As the third period began to wind down at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center Tuesday night, the clock became Harvard’s biggest enemy. After Quinnipiac (15-3-5, 6-2-3 ECAC) took a 2-1 lead on a quick wrist shot from junior forward Matthew Peca early in the final frame, the Crimson (5-7-3, 2-6-3 ECAC) spent the remainder of the period looking for an equalizer.

Harvard generated several chances but failed to find the back of the net for most of the period. However with under a minute to go, after Crimson goaltender Raphael Girard vacated his net in favor of an extra attacker, Harvard delivered.

Deep in the Bobcats’ territory, sophomore forward Kyle Criscuolo fired the puck toward the crease from out wide. In the midst of a scrum in front of the net, freshman forward Alexander Kerfoot squeezed the puck past Quinnipiac goaltender Michael Garteig, tying the game at two with 49 seconds left to play.

“[The puck] just went off some part of my body and found a way in the net,” Kerfoot said. “I don’t really know how it happened.”

Kerfoot’s goal proved to be the last score of the night, as the two teams skated to a 2-2 draw in the first conference tilt of 2014 for each side.

BRINGING HIS BEST FOR THE BOBCATS

Criscuolo was all over the ice for the Crimson. In addition to picking up an assist on the game-tying score, the forward netted his eighth goal of the season midway through the second period.

With Quinnipiac leading 1-0, Criscuolo left a drop pass for Kerfoot at the top of the right circle and moved towards the front of the net. Seconds later, the sophomore received a pass from junior Max Everson and pushed it past Garteig to tie the game.

“[Criscuolo] wins battles, gets you the puck, goes hard to the net, does everything right,” Kerfoot said.

The young forward has had nothing but success over the course of his collegiate career against the Bobcats, scoring in each of his three matchups against Quinnipiac. Criscuolo’s most recent goal marked the second time he has beaten Garteig this season, after having recorded a power play goal in a 3-2 loss to the Bobcats in November.

Last season, Criscuolo notched his first goal against Quinnipiac—one that actually parallels his latest score. The Bobcats had gotten on the board first, but the forward tied the game at one in that contest as well, providing a spark for the Crimson who went on to win 2-1 in overtime.

“It’s pretty unique playing with [Criscuolo],” Kerfoot said. “He’s kind of different [from] anyone I’ve ever played with, but he’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever been around. If you get the puck in down low, he’s going to win every battle.”

PERFECT PENALTY-KILLING