M. Hockey Avoids Back-to-Back Setbacks

Just call them the comeback kids.

Bouncing back after a loss is something the Harvard men’s hockey team has already figured out how to do this season. After each of its three losses this season, Harvard has responded with a win in the next contest.

After a 3-0 loss to Boston University last Tuesday, Harvard was hoping to avoid losing two in a row, as well as continue its dominance of conference opponents.

With a home sweep of Union and RPI, the Crimson accomplished both.

Gotta Keep ’em Separated

Given the lack of even-strength minutes this weekend, Harvard needed its penalty killing units to be well above-par.

What began as a relatively clean game through the first two periods Friday night—with four Union penalties and six for Harvard—digressed into messiness for much of the third frame. The teams combined for a grand total of 48 penalty minutes, 38 of which originated from a single scuffle that happened with 10 minutes remaining.

Harvard did a better job staying out of the box on Saturday with just 16 minutes in penalties.

“Believe me, we talk about not taking penalties but we also talk a great deal about trying to be aggressive at all times,” Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni said.

Not N’Sync

The high number of penalties was made more unbearable by the choice of accompanying music—the theme from Law and Order on Friday night and the Diana King classic “Bad Boys” on Saturday. Though clever and amusing the first time, the ditties became irritating when the penalty numbers hit double digits.

Saturday’s music selection was a departure from Friday’s onslaught of “Three Blind Mice” and “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” But even timely Offspring and Queen selections could not redeem the fact that a Chumbawumba song was played twice.

Whoever thought fans would be calling for the Harvard band?

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

In the ever-changing Crimson lineup, few spots are certain, especially with Harvard’s depth.

The Crimson’s fourth line tallied a goal against Union from sophomore center Brendan Bernakevitch that was assisted by freshman winger Dan Murphy.

After his absence from the lineup Friday night, sophomore winger Andrew Lederman shifted to the second line against RPI and contributed an assist while serving on the second power-play unit.

—Staff writer Jessica T. Lee can be reached at lee45@fas.harvard.edu.