BOSTON – Todd Jackson is still frozen in time.

But for 52 seconds that never seemed to elapse two years ago, the Maine senior forward would be playing for his second national title tonight.

But for a Minnesota miracle, only the University of Denver would be standing between Jackson and another championship.

When the Golden Gophers rallied from a 3-2 deficit to tie the Black Bears with those 52 seconds left and then stunned them in overtime, time stood still for Jackson.

“I don’t think that I’m over it yet,” said Jackson, who assisted on Maine’s first goal of that game. “It is a motivating factor. I think it’s helped drive our team. During the summer training workout we were thinking about that 52 seconds and what could have been. We’re fortunate to have another chance to win.”

Jackson is one of 10 players from that 2002 team who will lead the No. 1 ranked Black Bears into tonight’s NCAA championship game against No. 4 University of Denver inside a sold-out FleetCenter.

The Black Bears (33-7-3) seek their 11th-straight win and third national title armed with perhaps the best goalie in the nation, sophomore Jimmy Howard, and an air of invincibility in one-goal games (15-4, including eight straight in the postseason).

Their success in tight, low-scoring games, and their need to look back on one more moment frozen in time with a sense of joy, has them confident and poised for their ultimate test.

“We’re going to prepare for Denver and make sure that the guys know what to expect,” Whitehead said. “But at the same time, the most emphasis is put on executing our game plan and making adjustments during the game like we always do.”

Denver (26-12-5), owners of five national titles, hasn’t been to the championship game since 1973. Coach George Gwozdecky concedes his Pioneers have been away too long, and Maine is coming back too soon, for experience not to be a factor.

“I don’t think you can replace experience, especially experience at this time of year,” Gwozdecky said. “Maine has a big edge in it.”

On the other hand, the Denver coach added, the Pioneers have taken their cue from their loose and confident senior captain, Ryan Caldwell, “and I think his attitude has helped us prepare in a way that we’re not going to become overwhelmed by the magnitude of this event.”

Instead, Denver will try to overwhelm Maine’s tight forechecking style with speedy senior forward Connor James (13-24-37) and leading scorer Gabe Gauthier (18-25-43). Caldwell (14-12-26), the WCHA’s Defensive Player of the Year, makes big plays at both blue lines and lends toughness to help Denver match Maine’s trademark grit.

The Pioneers aren’t too shabby in one-goal games either, winning four of their last five (7-3 overall).

While Howard was the talk, though hardly the toast, of Boston Friday following his 40-save prime-time masterpiece in the national semifinal against Boston College, Denver goalie Adam Berkhoel remains in the shadows. He turned in a 23-save performance in Denver’s 5-3 comeback win over Minnesota-Duluth early Thursday afternoon and was the MVP of the West Regional.

Gwozdecky thinks that and the six shutouts his netminder has posted this year, tying him with Howard for second in the nation, put him on par with the Maine goalie.

“Jimmy has been terrific. The only game he’d probably like to have back in the playoffs is the Harvard (regional semifinal in which he was pulled after the second period),” he said. “Adam’s had a similar run with us. I think both guys are playing so well and they’re so confident.”

Two hot goalies, two confident teams. Only one takes the crown.

When the victor claims it, Jackson knows time will stand still again tonight.

“Personally, I came to Maine for this opportunity,” he said. “I had that two years ago, and here we are with another chance. With this program, anything less than a championship is a disappointment.”

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