“We executed our game plan to a ‘T’ for two periods,” said Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni.

That was before the Black Bears staged an offensive tour de force in the third.

About four minutes into the period, Jon Jankus found Mike Hamilton open in the slot. One quick wrister later, it was 4-2.

Less than two minutes later, and with Tyler Kolarik already off for obstruction-holding, Rob Fried was whistled for slashing, giving the Black Bears 35 seconds on the 5-on-3.

Just after Kolarik rejoined the play, Prestin Ryan picked up a rebound in the slot and made it 4-3.

Momentum had shifted completely. And permanently.

“When it was 4-2, it was fine,” Mazzoleni said. “When it was 4-3, they really started to come at us...and we didn’t have an answer.”

Grumet-Morris admitted he saw Ryan’s shot, but said he was screened on the tying and winning goals.

The first came from Michel Léveillé, with 7:13 left in the third. His point shot deflected off at least two skates and beat Grumet-Morris low to his left side.

Heartbreak came three minutes later. Kolarik had the chance to play a loose puck along the boards, but unknowingly turned the wrong way. That allowed Moore to dig it from the dasher and fire a slapper that eluded Grumet-Morris—again, low to his left side.

Bedlam in the Black Bear section. Dead, foreboding silence for the Crimson contingent.

The change in mood wouldn’t have been so striking if it hadn’t have been so strong the other way mere minutes before. Harvard was playing its best hockey of the season. Everyone was contributing.

How about Reese? The freshman from Pittsburgh hadn’t scored a goal all season. But there he was, sending a just-barely-good-enough snap shot over the purportedly error-free glove of Howard late in the first.

Then, with only 16.5 seconds left in the first, Bernakevitch followed Packard’s shot in front for his 11th goal of the season and team-leading 11th postseason point.

It was the first even-strength goal scored against Howard since Dec. 5.