Tamburro overdramatized one collision late in the first period to get the officials' attention. But he had a right to since the last time the two teams played, Harvard seniors Steve Martins and Ben Coughlin stopped short in front of him, sending a drift of snow into his mask.

Tamburro's ploy paid off last night, however. Late in the third period, juniors Kirk Nielsen and Jason Karmanos barrelled into Tamburro after the whistle had blown, and Karmanos was sent to the sin bin.

"That was pretty nice at the end of the game that the refs didn't mind calling a penalty with two minutes left," Tamburro said. "But all I think [the hitting] does is make me a little more alert out there, a little more feisty."

So tonight will see the end of one of these two teams' seasons.

Harvard hasn't faced elimination at home since 1992--the last time RPI visited Bright Hockey Center in a playoff game. The Engineers won, 4-3, in overtime.

"You got to treat [tonight's game] as much as you can as another game," Tracy said. "We've been very good team with our backs to the wall. None of us wants to call it a season."

"Heck, I'm exited about it," Tamburro said. "That's what college hockey is all about--two good teams going at it. Hopefully the best team will come away victorious."