After the first intermission, Harvard’s defense adjusted well. Maine had no shots from the middle of the ice in the second period and did not generate nearly the offensive pressure it did in the first 20 minutes. Despite the Black Bears’ first-period onslaught, Maine only outshot the Crimson 36-34 for the game. But Harvard had fallen too far behind to pull one out against the nation’s top-ranked team.

“Obviously it’s a good sign that, when we do play our game, we can compete with the best teams in the country,” Moore said. “But it’s about time we started treating ourselves as one of the best teams in the country, too.”

Harvard helped itself after the opening period by staying out of the penalty box. Maine had just two power plays after the first 20 minutes.

But Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni said the difference was due more to inconsistent officiating than to any change made by either team.

“I thought the game was called differently after the first period,” Mazzoleni said. “I saw the same game for three periods. And yet all of a sudden there’s [seven] penalties called in the first period, two in the second and three in the third.”

Sophomore forward Kenny Turano gave the Crimson new life in the second period, scoring his first goal of the season on a shot from between the faceoff circles at 10:06. Turano’s happiness would be short-lived, however, as he later left the game with a broken finger.

Maine answered just four minutes after Turano’s tally to take a 4-1 lead, and despite its improved play, Harvard could never pull closer than two. Moore narrowed the gap to 4-2 at 5:23 of the third, and the Crimson almost scored again moments later, when Howard left a puck floating along the goal line. Maine cleared the puck, though, and effectively iced the game.

Harvard is idle for the next two weeks, playing again Dec. 29 when it meets Northern Michigan in the first round of the Badger Showdown.

—Staff writer Elijah M. Alper can be reached at alper@fas.harvard.edu.