Yale Still Perfect at Bright Hockey Center: Zero-for-Forever

Tensions ran high last night at Bright Hockey Center, as the 10,000 men of Harvard battled the sons of Eli.

The Yale Bulldogs (7-14-2, 4-11-1 ECAC) entered the game trying to escape their next-to-last league position, while the Crimson (8-12-2, 7-7-2) attempted to vault themselves out of ECAC mediocrity.

Harvard started the contest by killing an early penalty. The mandown unit, however, was not only successful early but often, as it killed off all six of Yale's power play opportunities, in a penalty-riddled and physical contest.

An early five-on-three for the Crimson did not result in any goals but gave confidence, as they had several quality looks at the net during the two-man advantage.

But soon thereafter, a Yale giveaway coughed the puck up to junior Doug Sproule, who spun around and hit linemate Craig Adams with a nice pass. The latter's shot was even better: a topshelf wrister which beat Yale sophomore goalie Alex Westlund.

Coming off the first intermission, Yale was quick to equalize.

Freshman Jeff Brow, who had just skated into the zone in front of his teammates, cranked a slapshot from the left face-off circle. With the defender screening the Harvard net, the accurate snipe beat Crimson netminder J.R. Prestifilippo, to his right.

The game, however, would not stay tied for long, as the Crimson came back to score two goals in quick succession at 9:43 an 10:24 in the second period.

Freshman Trevor Allman put the Crimson ahead on a dandy of a goal.

Sophomore Rob Millar skated up the boards with a Yale defender, and then dropped the puck to Sproule. With only one defender back, Sproule kept possession until the lone Bulldog was forced to play him.

Timing it perfectly, Sproule slid the puck across the crease to Allman who finished the textbook play by burying the puck.

"It was just nice rush up," Allman said. "I didn't think Doug saw me, so I gave a yell. He put a perfect pass right on my stick, and I had the empty net."

Shortly thereafter, Harvard junior defenseman Brian Famigletti tallied his first career goal. Keeping the puck in the zone at the right point, Famigletti paused, and seeing no defenders in his vicinity, let loose. His blast beat an unexpecting Westlund, as it sailed over his shoulder.

Now ahead 3-1, the Crimson seemed in good position to win, but an inability to finish off their prey was again demonstrated.

In a virtual repeat of his earlier tally, Yalie Jeff Brow narrowed his team's deficit. From the same spot, with a defender playing him and screening the Crimson net, Brow rifled another slapshot that again managed to squirt by his defender and elude Prestifilippo.

Two periods of strong play looked as if they might be lost by another third period letdown. This time, however, the letdown. This time, however, the letdown was not fatal.

Although the Crimson were outshot 13-8 in the third period and there were numerous anxious moments of loose pucks around the Harvard net, the Bulldogs would not equalize, and would not gain their first victory in Bright Hockey Center.

"I think this year's team is better than last year's team," Harvard coach Ronn Tomassoni said. "What that amounts to when it's time to go into the playoffs, only time will tell."