When the referee drops the puck at Bright Center tonight, they'll get another chance. A chance to score the final goal that Michigan State scored a year ago with just 2:53 remaining in the finals of the NCAA Championship.

A goal that left the players on the Crimson second best for the second time in four years.

And although preseason polls indicate Harvard has a solid chance of doing just that--the Crimson has been ranked as high as fifth in national polls--it will have to make its run for the NCAA title without several players who were central in last year's championship drive.

Gone from this year's squad are Harvard's all-time leading scorer Scott Fusco, and one of the Crimson's greatest goalies, Grant Blair.

Gone, too, are the Crimson's leading goal-scorer last year, Tim Smith, and its durable third-line center, Rob Ohno.

But although it will miss the services of these players, Harvard should still be a solid bet to win its sixth straight Ivy League title and to take the ECAC crown that eluded it last year.

Harvard still has powerful scoring threats in Allen Bourbeau (24 goals, 19 assists and 43 points in just 25 games last year), Lane MacDonald (22-24--46) and Tim Barakett (19-31--50). Smith's replacement as the first-line right wing, C.J. Young, had a stellar career at Belmont Hill High School, and with Bourbeau and MacDonald should make Harvard's first line potent again.

"They're playing very well," Harvard Coach Bill Cleary said. "It should be a good line."

Cambridge Flyers

"Both Lane and C.J. are excellent players," Bourbeau said. "They can fly, and they both have good hands."

And Harvard's second line--Ed Krayer (center), Steve Armstrong (left wing) and Barakett (right wing)--should score its share of goals.

Last year, Krayer played left wing for Bourbeau's and Barakett's "Killer B" line, and scored nine goals and recorded 22 assists. More important, he improved greatly as the season progressed and recorded his first collegiate hat trick in Harvard's second ECAC quarterfinal triumph over Colgate.

Harvard's defense--one of the best in the nation last year--didn't lose anyone to graduation. But defenseman Jerry Pawloski injured his knee during the Sports Festival and will not be back in action until February, if at all.

"We lost Pawloski, which is a tough one," Cleary said. "The doctors told him they weren't too optimistic. But knowing Jerry and seeing him walk around, I don't know--I wouldn't bet against him."

Without Pawloski, the Crimson still has a stellar defense. Cleary will use three defensive pairs this year--Mark Benning and Randy Taylor, Don Sweeney and Josh Caplan (maybe the quickest pairing in college hockey), and Chris Biotti and Butch Cutone.

Biotti, who missed most of last year with a knee injury, is back in the same form that led the Calgary Flames to draft him in the first round of the 1985 NHL draft.

"His knee is all better," Cleary said. "He didn't push it or rush it this summer. He's in good shape."

The Crimson is so rich in defensemen that freshmen Scott MacCormack--who Cleary says could easily play--will start the year on the JV team.

The biggest question mark--or marks--for the Crimson is between the pipes. Senior Dickie McEvoy and junior John Devin will share time in the net until one earns the starting job outright.

Last year, both McEvoy and Devin played in the shadows of Blair--the Crimson's all-time leader in goals-against average (2.84) and shutouts (nine).

In four games and 153 minutes of playing time, McEvoy, a fifth-year senior, finished with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. His shining moment last year came in a 22-save effort in the Crimson's 7-1 victory over Northeastern in the Beanpot consolation game.

Devin also saw action in four games but played only 90 minutes. He finished with a 4.00 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage.

"I'm not adverse to playing two goalies, especially now playing back to back games," Cleary said. "When you play two nights in a row, it takes a lot out of you."

"[McEvoy and Devin] have earned the right," Cleary continued. "They're very loyal to the program. You have to honor that."

"Both goalies are playing well right now," MacDonald said. "Everyone has been pleasantly surprised."

Harvard's chief competition for the Ivy League and ECAC titles should be Cornell.

The Crimson has one thing going for it that the other teams don't--experience. Harvard learned a lot from its long drive to the NCAA Final Four and its heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Michigan State in the final. Most important, the Crimson learned what it takes to win it all--only one more goal.

"People always say, 'I'm sure you looked at that Michigan State game a million times,"' Cleary said. "I haven't looked at it once. The season was over, and we lost. What can I do? We just have to try to get back there again."