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At the start of the second period of Harvard men’s hockey’s second quarterfinal game against Clarkson, the Crimson could feel its postseason hopes slipping away. But instead of giving in to despair, Harvard seized the moment to mount its most impressive comeback of the season.

While the overtime win ultimately wasn’t enough to prevent Clarkson from taking the series, according to Head Coach Ted Donato ’91, the team’s perseverance showed the potential of the young Crimson squad.

The first game of the series ended with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss for Harvard after the Knights overturned the Crimson’s 2-1 lead in the third period. Still the Crimson did not back down for the second game, instead using the loss as motivation. Donato said that everyone on the team knew they had their backs to the wall going into the second game. He described all three games in the series as hard-fought and close which only made the team hungrier for a win to show for all its work..

“Sometimes when you go into game one of a series on the road, sometimes you can catch a team off guard,” said Donato. “But usually in that second game, everybody’s made their adjustments, and everybody understands the intensity of the playoffs is a notch above the regular season.”

Harvard’s Successful Redemption

Harvard hockey’s second game against Clarkson turned out to be a successful run on the ice — with junior forward Casey Severo’s overtime goal earning a decisive victory for the Crimson.

“There’s a certain shared desperation that I think is important in order to be able to advance,” Donato said. “It’s a great experience to have to go on the road and play against a very accomplished team. And so I thought our response in the game was excellent.”

Donato also noted this game was a beneficial experience especially for the younger members of the team to show the need for resolve even through rough patches.

Although junior goaltender Aku Koskenvuo was quick to block six of seven shots during the first period, the Knights managed to lead 2-0 by the beginning of the second period.

However, senior forward Zakary Karpa scored within the following minute — marking his first goal of the season — to bring the Crimson back into the game.

Shortly after, the Crimson entered its first power play of the game. Junior defenseman Mason Langenbrunner secured his sixth goal of the season — assisted by junior forward Casey Severo and freshman defenseman Lucas St. Louis — tying the game 2-2.

The game’s tension only rose when Harvard celebrated taking the lead with a goal from senior defenseman Jack Bar. The excitement proved premature, though, after he was ruled offside.

Entering the third period still with an even score sheet, the long-fought third period ended with no progression from either side.

“I remember after the third period, I think we were all very tired,” freshman forward Mick Thompson said. “But we were still so hungry we wanted to win that much more.”

As the game entered overtime, junior forward Casey Severo quickly seized the opportunity to secure a decisive goal against Clarkson to secure Harvard’s win. With an assist from Thompson, Severo shut down the Knights and pushed the team to a third game.

This marked Severo’s second overtime goal in just three weeks and 16th goal of the season. It also meant that he scored in two of the playoff games, playing a crucial role for the team.

Donato and Thomspon both described Severo’s goal as a feel-good moment for the entire team.

“I think all of us could agree that’s probably the most excited we’ve been all year,” Thompson said.

The Team’s Takeaways

While Harvard didn’t make it to the next round of the playoffs, Donato said he found a lot to be proud of in the team’s performance, especially in the second game.

The senior players, who were part of the last ECAC championship team, guided their teammates and their amplified leadership played a crucial role in the Crimson’s success.

“I thought all the seniors really played well in the game,” he said. “And so I think they were really influential to our younger players and in the way they were leading. And I think that led to really three strong performances on the weekend.”

For Thompson, the win was a sign of the team’s unity.

“We all worked as hard as we could, and we all bonded into the standard of how we wanted to play as a team,” said Thompson. “And I think that’s why we got the win.”

The many notable achievements from the weekend — Koskenvuo’s swift saves that kept Clarkson from scoring, Karpa’s first goal of the season that initiated the team’s catchup, Langenbrunner’s power play point that tied the game, and Severo’s determining overtime goal — provided consolation for the team even as they lost the other games.

“Even though we fell behind, we felt like we were playing well,” Donato said. “It was a real impressive comeback and just a great showing of the strength and willingness of the team just to really stick together and stay with it, even amongst the odds being a little against us.”

– Staff Writer Kaylyn H. Kim can be reached at kaylyn.kim@thecrimson.com.