In a scene that seemed straight from the comedy Slapshot, not one but two of Harvard's zambonis malfunctioned yesterday, forcing the Harvard women's hockey team to postpone their second game of the season. Zambonis are the machines used to maintain the ice surface.

Tara A. Dunn '01, a forward on the team, said both zambonis appeared to have caught fire, sending fumes and some minor smoke throughout the arena. Dunn's teammate, Julie A. Rando '01 said she believed the zambonis had given off fumes and smoke but never caught on fire.

Both arrived at the rink several hours before the game's start time, but neither saw the zambonis malfunction.

Assistant Director for Sports Media Relations Lisa McEvoy said she was not sure exactly what the problem had been with the first zamboni, but "something needed to be extinguished."

She said the second zamboni may have leaked battery acid or antifreeze on the ice.

"Things like this do happen," McEvoy said. "No one can predict two zambonis going down."

The freak accident forced the women's hockey team to delay their game against Minnesota, which had originally been scheduled for 1 p.m.

It may also force both the women's and men's ice hockey teams to postpone their home games until a new zamboni can be found and the ice can be returned to playing condition.

Yesterday's start time was first pushed back to 3 p.m., while a search began for a replacement zamboni, a mechanic or even another available rink.

When it became apparent that there was acid on the ice and no replacement zamboni was forthcoming, the game was officially postponed around 2:30 p.m.

Minnesota stayed in the Boston area overnight in the hope that the game will be rescheduled for this afternoon. According to Dunn, the last flight out of Boston's Logan Airport bound for Minnesota is tonight at 7 p.m., so the game would have to be rescheduled for either this afternoon or a later point in the season.

McEvoy said the University is trying to find a rink on which to hold the game, even looking as far away as Brown University. The final decision about the game will be made today.

"The game obviously won't take place here," McEvoy said. "We're looking to see who has open ice. We'd love to have it closer [than Brown] to make it easier for both teams."

Members of the men's hockey team, have the next officially scheduled game at Bright Arena this Friday against the University of Vermont. The men's hockey team is also scheduled to host Dartmouth on Saturday.

Men's captain Stephen F. Moore '01 said yesterday that he was unaware of the zamboni fire and the subsequent postponement of the women's game.

The women's hockey team has its next home game on Nov. 25 against Princeton.

McEvoy said zamboni problems are not unprecedented in college hockey. She said several years ago, Colgate University needed to borrow a zamboni for one of their games. And she said that during the NCAA tournament around five years ago, players had to skate on melting ice because of a burst pipe in the rink.