Instead, special teams kept Harvard in the game. Its previously struggling power play, which entered the contest on a 4-for-45 slump, accounted for two of the Crimson's three goals. The man advantage produced the equalizer in the second period, momentarily swinging the momentum back towards Harvard.

The Crimson knotted the score on a sequence of cross ice-passes. From behind the left faceoff circle, junior center Steve Moore hit his brother, Dominic, who quickly fed Turco on the doorstep for the equalizer at 10:55 of the second.

"We switched to more of a two-three formation," Mazzoleni said. "We inverted the sticks high on the points so the forehands were facing the middle, placing a premium on shots on net."

Cornell's huge size advantage eventually wore the Crimson down as the game progressed. Harvard traded blows during the middle period, but in the bookends, the Big Red was able to keep the puck down by Prestifilippo.

Harvard's best chance to send the contest to overtime came as time was expiring. Steve Moore launched a desperation shot from the blueline that managed to squirt through Burt's legs and trickled wide.

Burt made 20 saves in victory for Cornell.

"We play a physical style that starts to take its toll during the game," Shafer said. "Some teams prefer smaller, speed guys, but I like big guys who are tough to face in a two- or three-game series."

The opening eight minutes of the game were dominated by Cornell, holding Harvard without a shot. But the Crimson managed to kick off a wild first period on the power play which produced its first shot and first goal on a tip-in by the falling Steve Moore at 8:03 of the first.