Harvard has spent hours in the penalty box this season, having taken many more unnecessary, undisciplined penalties than any Harvard team in recent history. Last night was no different.

The Crimson was about to go on a power play 4:37 into the third period, when a Harvard forward lost his cool and retaliated against his Dartmouth aggressor. The result--a penalty on both sides and an even-strength four-on-four situation.

5) Lack of confidence.

Harvard seems to let out all of its aggression and emotion in the first few minutes of game. When it scores early, things will generally go well.

But when an opposing goaltender makes a couple of big saves, Harvard gets deflated instead of working harder to beat the netminder. Two big saves by Dartmouth and a Big Green goal in the first minute-and-a-half set the somber tone for the rest of the game.

Let me just reiterate: Harvard isn't dead. It has five regular-season games left and then the ECAC Tournament to turn things around.

But unless the Crimson can respond to the alarm and put out the flames caused by its lackluster play over the last two weeks, its prospects look very bleak.