No. 7 DU takes on No. 18 Ferris State on Sunday at 3 p.m. MDT on ESPNU for the NCAA Tournament West Regional championship.

Every year it seems a No. 4 seed plays well enough to win a regional and reach the Frozen Four, and WCHA tournament-champion Ferris State could be that team this year. The Bulldogs edged top-seeded St. Cloud State, 5-4, in overtime on Saturday, while the second-seeded Pioneers thrashed Boston University, 7-2.

Here is a closer look at what DU is up against in the Bulldogs (20-14-6):

Offense: The Bulldogs score 2.73 goals per game (DU gets 3.23) and have a balanced, veteran-laden attack led by junior Gerald Mayhew, who tops the team in goals (15), assists (23) and points (38). No. 2 scorer Chad McDonald (25 points) missed Saturday’s regional semifinal due to injury and his status for Sunday is in doubt. Freshman Corey Mackin and junior Kyle Schempp each have 23 points for Ferris, which does much of its damage by pressuring opponents into turnovers or driving the net, and then cashing in. The Pioneers’ defensive core will need to be assignment sure and control any rebounds. All of DU’s centers are very responsible in their own zone, which should be a big help as well. Senior Simon Denis (7 goals) is the Bulldogs’ big threat to score from the point. Five of the top six Ferris State blueliners are upperclassmen.

Defense: Much like their offense, the Bulldogs are middle of the pack in terms of goals allowed per game (2.58, to 2.28 for DU). They have relied on freshman goalie Darren Smith (17-9-5, 2.21 goals-against average and .922 save percentage) for much of the season. He was outstanding at times against the high-powered St. Cloud offense. Ferris State likes to clog the neutral zone against more skilled teams, so the Pioneers might have to play chip and chase more than usual to maintain possession. That is unless DU is able to counter that strategy with its elite group of puckhandlers.

Special teams: The Bulldogs have a marginal power play (14.7 percent, bottom 25 percent in the nation). They are much stronger down a man, but while they kill nearly 85 percent of their penalties, St. Cloud State got back into the game almost solely because its power play was so effective against the Bulldogs’ PK. When Ferris has the man advantage, Mayhew (6 PPG), Schempp (4) and Denis and senior center Kenny Babinski (3 PPG each) do most of the damage. They have just two shorthanded goals all season.

@MagnessMayhem