"I think both teams were ready mentally to play a down and gritty, playoff intense college hockey game," Taylor said. "It turned out to be quite a different scenario out there."

Harvard took a 5-3 lead at 13:36 of the second period when freshman winger Kenny Turano lifted the puck into the net from close range.

Yale closed to within striking distance just before the end of the second period on an Earl goal at 19:42, making the score 5-4.

Harvard's one-goal lead looked shaky going into the final frame. The Crimson had lost multiple close games in which it led after two periods, and the seesaw nature of the contest indicated that this game would be no different.

This time, though, Harvard would hold on. Yale's best chance came midway through the third, when, during a sustained period of Harvard pressure, Steve Moore was whistled for cross-checking at 12:15.

But the Crimson penalty-kill unit met the challenge, and Yale failed to muster many good opportunities during the man advantage.

Yale had chances in the final minute of play, but strong goaltending by Jonas and some lucky bounces prevented the Bulldogs from sending the game into overtime.