After a post-exam period tailspin, Harvard has slowly been plugging away in the standings and gradually regained its foothold in the league. Difficult victories over St. Lawrence and Rennsalaer almost a month ago, and a dominant performance against Yale a few weeks ago--a mere taste of the series that was to come--boosted the Crimson's confidence to unprecedented levels this season.

The culmination of this renewed poise on the ice came in the second game of the sweep. Perhaps a Harvard squad that was having less luck accomplishing its goals late in the season would have been rattled by the grievous officiating and Yale insurgence in the third period.

But this Crimson team responded perfectly.

Referee Dan Murphy, who has no business donning an official's jersey in the ECAC after this series, certainly exercised his arm Saturday night. Rivaling former official Mike Noeth for most atrocious playoff officiating, Murphy tagged both teams with a total of 17 penalties.

"These were two pretty clean hockey teams that were on the ice," Yale coach Tim Taylor said. "It's a shame that a playoff game came down to penalties."

And his mishandling of blatant offenses left much to be desired.

During Saturday night's second period, Yale gained the momentum, albeit underhandedly, and took control of the game.