"That mini-game was something else," Raeder said. "We played four minutes and 24 seconds without a whistle. It was some of the greatest college hockey that I have seen."

Playing Cornell in Ithaca is like wrestling Hulk Hogan with one arm tied behind your back.

"Any team that goes up to Lynah Rink and wins up there, you've got to be ready for them," Cleary said.

On paper, the Knights should fall short of the Crimson by a goal or two, a fate Clarkson should be conditioned to. This year, the Knights have played in 19 one-goal games.

Clarkson sports a fine first line led by Borsato (14 goals, 29 assists, 43 points) and right wing Steve Williams (16-19--35). The Knights also have a shining, armored fellow to guard the nets. First Team All-ECAC goalie John Fletcher stops over 90 percent of the shots flung his way. His goals-against average is a solid .908.

As in the past, Harvard's defensive corps is the best in the ECAC, Give credit to Harvard goalie John Devin. No one else does.

Devin, who devoured zero honors in yesterday's awards feast, sports a .896 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average.

"Dev's a fellow that has had to sit in the background for three years because of [former Harvard goalies Dickie] McEvoy and [Grant] Blair, some pretty good goaltenders," Cleary said, "Look at the figures, and I think John has earned his stripes this year. You don't get to be 18-4 without a good goaltender. He's a battler; he's a fighter."

Harvard doesn't do too badly on the offensive end, either. Freshman forward Peter Ciavaglia leads the Crimson with an 8-21--29 line, followed by Armstrong at 13-14--27.

"We don't have a lot of top goal scorers this year, but we do have 25 talented, hard-working players," Armstrong said. "We're asking for a few more games from these 25 players."