The Harvard men’s hockey team began the season sixth in the nation before four frustrating, character-testing months sent it spiraling to sixth in the league. Not even a Zamboni could’ve steamed away the angst that iced over the dressing room.

But there is no better time than the postseason to start playing up to preseason expectations. At long last, the Crimson icemen are playing superb, rugged, five-tool hockey—skating, scoring, hitting, killing penalties and stopping pucks—like they always knew they would.

“I don’t think there was ever a doubt in our minds that we were going to get there,” mused senior assistant captain Tyler Kolarik. “It was more a question of when.”

The answer came this weekend. Harvard summarily swept the overmatched Vermont Catamounts, 3-0 and 5-3, in their best-of-three ECAC first round series at Bright Hockey Center.

Next stop for the revival bus: Providence, and a date with Brown’s puck-smothering maestro, Yann Danis. The Bears won both regular-season meetings, but the Crimson is a new and improved incarnation of the club they saw at the end of January.

“It’s how you’re playing at the end of the season that wins championships,” said junior defenseman Noah Welch. “Our record hasn’t shown it, but we’ve been getting better all year.”

The Harvard ship sprang leaks here and there throughout the season. Sometimes the fissures were too numerous to fix at once. Now, the stopgaps appear firmly in place. The gauges check out. Every lug is lock-tight—especially in its own zone.

Sure, the Crimson tied its season-high for goals in a weekend (eight), but there is no mistaking that this series was won with defense.

Harvard limited Vermont to 19 shots on goal and four scoring chances in Friday’s Game 1, then allowed only two shots on goal in the first period of Game 2. UVM put 22 on net over the final 40 minutes—giving the home crowd a healthy scare with late 6-on-3 and 6-on-4 goals to make it 4-3—but senior Rob Fried punctuated his first career three-point night with a fist-pumping, series-clinching empty-netter.

The Crimson (14-14-3) has won 11 straight postseason home games. Its nine-member senior class has a 12-2 record in ECAC tournament play.

“It’s a long haul over the course of the season, and the biggest thing you want is your team playing its best hockey going into the playoffs,” said Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni. “And we are.”

The Catamounts (9-22-4) saw their season end at Bright for the second straight year.

“The better team this weekend won,” said Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon ’92. “They’re going to be a tough team to play in the next round.”

GAME 2: HARVARD 5, VERMONT 3

Just like Harvard’s season, Saturday’s win didn’t come easily—even though it looked like it would.