Once again the Harvard-Yale hockey series looms as the most equal contest in the entire athletic schedule. For the past two years the series has not been decided until overtime play of the third game and the records show an even greater equality this year than ever before. Yale has been proclaimed as the best team in the League by almost every sports writer in the East and by the Dartmouth team, even though the Indians received a worse drubbing from the sticks of the Crimson sextet.

But there doesn't seem any reason for such preference. In fact, as the season draws to a close, all indications point to a Harvard victory in this 35th series. Yale still has the game with Brown this evening, but the Bulldog should come through that scrimmage with no gain and perhaps an injury. Harvard easily drove the Bear back into its den to the tune of 7-2 although Coach Joe Stubbs had several of the Varsity men stay at home rather than tire them.

The individual records of the two teams in League contests show Rodd of Yale tied with Hovenanian, Hallowell, and Ford for first place with seven points each. Moore of Yale has six to his credit while his teammates, Shepard and Cooke, are tied with Moseley, Ecker, and Dartmouth's Captain Guibord with five apiece. Holmes is the next in line with four points to his credit.

While both teams have defeated Dartmouth and Princeton the Crimson skaters have rolled up 28 points to Yale's 19. Both sextets were scored on eight times. It is true that League games are not a thorough criterion, but Stubbs has been too careful of his men to allow them to play hard against other teams.

And this year Harvard has a great advantage in man power. Yale has only two presentable lines with one spare to fill in the gaps, while the Crimson will rotate three lines and still be able to throw in Dewey and Duffey as relief. It has been this fast turnover with constant rest periods that has allowed Stubbs to develop his furious attack. Hockey is the fastest game on the rolls and a large supply of replacements will swing the scoring in almost every case.

The Harvard lines have at last been established with Moseley leading Sam Callaway and Duffey in an attack that has overcome every opponent it has met. The "H" line will stay intact and is expected to show the same spirit which gathered in five of Harvard's six goals in the Yale game last year. Ecker, Ford, and Carr, the Freshman line of last year, have been restored to their old positions and have performed even better than they did as Freshmen.

Add to fill the cup to overflowing, Dick Dow has returned from a rest during the past couple of weeks after recuperating from an injury and so will be able to give Captain Bill Watts some experienced help. Thornton Brown has been substituting for Dow and making a creditable showing, but the return of Dow bolsters the defense greatly and will allow Watts more rest. The defense is the Crimson's weakest department but the few men playing there are good enough to at least equal the Eli contingent.

The eleven candidates for goalie have been pared down to three with Ash Emerson in the lead and sure to stay there. He has been scored on fewer times than the goaltenders of the other League teams but that is partially because he has been able to leave the ice while Reece and Waldinger have acted as relief. Reece was substitute for Paul deGive the last two years, and is still more capable than the average. Waldinger was Freshman goalie last year and will take over the Varsity job after Emerson leaves, but at present he is not quite seasoned.

The last Dartmouth game showed an immense improvement in all departments and was especially noticeable in passing and body-checking. Yale is reported to be sloppy on the stickwork and it is probable that the Crimson will be able to make points on intercepted passes.