Special teams were atrocious for the Crimson. B.U. scored two power play goals, and in its five man-advantages Harvard took just three shots on goal. On one Crimson power play, it flubbed two consecutive passes from point to point, with the feed reaching the target outside the zone.

Despite its miscues, the play evened out by the beginning of the third period. The time was ripe for a break to fall Harvard's way.

But given the opportunity, it couldn't execute. Harvard had the man-up at 2:33 of the third period and didn't generate anything. At 6:56, junior winger Chris Bala darted from the wing on the B.U. net, but he couldn't quite make the move around a sprawled Ricky DiPietro to tuck the puck in the empty net.

Someone had to come to the forefront and make the individual effort to knot the game at one.

But it didn't happen, and more often than not, it hasn't happened for the Crimson this season and in Beanpots past.

Last year, defensive breakdowns cost Harvard its first round game against Northeastern. Harvard's 7-1 loss to B.U. in the 1997 Beanpot was simply awful.

The present seniors have won just once in the battle for Boston bragging rights--a dramatic 5-4 overtime upset of then-No. 8 Boston College in 1998.

The win setup the heartbreaking overtime-loss to B.U. in the finals.