According to the NCAA News, the selection committee compares teams based on the record in the final 16 games, ratings percentage index, record vs. common opponents, record vs. teams above .500, and head-to-head results.
The four WCHA losses will make it incredibly difficult for Harvard to overtake either of the two Minnesota programs using the above criteria.
It's a foolish system that led to Harvard's denial to the tournament last year in lieu of Minnesota and Dartmouth. Yes, selection committees are that blind, and yes, they could do it again.
The bottom line is, Harvard's non-conference results leave the team with a smaller margin of error than the other teams at the top right now.
"You never know," Stone said. "Last year we thought we were in a good spot, but we were wrong. So whoever's in front of us, we have to go through them. That's how we're going to get back to Minnesota."