But Cornell has hit a few rough patches as of late--its sweep over Princeton last weekend notwithstanding--and its weaknesses will only be magnified on the big sheet at Lake Placid.
Known for its suffocating defense, the Big Red allows an average of only two goals per game. Playing tight defense is great on a regular college surface, but the open ice will play to Harvard's strength: skating.
Thanks to Cornell's excellent blueliners, goaltender Matt Underhill posts a scalding 1.80 GAA, good for second in the league. However, the Olympic rink will give Crimson skaters like sophomore center Dominic Moore and assistant captain Chris Bala plenty of room to maneuver.
Of course, this is all speculation. The tournament championship and the lone NCAA berth are both up for grabs this weekend, and any of the five teams could be the taker. Certainly there are favorites heading in to the tournament, but as Vermont clearly proved last Sunday, nobody is safe.