ON THE RISE

After surrendering two power-play goals in its 4-1 Beanpot loss to Boston College, the Crimson penalty kill went a perfect 11-for-11 over the weekend, bringing the units’ success rate to nearly 83 percent, a vast improvement from earlier stretches.

The Crimson has allowed 23 power-play goals on the season, but neither the Saints nor the Golden Knights could crack Harvard’s stalwart defensive unit.

As the team has all season long, the Crimson relied upon Grumet-Morris’ stellar play in short-handed situations.

“Obviously Dov [is] our best penalty killer,” Donato said. “That certainly helps.”

Grumet-Morris, however, didn’t see much in the way of shots on goal during St. Lawrence’s power play. Against the Saints, Harvard served 14 penalty minutes—eight coming in the third period—but surrendered just two shots while shorthanded.

In the shutout victory over Clarkson, Harvard netted a shorthanded goal, and Grumet-Morris turned away all nine shots the Golden Knights managed down a man.

“I thought our penalty kill was really solid,” Donato said. “I thought we were in sync and did what we were trying to do to defend what is a very dangerous power play.”

ALONG THE BOARDS

With Saturday night’s victory, the Crimson clinched, at worst, a fourth place finish in the ECAC standings. The top four teams are guaranteed a first-round ECAC Tournament bye, but Harvard won’t know its quarterfinal opponent until the completion of the first round...For just the third time in his career, assistant captain Ryan Lannon enjoyed a multi-point weekend, earning one assist against the Golden Knights and two against the Saints. The blueliner led his team with a +5 weekend...Saturday’s Senior Night honored the seven soon-to-be-graduates, even though Tuesday’s tussle with Brown will end the regular season at home. The weekend game was chosen ensure easier travel for the players’ families and friends...Saturday’s win, Harvard’s 17th on the season, officially tied Donato with Bill Cleary ’56 as the winningest rookie skipper in Crimson history. Cleary, who would coach Donato when the latter was a student, went 17-8-1 during the 1971-1972 campaign, his first as Harvard coach.

—Staff writer Rebecca A. Seesel can be reached at seesel@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Aidan E. Tait can be reached at atait@fas.harvard.edu.