Freeze frame

So a couple of days before the NCAA Northeast Regional March 28, Higgins was given a cortisone shot, and it made a world of difference. In the nine games leading up to the regionals, the Lynnfield, Mass., native had one goal and seven assists. In the three games since, Higgins has 7 points, including 4 against Vermont in BU's 5-4 Frozen Four semifinal victory at the Verizon Center.

Higgins's performance, which tied a career high, is one reason the Terriers advanced to tonight's NCAA championship game against Miami University. BU is seeking its first national title since 1995 and fifth overall.

Although center Colin Wilson scored the deciding goal against the Catamounts with 5:41 remaining, Higgins tallied the tying goal with 6:54 left and assisted on the winner.

"Our line wouldn't be the same line without him," said Wilson. "What he brings to the table, he's a great playmaker. When he is really on, he's making those great plays to

Jason Lawrence back door just getting it to the net. He really looks out for that puck and he can dangle on there, too. He's a great player."

For several weeks, Higgins said, it was hard not to get discouraged because he wasn't able to hold his stick normally. The injury was to his top hand, and every time he would grip the stick, it would pressure the exact spot of the break.

"It was a little tough. It definitely got me down because we were having such a great run," said Higgins. "The most important time is the playoffs, and to have that nagging injury, it was kind of tough, but I knew I had to battle through it and kind of suck it up and play good for my teammates so I could give them everything I have."

In the last three games, it's been a relief to get back to playing the way he knows he can.

"It's been feeling much better ever since [the cortisone shot]," Higgins said. "That weekend, I felt for the first time in a few weeks that I was back to myself. I was pain-free and I felt like myself again. I feel 100 percent out there. I rely a lot on being a playmaker and being clever and using my hands. So it was definitely tough. Some practices, I'd go out there and I couldn't even shoot. I could barely pass because there was so much pain. But everything has been going good since the cortisone shot, so it's one game left and I'm feeling pretty healthy, so I'm excited."

One reason Higgins said he chose BU was its rich tradition. This season, the Terriers have done nothing but win. Heading into tonight, they have captured the IceBreaker Tournament, the Denver Cup, the Beanpot, the Hockey East title - both regular season and postseason - and now they are gunning for the most important prize of all.

Coach Jack Parker said having Higgins back to his old self was a boon for the team as well as Higgins's linemates. He said it's no coincidence the 22-year-old came up so big when it counted the most. Although other Terriers receive more recognition, Higgins leads all active Hockey East players with 132 career points.

"He doesn't go unnoticed in the fact that he's very, very flashy and very, very clever and he makes some highlight goals once in a while," said Parker. "He certainly doesn't go unnoticed because of the amount of points he puts up, but there have been times during the course of his career where injuries have kept him out of having a fabulous year. He's just coming back from a nagging injury. He was having a great year in his senior year until that happened. And he went for about a month, maybe a month and a half of not playing up to his capabilities just because his stick was not useful to him anymore. I think he's just coming back to feeling real comfortable. He feels much better with the stick in his hand. I think that has given him a chance to start to excel again. He's been a key guy for us."