Northeastern 5, Harvard 4(OT)

February 1, 1988 wasn't any different, either. The Crimson couldn't hold on to a two-goal lead. Harvard had to spend more time killing penalties than putting the puck in the net.

By the middle of the second period, Boston University--with a little help from the Boston Garden crowd (and maybe a couple of Garden ghosts)--had enough momentum to score five of the game's last six goals. Once again, the icemen were silenced.

The loss to B.U. also denied Harvard seniors a chance of ever playing in the championship game. For Captain Steve Armstrong, John Devin, Andy Janfaza, Jerry Pawloski and Don Sweeney, their chance is gone.

"I'm really disappointed for them," Cleary said of his four-year veterans. "They're a great class. I feel badly for them."

But if Cleary and his seniors, along with the rest of the icemen, faced the choice of winning their first-round Beanpot game or not making the NCAA Tournament, they would gladly go 0 for the 'Pot.

Beanpot Championships would certainly light up some faces here in Cambridge, but they're not the biggest 'Pots in town. Harvard has been known to take bigger pots home. Such as the ECAC Championship trophy. And a silver platter for finishing second in the NCAA Tournament.

"A couple of good wins this weekend," Devin said, "and [the loss] will be history."

This loss will join the other Beanpot losses of the past seven years. The questions about why Harvard has been unable to win will never cease until the jinx eventually ends.

While the questions linger, the Crimson will set its sights on another possible Garden trip in mid-March for the ECAC Championship Harvard has done that five time since 1980.

March 16, 1987: You could sense it was over even before.

Harvard 6, St. Lawrence 3.

Some stories have happier endings...