However, the expression "we may have lost the battle, but we won the war" comes to mind. Short of a miracle, the Crimson has no chance of finishing the season at the top of the heap. But Harvard can take a small victory out of its pair of heart-breaking losses.

"We are playing some of our best hockey in a long time," Bala said. "We played two pretty good games and it's unfortunate not to get two wins."

And it didn't just play hard. The Crimson almost upset the No. 9 Saints, who are currently running away with first-place in the ECAC, despite a 6-0 blanking at the hands of Brown on Saturday.

Harvard battled back and came within inches of breaking the Knights' seven-game stranglehold on the lifetime series--Clarkson's longest winning streak ever against the Crimson.

Special teams played a large role in keeping Harvard in the games. Against both the Saints and the Knights, the Crimson had to play catch-up almost immediately.

But a beautiful move by Capouch on the penalty kill against St. Lawrence allowed captain Trevor Allman to tie the score 1-1 on a breakaway on Saints netminder Derek Gustafson at 8:41 in to the first period.

The power play, though not as productive as its numbers indicate, is once again beginning to find its niche after Mazzoleni handed the two extra-man units off to assistant coaches Ron Rolston and Nate Leaman.