Pick an excuse any excuse as to why you, a vocal member of that vaunted contingent known as the Harvard hockey faithful, weren't at last Tuesday's 6-3 win over Northeastern at Bright Center.

So you saw Robert Redford. A decent excuse. But when you start booking down to that problem set that needed to be finished well now we're talking shout indecent. There is however, a reprieve for you hockey sinners.

Tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 on both occasions, the Harvard hockey team hosts Princeton and cornell respectively, needing wins in both games to keep its playoff hopes alive. And you can be there to support the Crimson and its biggest weekend since 1976, the last time the icemen made the BCAC playoffs.

Harved currently trials Yale (10-8-1) ECAC'S and Corneti (9-8-1) in the Ivy Division with on 8-8-2 ECAC record. The levy Discussion winner is guaranteed not only a playoff berth, but also home ice in the first round. There is a slight chance that Harvard could make the playoff without winning the division-by finishing in the top eight over all Either way, the icemen must sweep their final three games.

"There's still a chance for us to win the lives or take that eighth spot," Harvard Coach Bill Clearly says. "But if we win all our games and Yale loses one, we take the fourth spot".

find up in Princeton, a Harvard nemesis in recent years because of the Tigers' chippy style of play and even move as, because of a goalender named Run Dennis.

Although his states this season aren't quite up to par with recent years. Dennis (4,62 goals-against 866 save percentage) shut Harvard down in Cambridge the last time here, 3-2, and the Crimson is making a habit of treating goaltenders to their hours between the posts.

Other Princeton players to which include forward Ed Lee (10-20-30), left wing Ken Koening (6-20-26), Row Lambert (9-14-23) and Dave Clark (18-15-23) keep your eye on their sticks and elbows as well as their passes and shots.

Princeton (5-11-2) BCAC, 7-13-3 overall) has also been playing some good hockey of late, and is coming off a 4-3 loss to top ranked 8 Tuesday night. The tigers fell behind early in that game, but battled back with two late third-period goals and had several changes to tie it up in the closing moments.

Earlier this year at Princeton Harvard jumped out to a 4-1 lead, early to settle for a 5-5 tie after the Tigers staged a similar comeback.

We've got to win the princedom game, Clearly says "That's the big one. We've got to win the Princeton game."

When all is said and done with the Tigers, there will be no rest for the Harvard hockey weary, as they have to come right back and tangle with crusty Cornell tomorrow night.

Two weeks ago, Harvard traveled to hellish Lynah Rink in Ithaca and emerged tattered and scarred but riding high after a 5-4 overtime win, the icemen's first victory in that western province since 1975.

The Big Red is also led by a goaltender. Brian Hayward, who started the season alternating with Darren Eliot, but has now taken over the starting spot, currently leads the nation in save percentage, with a mark of 921. And his ECAC goals-against average is the league's best. The team leader in spirit--as in cheap shots--and scoring is senior center Roy Kerling (18-21-39) the East's top point-gutter in league play.