“There’s a lot of character there,” said Donato of the Bulldogs. “[They have] a lot of moxie to perform in the toughest of games.”

In some ways, the Rivalry On Ice is just another regular season game. Saturday’s result will not even count for points in the conference standings.

Yet the game has quickly gained traction among fans in its first two years, perhaps challenging the Beanpot as Harvard’s premier mid-season showcase. Madison Square Garden announced a crowd of 15,524 at the game’s debut last year, and the schools’ alumni organizations will once again sponsor a number of activities surrounding the main event.

On the rink, the rivalry has also intensified. The recent history between the teams includes two playoff series in three years and plenty of chippiness to go around. After their last contest, Allain accused Crimson skaters of trying to rattle his star goaltender with hits and late shots. This week, McNally did not hesitate calling Yale his team’s “biggest rival.”

For Harvard men’s hockey, the Bulldogs have become the new Big Red.

“I think any time you play Yale, there’s a little added incentive to make sure you’re prepared when you go in and [to make sure you] know that it’s going to be an absolute war,” Criscuolo said. “And then adding on the fact that we’re playing at Madison Square Garden, there’s going to be a special feeling in the locker room going into the game.”

 —Staff writer Michael D. Ledecky can be reached at michael.ledecky@thecrimson.com.