Harvard used that speed to go on a six-game winning streak starting at the end of January, and showed it off again in its opening round victory against the Tigers in the ECAC playoffs.

Whether or not the Crimson is able to bring that speed early could sway the game. Harvard allowed a goal six minutes into its game against the Golden Knights in an eventual 3-2 loss.

“[We want to] really come out in the first period,” co-captain Kathryn Farni said. “Making sure we have a lot of energy for those first couple minutes.”

Also key for the Crimson has been its emerging power-play and penalty-kill capabilities. Like its offensive balance, Harvard’s man-down defense and disciplined play throughout games have continued to improve throughout the season.

There are definitely mistakes we’re going to make,” Bassett said. “We’re working on minimizing those but also being able to recover and to be able to capitalize on their mistakes.”

While a recent loss to Clarkson has set the Crimson back, Cornell has been on a 10-game undefeated streak.

It hasn’t lost since January, and the only tie of that streak came on Feb. 5 to Quinnipiac, before the Big Red rolled out to nine consecutive victories including last weekend’s against the Golden Knights.

“I think ultimately, they’re a good team, but it’s all about us,” Bassett said. “They’re going to give us a good game. I think that if we show up to play that we should be successful and that’s what I’m hoping for.”

The NCAA tournament committee seemed to think so, as it gave Harvard the higher seed and the accompanying home-ice advantage. Though Cornell has had the upper hand in head-to-head matches and the ECAC standings, the Crimson has rolled off impressive non-conference victories, twice shutting out the University of Minnesota and winning the Beanpot with shut-outs from a different goaltender, freshman Laura Bellamy.

If Harvard’s been learning all season, the skaters will face their first of what they hope to be three final exams just as the student body emerges from midterm season.

“I think when it gets down to the end and playoffs, you know it comes into the light what you’re playing for and you see the goal,” Bassett said.

—Staff writer Christina C. McClintock can be reached at ccmcclin@fas.harvard.edu.