Saints To Host Icemen Tonight

Riding a three-game league winning streak, Harvard men's ice hockey (5-3-1, 4-1-1 ECAC) enters the weekend facing its two biggest games of this young season. The Crimson head to the North Country to battle St. Lawrence (6-5-0, 4-1-0 ECAC) and Clarkson (7-3-1, 5-0-0 ECAC), two of the teams residing at the top of the congested ECAC standings.

Harvard enters tonight's contest on a bit of an emotional high. Last Saturday's 6-4 come-from-behind victory at Bright Center over Ivy League rival Brown completed a season sweep of the Bears and solidified the Crimson team as legitimate ECAC title contenders.

Down 2-0 early in the Brown game, Harvard looked to its senior line of Tommy Holmes, captain Brad Konik and Kirk Nielsen for leadership, and was not disappointed. The seniors tallied four goals and four assists, leading the Crimson to five consecutive goals and a convincing win.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Canton, New York, Harvard will look to extend its league success, facing off against St. Lawrence. The rivalry has led to dramatic contests in Canton in each of the last two years. The Crimson scored in the last minute to tie the Saints and then put St. Lawrence away with a goal early in overtime in 1993.

Last year, however, Appleton Arena was not as kind to Harvard. The Crimson, down 4-3 in the last minutes of the game, launched a furious offensive assault which culminated in a last-second goal that apparently tied the game. The referee, however, waved off the goal because the net was dislodged. Harvard, obviously remembering that call, avenged that heart-breaking defeat by dominating the Saints 8-3 when St. Lawrence traveled at Bright in March.

St. Lawrence enters tonight's game on a bit of a hot streak. Last weekend, the Saints defeated both Union and Rensselaer in convincing fashion. Forwards Burke Murphy (17 points) and Paul DiFrancesco (14 points) lead the team. However, defense is a concern for the Saints. Goalie Clint Owen looks vulnerable, allowing nearly four goals per game.

In a Saturday matinee in Potsdam, New York, the Crimson will match up against the defending ECAC champion Clarkson. The Golden Knights the only ECAC squad yet to succumb to a league opponent. Clarkson also managed to tie Boston University earlier in the year. The Terriers are the No. 2 team in the nation.

Harvard split the season series with Clarkson in 1994. The Crimson defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 in overtime on the road, knocking Clarkson out of the No. 10 spot in the nation. Konik led the Crimson with a goal and two assists while goalie Tripp Tracy notched 29 saves. The Golden Knights, however, beat the Crimson in last season's final contest.

Dan Murphy has been impressive between the pipes for the Golden Knights this season. Murphy, who has started every game, is allowing only 2,52 points per game and is turning back greater than 91 percent of the shots fired at him. Todd White and Chris Lipsett key the Clarkson offense. White has tallied an incredible 22 points in only 11 games.