PROVIDENCE, R.I.--The Harvard men's hockey team cruised to a 6-1 victory over Brown before 2000 fans here at Meehan Auditorium Saturday night.

That's not big news. The Crimson's very good and the Bruins are not.

But the game was nonetheless important for the icemen, who were able to follow up on their strong play in the third period the night before at Yale. The Crimson dropped that season-opening contest, 7-5, but did wake up in the final 20 minutes to mount a comeback from a 6-1 deficit.

Morgue-like Meehan has never been that friendly to the Harvard squad (1-1, 1-1 ECAC), but the icemen were able to keep the momentum they generated in New Haven.

"Pleased with the way we bounced back," Crimson Coach Bill Cleary said. "That's the big thing is that we played well, I'm looking for signs to see that oomph coming back and I saw that the last period last night and then here.

Captain Scott Fusco picked up the hat trick, punching in the last three Harvard goals. The Crimson center has had several tricks before--and is bound to have some more--but he picked up a first Saturday night to go along with his three tallies.

In the third period, Fusco was whistled for a major penalty, the first of his college career. The Burlington native slammed Bruin Steve Crozier into the glass near the penalty box and injured the Brown center.

"I didn't think I deserved the penalty," Fusco said. "The guy's head hit the corner of the glass. It's not my fault that rink's designed that way."

Before Fusco connected for his three goals, one on the power play, the second and third lines did the damage. And that's encouraging news for a team that relied on its first unit for its scoring last year.

The second line looked particularly impressive. Tim Barakett, debuting on right wing with Allen Bourbeau in the center and Ed Krayer on left wing, knocked in two goals.

Barakett earned both of the scores but was quick to admit that he happened to be in the right place at the right time.

"They were both garbage goals, but they all count and I love 'em," the junior said. "Our line was good today, and once the line starts clicking better...we've only played together three days."

Bourbeau, back after being eligible for only one game in the last two years, was frustrated for the second night in a row. The sophomore had several opportunities but couldn't get the puck in.

"I said to him, 'when you get one, you'll get a flock,'" Cleary said.

The third line picked up the game-winner, as Rob Ohno took a Peter Follows behind-the-net feed and beat Bruin goalie Bob Naegele. The score came at 14:51 of the first period and after Brown had tied the game, 1-1, with a power play goal.