Newspaper leads come in different styles. So do hockey games.

When you mix the writing styles that have occupied space on the back page of The Crimson with the styles of Harvard hockey during the first round of the Beanpot, you get the same result since 1981.

The styles may change, the games may be blowouts of nailbiters. But, as Coach Bill Cleary said Monday night after Harvard dropped its seventh straight Beanpot opener, a 6-4 loss to Boston University, "it's the same old story."

Consider the changing styles with "the same old story."

February 3, 1982: The setting was the same, but the script--a bit cliche by this time perhaps--had been changed dramatically, the Cinderella story left on a shelf to gather dust until the time again was right.

Boston University 5, Harvard 1.

February 9, 1983: Coach Bill Cleary stood outside the Harvard locker room yesterday, a rather forelorn figure. The real crowds were just a few feet away, outside the Boston College locker room.

Boston College 5, Harvard 4 (OT).

February 7, 1984: Bill Cleary stepped outside of the Harvard locker room, fell back against the wall, and smiled. "What do you want me to say?" the Crimson Coach asked. "It was Murphy's Law tonight; whatever could be done wrong, we did."

Northeastern 7, Harvard 3.

February 5, 1985: Lucky seven it wasn't.

Boston University 5, Harvard 3.

February 4, 1986: The Harvard men's hockey team added another chapter to its recent history of Beanpot Tournament futility at Boston Garden...

Boston College 4, Harvard 2.

February 4, 1987: Coming into Monday's opening round of the 35th annual Beanpot Tournament, the Harvard hockey team seemed ready to feast on its underdog opponent.