Harvard failed to generate enough traffic in front of Maine freshman goaltender Jimmy Howard.

At the other end of the ice, sophomore goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris was screened, bumped, and distracted by the Black Bear forwards.

As soon as Maine gained the zone and established control, one of the Black Bears would immediately park himself squarely in front of Grumet-Morris.

The formula worked perfectly for Maine. The Black Bears fired 36 shots, including 19 in the first period, mostly through heavy traffic.

Whereas all four Maine goals came from sustained pressure in the offensive zone, Harvard needed to get both of its goals on the rush and failed to capitalize while cycling in the Black Bear zone.

One Line Too Many

Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni deserves a lot of credit. His team, featuring five players averaging at least a point per game, stands at No. 11 in the country with a legitimate shot at back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.

Nevertheless, you have to question Mazzoleni’s decision not to alter his line combinations when facing top-caliber opposition.

In conference play, the Crimson can roll four lines, get balanced scoring from its top three and expect to put up solid—often spectacular—offensive numbers.

In games against opponents that have been nationally ranked this season, however, Harvard is averaging just 1.2 goals per game.

As balanced as yesterday’s top three lines were, with 27, 30 and 34 points apiece on the season, they were equally ineffective.

When facing solid defensive teams, there is some point at which you have to abandon the pretense of balanced scoring and depth to get one or two lines that can consistently put the puck in the back of the net, regardless of the opponent.

—Staff writer Timothy Jackson can be reached at jackson2@fas.harvard.edu.