Boston University Captain Mike Kelfer, Boston College Tri-Captain Dave Littman, and Northeastern Captain Dave Buda all like to talk about what it's like to play in the Beanpot finals, or watch their teammates lift the 'Pot trophy in celebration.

Harvard Captain Lane MacDonald can tell you about the NCAA Final Four. Or the ECAC Championships. Or even the Olympics. But the Beanpot, well, MacDonald hasn't had much luck in that tournament.

"I wish I could say I know what it's like to win the 'Pot," said MacDonald, after listening to Kelfer, Littman and Buda talk about their happy Beanpot moments. "But we don't do that very often."

Harvard hasn't won the tournament since 1981. It hasn't even made it past the first round. Tonight at Boston Garden the top-ranked Crimson (17-1 overall, 15-1 ECAC) takes another shot at the 'Pot when it faces fourth-ranked Boston College (17-5-3 overall, 13-4-3 Hockey East) in the semifinals at 6 p.m.

Hoisting the Beanpot trophy in triumph was one of the first things Kelfer thought about when he was elected captain.

Buda thinks the 'Pot is "Without a doubt, the top tournament in college hockey."

And Littman thinks it's "a season in itself."

MacDonald doesn't think about it much at all. He and his teammates worry about the St. Lawrence game, the ECAC playoffs, the NCAAs.

"I think we've always looked past the Beanpot towards other things later in the year," MacDonald said.

But with eight seniors seeing action in their last 'Pot, Chuckie Hughes--a Catholic Memorial graduate with a case of Beanpot fever--in the net, and a number-one national ranking on the line, the Crimson is taking this 'Pot a little more seriously.

"I think everyone will be ready," junior John Murphy said. "Everyone really wants the Beanpot badly. It's a stepping stone to bigger things later in the season. A win could prove we deserve our ranking."

With Harvard and B.C. both in the top five of the NCAA poll, the Crimson-Eagle semifinal should be the biggest game of the tournament.

When the Crimson and the Eagles met last November, Harvard claimed a tough 4-3 overtime victory at Bright Center. Donato sent a slapshot past Littman with only 29 seconds remaining in OT to lift the Crimson.

"But when it comes to the Beanpot," Littman said. "Everyone knows you can throw the records right out the window."

If anything--besides the Beanport mystique--can be considered a key factor in tonight's game, it has to be goaltending.