Cornell scored in the first 29 seconds of the game, only to see
Harvard tie it up before the end of the period. Harvard made the only tally
in the second, but Cornell knotted the score at two halfway into the third.
Throughout an intense overtime period, neither team could capitalize on
some excellent scoring chances.
        Cornell's offense did an excellent job of putting on the pressure
and bringing the puck to the net. On the other hand, they appeared
incompetent once they were there. I don't know how many point-blank shots
they failed to put in, or how many passes slid past an open net, but there
were plenty. Harvard goaltender J.R. Prestifilipo seemed to have that
perfect combination of skill and dumb luck that makes a hot goalie.
        Cornell's powerplay was nonexistant. They had three 5-on-3
advantages, including one in the final 1:45 of the game, but once again
were unable to put the puck in the net.
        The officiating was almost as bad as the Cornell special teams.
Basically, the referee lost control of the game sometime in the second
period. Blatant fouls by both teams went uncalled, and some very unecessary
injuries resulted. There seemed to be plenty of bad blood between the two
Ivy League competitors, and in the end the Harvard players refused to shake
the hands of their counterparts. After Harvard's goalie was hurt in a
jumble in front of the net and another player went down after a hard check
into the boards, their coach appeared to be very upset with the lack of
penalty-calling. I can't say that I completely blame him, but I would
assert that the bad (non)calls went both ways.
        One of the more controversial moments in the game occured on an
apparent Cornell goal early in the second period. After a scirmish in front
of the net, the puck dissappeared. Soon thereafter, the goal judge lit the
lamp and the referee signalled the goal. The Harvard team, especially
Prestifilippo, was very upset with the call and followed the ref around the
rink. I don't know exactly what was said, but eventually the goal was
recalled. The game went downhill from there.
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.