Harvard does not figure to benefit from any head-to-head comparisons. The Crimson split its season series with Dartmouth, lost early in the season to Minnesota, and was swept in consecutive games at Minnesota-Duluth.

Harvard is one slot ahead of the Saints in the polls, but the NCAA selection committee showed last year that it pays little attention to these national rankings. In a controversial decision, the committee left Harvard out of the tournament last year in favor of Minnesota, which was behind Harvard in the polls but ahead in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) ratings.

Currently, Harvard is ranked fifth in both the RPI and Pair-Wise ratings--one spot behind St. Lawrence. The Saints and Crimson split their season-series, with the Saints winning most recently, 3-2.

On paper, the Crimson should have a relatively easy time with the Black Bears and Wildcats. Harvard swept the series at Bright last month, winning handily behind outstanding performances from forwards Jenn Botterill and Tammy Shewchuk.

However, while the Crimson has beaten its toughest opponents lately in Dartmouth and Brown, its two losses during its recent hot streak have been to Princeton and Northeastern, both schools Harvard figured to defeat.

Stone said superb goaltending by the opposition, rather than a mental letdown on Harvard's part, contributed to those two losses.

"Every once in a while you're going to, come across a hot goaltender, and those things are going to happen," Stone said.