The Providence College Friars and Boston University Terriers play Saturday night at 7:30 on ESPN for the national championship.

Will the upcoming April 11, 2015 game stake claim as the most exciting Frozen Four title game played at TD Garden, formally known as the FleetCenter since its opening in 1995?

Not likely — but that’s for possible future debate.

Gather your gang of college-puck purists, crack a few cold ones, and make a final determination — if possible — about the better of the two national championships played on the TD Garden sheet.

Impartiality — again, if possible — is the key here. Boston College and Maine Black Bear fans need a pass in final voting unless an oath of objectivity is sworn in advance.

Here’s the unbiased summary of each for background reference.

And an unbiased but subjective opinion from yours truly.

Saturday, April 4, 1998 – Michigan vs. Boston College

BC was looking for its first title since 1948; Michigan its 9th overall, and first since just two years earlier in 1996. A sold-out FleetCenter crowd of 18,276 saw Michigan take down New Hampshire, 4-0, in the first semifinal Thursday; BC downed Ohio State, 5-2 in the other, setting the stage for Saturday’s final.

Kevin Caulfield got the Eagles off to an early lead at 4:19 with Hobey Baker winner Mike Mottau assisting. Michigan pulled even at 7:42 of the second period when he beat Scott Clemmensen with Bubba Berenzweig and Greg Crozier assisting. With a minute and half left in the period, Mike Lephart beat Marty Turco with Jeff Farkas and Bobby Allen assisting at 18:38 to give the Eagles the lead with 20 minutes to go.

BC kept that lead until 13:48 when Kosick struck again to pull the Wolverine’s even with Bill Muckalt and Chris Fox assisting.

That 2-2 score held firm to the end of regulation. BC’s Jamie O’Leary clanged iron before Josh Langfeld – at 17:51 — swung the net behind Clemmensen and jammed the puck under his right pad for the game winner in overtime.

Michigan 3, BC 2 in OT.

Saturday, April 11, 2004 – Denver vs. Maine

Denver was seeking its 6th title and first since 1969; Maine its third and first since 1999. A sold-out FleetCenter of 18,597 watched Denver take down Minnesota-Duluth, 5-3, in Thursday’s first semifinal; Maine beat Boston College, 2-1, in the second game, setting the stage for that Saturday’s final.

In the final game, the Pioneers’ Gabe Gauthier put the first goal of the game on the scoreboard at 12:26 when he beat Maine’s Jimmy Howard.

That would be it in a scoreless second and, ultimately, third period as Howard and Adam Berkhoel dueled shutouts the rest of the way.

But with 2:09 left, Denver’s Matt Laatsch took a penalty giving Maine the power play. Then 35 seconds later, Gauthier was called for delay of game.
Maine coach Tim Whitehead pulled Howard, giving the Black Bears a 6-on-3 advantage with almost a minute and a half remaining. Maine clanged a shot off the left post in that closing minute, but Denver held on in the frantic finish.

Denver 1, Maine 0 (It remains the only national championship game to end in that score.)

So, which is your choice? A penny and a half’s input here gives the nod to the 2004 Denver-Maine game.

There is something special about overtime in any playoff game, but a 1-0 regulation game also offers the added excitement to the very last second of regulation, especially with man-advantage situations. The other 1-0 affair at the Garden that immediately comes to mind is Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Final against Tampa Bay, won by the Bruins en route to their first Stanley Cup in 39 years.

(Bob Snow has covered the Frozen Four since 1998.)