BIEGA BREAKS THROUGH

At the beginning of the season, few ECAC prognosticators would have guessed that Danny Biega would have to wait until the first round of the Beanpot for his first goal of the season.

Last year, the Crimson captain finished with 10 goals and 35 points to finish second among all NCAA defensemen in scoring. Biega entered Monday with zero goals and six assists.

“I think he’s really been an outstanding player for us,” Donato said of Biega. “[He] hasn’t really got rewarded, has had a bunch of posts that he’s hit and a bunch of opportunities. But he’s a guy we’re going to need to be a big-time player for us if we’re going to have some success down the stretch.”

The senior’s third period strike was a classic Biega goal. The captain received a tape-to-tape pass from defensive pair Danny Fick and teed-up a slapper from the point that whistled past reigning NCAA tournament MVP Parker Milner.

An offensive resurgence from Biega could serve as a catalyst for another late-season push. The past two Harvard squads have posted a combined 10-2-2 record between the Beanpot consolation game and the ECAC playoffs after a difficult middle of the season.

“The Beanpot consolation game is never a fun game to play in as far as losing in the first round is concerned,” Donato said. “But it can be a little bit of a springboard for the stretch run.”

—Staff writer Michael Ledecky can be reached at mledecky@college.harvard.edu. Follow him on Twitter @mdledecky.