Coming into Monday's opening round of the 35th Annual Beanpot Tournament, the Harvard hockey team seemed ready to feast on its underdog opponent.

Northeastern (6-16-3 before the game) was generally regarded as the worst of the four Tournament teams. The Crimson (15-1, ranked second in the country) was viewed as one of the best.

What's more, because of its three-week lay-off for exams, Harvard was well-rested and injury-free. And the seniors on the team, who for the last three years had spent the second Monday in February playing in front of yawning audiences in the Tournament's consolation game, were eager--almost desperate--to get to the final. They had yet to play before a full and maddening Boston Garden crowd.

Besides, how long could the Crimson's Beanpot bad luck--which had kept it out of the last five Tournament finals--continue?

But the Huskies did not prove to be the scrumptous 'Pot luck supper that many thought they would, as N.U. defenseman Brian Dowd's goal with six minutes gone in overtime lifted the Huskies past the Crimson, 5-4, before 14,451 spectators Monday.

In the Tournament's nightcap, Boston University--also an underdog--rolled over Boston College, 6-3, to gain the other final berth. The Terriers had lost all four of their regular-season games against B.C. this year.

Northeastern and B.U. will play in the Beanpot championship game next Monday at 8 p.m. in the Garden. Harvard and B.C. will face off in the consolation game, which begins at 5:30 p.m.

Harvard has not nudged its way into the Beanpot final since goalie Wade Lau and his teammates snatched the 'Pot in 1981.

"After these four years, I know now how much I want to win it," Harvard Captain Peter Chiarelli said after Monday's loss.

Northeastern, on the other hand, has won the Beanpot three of the last six years.

Unlike the Harvard seniors--who have never tasted the glory of a championship game, yet alone a title--current Northeastern seniors have won the 'Pot twice (in 1984 and '85). After the game, the Huskie locker room resounded with chants of "One more" and "Two ain't good enough."

Huskie Coach Fern Flammen prepared his players for this year's opening round by showing them a video of Northeastern's 5-4 overtime victory over Boston College in the 1980 Beanpot final.

In that year, Northeastern--having won only a handful of games--overcame its underdog status and took home the 'Pot.

"There aren't any favorites in this game," Flammen said.

Jerry Pawloski, who last year was noted for his hard-hitting defense, skated on the Crimson's second line Monday in favor of Ed Krayer, who has elected to take the upcoming semester off. Pawloski has been sidelined the entire season with a knee injury.