The Crimson also seeks to turn the Golden Knights' aggressiveness into an advantage. Lake Placid is an Olympicsized ice surface, which will create room for fleet skaters to dash through overcommitted defenders.

This should benefit a red-hot Crimson offense which has scored 20 goals over its past four games.

"We are going to have to be patient [with the large ice surface]," Millar said. "We have to attack with speed and take advantage of the holes it will create."

Harvard may have one less attacker Friday. Higdon sustained a knee injury in the final two minutes of last Friday's game. He did not play Saturday and will be a game-time decision for tonight's contest.

Still, everything seems to be falling in place for Harvard. The team is clearly playing its best hockey of the season, with excellent special teams and strong goal-tending by sophomore J.R. Prestifilippo. Riding a four game winning streak, its confidence is soaring.

"I think everybody gets up for the playoffs," Storey said. "Now is the best time to be peaking. I think we are really coming together."

The only question now is how far can the team sustain this effort. Two more wins earn the Crimson a bid into the NCAA tournament at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Beat Clarkson and then either Yale or Princeton and they are in.

It's that simple.

Remember, Lake Placid is the home of miracles on ice.

"We have got the sense that it's our time," Millar said. "Everyone feels that we are ready and we can really do some damage this weekend."

Welcome to Lake Placid.