Harvard came within a couple of goals of losing to another mediocre team last night, but the Crimson avoided sinking further into the doldrums with a third period surge, and nipped Dartmouth, 5-4.

Coach Cooney Weiland's experimental shift of Joe Cavanagh back to defense failed for two periods as Cavanagh played unimpressively and shared the responsibility for Dartmouth's first goal.

Weiland shelved his line-up changes in the third period and the Crimson rewarded him with two goals in the first 1:16 of the period.

It took the first line nine seconds to celebrate its reunion with a goal, breaking a 2-2 tie on Dan DiMichele's 20-foot slapshot with assists to Cavanagh and Cooch Owen.

The second line took over and scored a minute later as Billy Corkery whipped home a wrist shot after a scramble in front of the net.

Dartmouth surprised the fans by not falling apart after the Harvard flurry. The Big Green came right back, capitalizing on a Crimson penalty with a perfect power play goal.

Joe Cavanagh stretched the lead back to two goals with a short-handed goal, but Dartmouth again retaliated on a power play, this time with only 1:36 remaining in the game.

Harvard survived the final seconds, although not without offering the Indians a few chances to send the game into overtime.

Revamped Flop

Harvard was supposedly geared to come out flying in the first period with a revamped, aggressive fore-checking system. Instead the Crimson handed Dartmouth a goal in the first minute of play.

Defensemen Cavanagh and Doug Elliott both went after the puck in the corner, leaving a Dartmouth wing wide open in front. Indian Fred Rigall took a centering pass and methodically popped the puck past Durno, giving Dartmouth a 1-0 lead and Weiland some second thoughts.

Harvard managed to come back as Tommy Paul steered Bobby McManama's puck into the Dartmouth net, but the Crimson could only manage to miss numerous scoring opportunities for the rest of the period.

Dartmouth stayed even with Harvard in the second period as well, and actually outshot the Crimson while trading goals. Dave Jones put Harvard ahead with a screened shot from the point, but once again the Crimson left a Dartmouth player open to take a clear shot, and the Green capitalized to tie it up.

Harvard did not play as badly as a 5-4 win over Dartmouth indicates. The line-up changes proved fruitless; but the Crimson did skate fairly well, although it blew numerous scoring chances.

And despite its 4-12 record in Division I play. Dartmouth played well, refusing to fold in the third period and thoroughly testing Durno with 31 shots, many of them from point-blank range.