Even with the goaltender pulled, Harvard couldn't find the magic shot to send the game into overtime.

"In the second period, I felt the momentum had switched to them,'' Rensselaer Coach Dan Fridgen said. "But we maintained our composure and weathered the storm. Laing was there for us."

Tapper netted the goal of record on a five-on-three power play in the second period. Controlling the puck at the top of the left face-off circle, he patiently waited for a screen, then drilled a shot short-side past Prestifilippo.

The strike was Tapper's 30th of the season, which is more than double the output of Harvard's leading goal-scorer, freshman center Dominic Moore, who finished his rookie year with 12.

While the Engineer defense didn't offer Laing much support in the third period, it was sharp through the first two, especially on the penalty kill. The Crimson power play had been improving over the past few games, but it struggled mightily on Saturday, going 0-for-5.

Even with a 1:17 two-man advantage in the first period, Harvard could barely register a shot on goal, having difficulty working the puck down low.

"Our power play has been our Achilles' heel," Mazzoleni said. "We struggle on it and it came back to bite us in the ass tonight."