Freshman forward Luke Esposito was hooked rushing towards the net with puck, drawing a minor penalty. Then, Kerfoot was able to break past the Yale defense and put a shot on net, collect his rebound, and slip the puck past the Bulldogs’ Alex Lyon outstretched right pad to end Yale’s hopes of a shutout.

Sophomore forward Brian Hart’s power-play goal with less than five minutes remaining gave Harvard its second goal on four power play attempts on the night.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS COMMEMORATED

On a night where the defending national champions stole the show, the 1989 Harvard men’s ice hockey team was commemorated during the first intermission for its own title run 25 years earlier, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at the Bright-Landry Center.

The MVP of the Frozen Four that year was none other than current Harvard coach Donato, who scored twice in the national championship game against Minnesota to help lead his team to a 4-3 overtime victory.

“Its great to see them,” Donato said. “I think the bond you have from winning a national championship is extra special. I think everyone on that team would be quick to tell you that it was not only a great experience winning, but winning with those guys.”

—Staff writer Kurt T. Bullard can be reached at kurtbullard@college.harvard.edu.