Clarkson’s efforts finally paid off with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. While on a power play, Clarkson forward Matt Poapst eluded Harvard defenseman Noah Welch with a stickhandling move and drove the puck towards the net on a 2-on-1 opportunity.
Poapst drew the Grumet-Morris over, then slipped a perfect centering pass to linemate Kevin O’Flaherty, who knocked the puck in between Grumet-Morris’ legs to send the game into overtime.
Only the clutch goaltending of Grumet-Morris kept the clearly fatigued Crimson alive in the extra period, as the Golden Knights spent most of overtime in the Crimson zone. Grumet-Morris played one of his worst games of the season at Clarkson in February—he was pulled after allowing three goals on nine shots in the first period—but he came through Friday with his third straight quality performance.
“Dov has given us the stability in goal in the last few weeks that we had in the beginning of the year when we were playing at a real high level,” Mazzoleni said.
No hint of the late-game excitement could be found in the opening period. Both teams looked jittery for the first ten minutes of the game. Stoppages of play far outnumbered shots on goal as neither team could muster any sustained offensive pressure.
Harvard controlled play after opening the scoring on a Dom Moore goal with 4:25 left in the period, but it couldn’t convert on its chances to open up a two-goal lead. Clarkson eventually adjusted to Harvard’s aggressive offensive checking, and it began counterattacking to create transition opportunities.
The Golden Knights finally broke through at 7:25 of the second when Trevor Edwards banged his own rebound past Grumet-Morris to tie the score.
That goal woke up both teams and the rest of the period featured long stretches of frantic back-and-forth hockey, erasing the memory of a sluggish first frame. Neither team was able to capitalize on its chances, however, setting the stage for the dramatic final two periods.
HARVARD 3, CLARKSON 2 (OT)
at The 1980 Olympic Arena, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Harvard (14-14-4) 1 0 1 1 3
Cornell (17-14-6) 0 1 1 0 2
First period: H, Moore (Fried) 15:36. Second Period: C Edwards, 7:25. Third Period: H, Nowak (Kolarik, McCulloch) 2:49. C, O’Flaherty (Poapst) 14:31. OT: H Cavanagh 7 (Bernakevitch) 15:19. Shots on goal: H 10-15-14-4 44. C 5-11-11-14 41. Penalties: H 5-10, C 1-2. Power Play: H 0-1. C 1-5. Goalies: H, Grumet-Morris, (39-2). C, Walsh (41-3).