Cinderella has arrived at the ball.

But if Northeastern doesn’t win two more games, the clock will strike midnight on the Huskies’ 2024-25 season.

As for the other three teams in the Hockey East semifinals – Maine, Boston University and Connecticut – no matter what happens in Boston, they appear headed to the 16-team NCAA Tournament.

The TD Garden will be rocking Thursday when No. 4 seed UConn (21-10-4) battles No. 3 Boston University (21-12-2) at 4 p.m. In the 7:30 nightcap, No. 9 Northeastern (14-19-3) looks to extend its season against No. 2 Maine (22-7-6).

Puck drop for Friday’s final is 7:30 p.m.

Northeastern made history when it knocked off Boston College, the nation’s top team, 3-1 on the road. The Huskies, who need to win the tournament to advance to the NCAAs, are the lowest seed to ever make the Hockey East semifinals.

BU has won 10 playoff titles. Maine has captured five crowns, but none since 2004. Northeastern claimed the 2019 title for its third championship. UConn has never won the playoff title.

Here’s a key player for each team. Two have famous brothers; all are crucial to their team’s success.

Cole Hutson, BU

At 5-10, 171 pounds, Hutson is not a physically imposing defenseman. But he makes a giant impact every time he jumps over the boards for the Terriers.

His older brother, Lane Hutson, starred for BU before turning pro and is shining for the Montreal Canadiens. The younger Hutson was named the HE Rookie of the Year and for good reason.

Cole Hutson

A native of North Barrington, Ill., Hutson has compiled a 12-27-39 line to lead the nation’s freshmen in scoring. He has four game-winning goals and led Hockey East with 21 assists. He was kept off the scoresheet during a quarterfinal overtime win over UMass, but the dynamic skater has pocketed six points over his last three games.

Washington used its second-round pick (43rd overall) to draft Hutson in 2024. So far Hutson is making the Capitals look very smart.

Taylor Makar, Maine

The transfer portal these days is more crowded than Times Square on a Friday night, but few transfers have made the difference of Makar.

After three seasons at UMass, where he tallied 15 goals and 22 points in 85 games, the senior has blossomed after transferring to Orono. His 16 goals and 28 points are second on the Black Bears, he carries a +21 plus/minus rating, and his six game-winning goals lead the team.

Taylor Makar

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound native of Calgary is the younger brother of Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar. Maybe he had to leave UMass, where his brother starred, to escape Cale Makar’s considerable shadow.

Whatever the reason for his emergence, the younger Makar, a seventh-round pick of the Avalanche in 2021, is someone Northeastern will have to be aware of whenever he’s on the ice.

Joey Muldowney, UConn

Hockey is not the No. 1 winter sport in Storrs. Not even close. But Muldowney is making the state’s puck fans stand up and take notice.

A 5-9, 160-pound sophomore from Lake View, N.Y., Muldowney collected five goals and 11 points as a freshman. But he’s exploded this winter. In 35 games, he has netted 24 goals and 42 points to lead the Huskies in both categories.

Joey Muldowney

He also leads UConn in plus/minus rating (+24) and game-winning goals (5). Muldowney’s been on fire down the stretch, netting four goals and six points over his last two games.

He powered his team to a 3-1 quarterfinal win over Providence. With the game tied 1-1, Muldowney scored 20 seconds into the third period and then added an empty-net goal to cap a three-point night.

Cameron Whitehead, NU

Other goaltenders have put up better numbers this winter in Hockey East than Whitehead. But he’s the major reason the Huskies defeated Merrimack in double overtime (44 saves in a 3-2 win) and then stunned BC (30 saves in a 3-1 win).

A 6-foot-3, 185-pound sophomore from Orleans, Ontario, Whitehead allowed only an extra-attacker goal against BC. BC’s top line of James Hagens-Gabe Perreault-Ryan Leonard caused nightmares all season, but Whitehead remained calm even when the Eagles pulled to within 2-1 late.

Cameron Whitehead

Whitehead has a .910 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average. His numbers as a freshman were more impressive and he’s the lone goalie of the four to sport a losing record. But Whitehead isn’t afraid of the big moment or the big stage, as he showed in leading the Huskies to last year’s Beanpot championship.

Whitehead and the Huskies will be underdogs against Maine, but if he turns into a human wall in net, Northeastern could make the championship game.