Twelve teams qualified for the tournament in the following ways: (Pool A) eight teams received bids as a result of being conference tournament champions from conferences that possessed an automatic bid, (Pool C) four additional teams received at-large bids based upon their records.
The higher-ranked of the two eastern quarterfinalists would play the winner of the final first round game.
In the First Round and Quarterfinals the higher-seeded team served as host.
Beginning with the semifinals, all games were held at the Herb Brooks Arena.
Note: * denotes overtime period(s) * Most Outstanding Player(s)