Harvard hasn't lost at Bright all year, and owns a 23-game home unbeaten streak, which extends over two seasons. The Crimson hasn't tied a game in its home arena since Harvard and B.C. battled to a 4-4 deadlock in December of last year.

The hard part of the season is, theoretically, over. Bill the remaining schedule "Back to Bright."

Still, it won't be easy.

"It's going to be a tough stretch," Harvard Assistant Coach Ronn Tomassoni said. "We hope to improve on our first-round Beanpot performances of the last few years, but on the same hand we have quite a few league games coming up. Teams will be gunning for us."

Harvard rests alone atop the ECAC with only one league loss. Colgate, with two league losses, and Yale, with four, are close on the Crimson's heels.

Harvard knocked off the Red Raiders, 5-2, in Hamilton, N.Y., in early December. A Colgate victory on the fast ice of Bright February 13 isn't likely.

Harvard split the season series with Yale. The two teams will not meet again during the regular season, although a confrontation in the ECAC playoffs is likely.

Yale, however, has a tough road ahead--away from its home ice.

"I think we're going to struggle offensively for the whole year," said Yale Coach Tim Taylor, whose team has skated to success on the magic gloves and quick sticks of goalies Mike Schwalb and Mike O'Neill. "We're on the road for six of our last eight games. We're hoping to get home ice for the ECAC playoffs--if possible."

The Crimson, meanwhile, can look forward to a sympathetic crowd for most of its remaining games. And as the season resumes, the team will be healthy and eager.

"A break is always helpful," Benning said. "Without any rest, a lot of teams begin to burn out. When the playoffs roll around, we'll be peaking."

It all begins--again--February 2 at Boston Garden. Harvard vs. Northeastern. The Beanpot.

"The odds have us beating Northeastern and meeting B.C. in the final," Chiarelli said. "The final will be pandemonium. My parents and a lot of other parents are coming down for the final--so we have to be there."