"I was very dissatisfied with our performance in that game," says Cleary. "I think we played poorer against B.U. than in any other Eastern game. The second period has been killing us. Don't ask me what it is. If I had the answer to that, I'd make a million bucks."

Harvard is actually led on offense by a defenseman, junior All-American Mark Fusco (6-14-20), whose sixth goal of this season pushed him past Dick Greeley and into first place on the Harvard list for career goals by a defenseman, with 26. Fusco's booming slapshot from the point remains a crucial weapon on the Crimson power play, which has been clicking at 23 percent on the year.

The Harvard forward lines have been a jumble since mid-December, as Cleary has searched for a trio or two that will consistently turn the red light on. One certainty for tonight's game is that co-captain and center Michael Watson (4-12-16) and left wing Greg Olson (5-8-13)--last year's leading scorer--will comprise two-thirds of the top line, possibly with flashy freshman Greg Chalmers (5-7-12) filling the other wing spot.

The second line is sure to be centered by the other freshman. Scott Fusco (7-7-14), brother of Mark, who should be flanked by sophomore Tony Visone (5-2-7) and junior Greg Britz (6-9-15). Others who will play include centers Phil Falcone and Bill Larson--who had the game-winner in last year's Beanpot final--and wingers Jay North. Jim Turner and Scott Powers.

The elder Fusco also leads Harvard's defensive corps, usually working with sophomore Ken Code (2-5-7), back after missing the last game before exams because of illness. Junior Neil Sheehy (2-3-5) and senior Alan Litchfield (1-7-8), the team's steadiest defensive defenseman, comprise the second pair.

In addition, junior Mitch Olson, a standout two year's ago who took last year and the first third of this season off, will start to see more action at the blueline. Olson may make up a third pairing with junior Scott Sangster, who has been steady while seeing limited action as the fifth defenseman.

And then there is netminder Wade Lau, whom Parker calls "the backbone of the Harvard defense." In addition to being the defending Beanpot MVP Lau, a senior, is so far enjoying his finest season in Harvard uniform turning in a 3.83 goals-against average and an 88-per-cent save percentage. In a tournament where a hot goalie can prove the difference between first and last place, Lau is as likely as any to snuff out the opposing offense's fire.

Generating anything more startling than a dim spark has been a Terrier concern during the last two Beanpots. Perhaps weary from toting the trophy over their heads for so many years, they have suffered through fourth-and third-place finishes, respectively.

But this season, despite a rag-tag 5-7-3 ECAC record (8-8-3 overall), a surge of late has put the Terriers in playoff contention, and, apparently, on the road to recovery. A recent trip to Clarkson and St. Lawrence, at one time the second-and seventh-ranked teams in the country, respectively, produced a tie and a win. Earlier, B.U. knocked off Ivy Division leader Yale, 1-0, in New Haven. And last Wednesday at Walter Brown Arena against Northeastern, in probably the Terriers' finest performance of the past few seasons, they defanged the Huskies, 7-3. The B.U. power-play, now hitting at better than 24 per cent on the year, accounted for six of the seven goals. And Parker got the close checking he demands from his skaters.

"B.U. is a much improved hockey team this year," Cleary says. "They don't throw anything fancy at you, but they're a sound team playing basic, fundamental hockey. And they're getting good goaltending."

Sophomore netminder Cleon Daskalakis, although currently alternating in the goal with back-up Bob Barich (who had 36 saves to stop potent North-eastern Wednesday), is the nominal starter for the Terriers tonight, based on his 30-save, two-goals-allowed performance against Harvard the last time. Though the posts were kind. Daskalakis thwarted Crimson forwards on numerous opportunities. His save percentage hovers around 90; his goals-against is just over 3.5. Barich's numbers read: 90 per cent and about 3.17 goals-against.

The Terrier defensive corps is balanced and big. Smooth junior Jerry August and soph T.J. Connolly (2-9-11) make up the top blueline duo. The "Brook-line," manned by George Klapes and 6-ft., 3-in., 196-lb. Bruce Milton (3-15-18), both natives of that Boston 'burb, forms the second pairing. The defensemen specialize in setting up B.U.'s deliberate offense and getting the puck to the forwards. "I think we move the puck out of our own zone as well as anyone," says Parker.

Once the puck moves across the red line, a talented, hustling crew takes over. Led by the top line of senior center Robbie Davies (7-18-25) and wings Bob Darling (13-10-23, including ten power-play goals) and captain Paul Fenton (15-9-24), the Terriers do have some firepower of their own, as the Northeastern game certainly shows.

Backing up the top trio is a line centered by leading scorer Tommy O'Regan (7-26-33), the prototype Terrier, with soph Mark Pierog (8-9-17) and junior Marc Sinclair (6-7-13) on the flanks. Freshman Kevin Mutch (6-9-15) should also be a factor.

Against Harvard, Parker wants more from his forwards than just goals. Most importantly, he wants them to forecheck as they did back in December. "We've got to have a close-checking game'" Parker says. "I think both teams want to forecheck well."

Cleary readily agrees. "Our success will depend on our skating and our forechecking," the Harvard mentor says. "If we forecheck well, we're going to win."

Both coaches, then, expect forechecking to be the ticket to ride into next Monday's final with either Boston College or Northeastern. Hmmmm. Could be. And then again, maybe not When four Boston schools take to the mystical blue ice of Boston Garden on the first Monday night in February, you've always got to remember one thing.

In the Beanpot, the expected will be damned.