Nystrom's goal was the only tally on the night for Michigan's top line, which is usually centered by Mike Cammalleri, the Wolverines' leading scorer with 14 goals and 10 assists. Cammalleri was out on Saturday night and will miss the Wolverines next four games to train with the Canadians for the World Junior tournament.

The remainder of the second period saw quality scoring chances for both teams, as Grumet-Morris had to sprawl across the crease to spoil a power-play bid by Wolverine forward Jason Ryznar, and Harvard's Tim Pettit barely missed on a breakaway attempt in the final minute.

Harvard seized control of the game as the third period opened, playing intelligent defense and nearly scoring twice between a breakaway bid by sophomore winger Dennis Packard and a David McCulloch shot from the point that hit the post in the frame's fourth minute.

However, it was Michigan's hard-working fourth line that broke the deadlock. Freshman center Charlie Henderson beat Grumet-Morris from the top of the left faceoff circle through a David Moss screen to give the Wolverines a 3-2 lead with 13:10 to play in the third.

The Wolverines' downfall-an inability to stay out of the penalty box with the red-hot Crimson power play-allowed the Crimson to tie the score once again. With Nystrom down for a slashing call, McCulloch's pass from the point found Packard just in front of the crease. Packard then put it past Blackburn glove side to tie the game again at 9:49 of the period.

"Our poor job of penalty killing cost us a chance to win the game. We had to throw some people who might not normally be out there on the penalty kill," said Berenson, who was without two key defensemen in addition to Cammalleri. "We made some mistakes in our rotation and denying the shot. [Harvard's] power play didn't overwhelm but it was effective. That was the difference in the game."

Harvard finished 3-for-6 on the power play, while Michigan was 0-for-3.

"We have some skill on our power play," Mazzoleni said. "They play a pressure game, so we had to rotate it away from that and get it on the net."

The Wolverines almost won the game in regulation with several quality chances in the third and then controlled play in the extra session. With just under three minutes to go in overtime, Michigan winger Milan Gajic found himself skating in all alone on the Harvard net. Gajic tried to deke Grumet-Morris, but the Crimson netminder was able to turn his bid aside with his left leg.

"I was holding my breath," Mazzoleni said of Gajic's breakaway.

Grumet-Morris, though, was as composed as ever.

"I wanted to come out and cut down his angle," he said. "I wanted to be as patient as I could until he committed."

Grumet-Morris was often spectacular between the pipes, stopping 35 shots, eclipsing his previous career high of 31 against St. Lawrence earlier this season.

"I was just looking to make the easy save," said Grumet-Morris, whose parents each hold degrees from Michigan. "Our coaches did a good job preparing me. I had a good feel for their power play."

Blackburn made 20 saves for Michigan.

Harvard remained undefeated in overtime games this season (1-0-3), while the Wolverines are now 2-1-3 in extra frames. The Crimson has not lost in overtime since Nov. 25, 2000 against Boston College