There were two prerequisites to a Harvard victory last night--keeping B.U.'s power play off the ice and getting an errorless game from goalie Joe Bertagns. Harvard fulfilled neither, and B.U. put together three power play goals to beat Harvard, 3-1, avoiding a repetition of last year's ECAC upset to the Crimson.

Aided by two man-up situations. Harvard held a slight territorial edge in a slow, tight-checking first period, but predictably, the Crimson's first penalty caused a B.U. goal. The B.U. power play was in its usual awesome shape, running Harvard penalty killers Dave Cavanagh and ex-J.V. player Greg Driscoll all over the ice. Driscoll had moved up to replace Leif Rosenberger, whose third line status has been restored because of Bob Goodenow's injured ankle.

B.U. captain Jake Danby picked up the Terrier's goal, wheeling past a Harvard defenseman and ripping home a 20-footer from the slot at 17:30.

Harvard's second penalty provided B.U.'s second goal. B.U. was not a man short, with Bob Murray in the box, but Bertagna compensated for the absence of a fifth skater by blowing a 60 foot slap shot off the stick of Danby at 9:45.

Harvard's third penalty provided B.U.'s third goal and Danby's hattrick. Bob Brown, B.U.'s baby-faced gangster defenseman who leads the Terrier's in scoring, cut loose a murderous slap shot and Danby deflected it home to make it 3-0, at 17:03.

Harvard picked up a fourth penalty seconds later but this time Harvard coach Billy Cleary sent local liners Dave Hynes and Bob McManama out to kill the penalty.

It was Harvard's turn to capitalize on the power play early in the third period. Frustrated four times by the B.U. penalty killers, the power play finally connected at 1:49, as Mark Noonan drilled a slapshot by B.U.'s screened goalie, Dan Brady.

The goal gave Harvard some life, and the Crimson pressed for the rest of the period, but Brady preserved the Terrier's lead.

The Crimson outshot B.U., 28-25, but the skating that sparked Harvard through the first half of the season was missing once again. The Crimson faces UNH, losers to Cornell in the first game, 6-2, tomorrow night at 6:15 p.m. in the consolation.