: “We know every team deserves to be here. We played BU earlier in the year and they are a quality hockey team. We know it’ll be a tight game, it’ll be whoever wins the one on one battles and executes on special teams that is going to prevail tomorrow.”

3. Who plays with more urgency from the puck drop? DU fell behind in the first meeting and spent much of the game trying to catch up. The Pioneers have gone 1-4-3 when trailing after one period and 2-6-1 when down after two. However, if they’re tied or leading, they can, and usually do, finish off foes (they’ve lost just once when leading after one or two periods all season). BU also knows how to seal the deal, and it’s stronger at coming back if it falls behind early  (5-5-1 when down after one).

So who wins? DU is playing so much better than it was to start the year. BU also has played well, going 12-6-2 in the new year, and like DU is part of a power conference. I think the Pioneers will win if they can avoid a poor start like the one they had against St. Cloud State last weekend. However, If they’re playing catchup all game the result could mirror October’s.

For a more in-depth look at the matchup, check out Mayhem’s early look