Harvard Drops Seventh Straight Game

On Wednesday night at the Bright Hockey Center, seven didn’t prove to be a lucky number for the Harvard men’s hockey team. Instead, the numeral represents the number of consecutive losses for the struggling Crimson (2-8-0, 2-7-0 ECAC), which fell to Quinnipiac (9-8-1, 4-5-1) by a score of 3-1.

The contest ended a four-game losing streak for the Bobcats, who were victorious despite being outshot 35-20.

“We’re obviously very frustrated,” said Harvard coach Ted Donato ’91. “I don’t really think that’s the best we can play...we haven’t been able to find a way to physically create the types of scoring chances we’d like.”

Neither team got a shot off until 2:30 into the game, when Quinnipiac forward Jeremy Langlois fired the puck on net but was denied by Crimson assistant captain goaltender Kyle Richter, who made a save between his legs.

Harvard had its first good chance to score seven minutes in, after Bobcat goalie Eric Hartzell left the net exposed on a puck behind the net. Crimson sophomore Conor Morrison took a pass coming up the middle and had a good look, but he was hit from the side and his ensuing shot went wide.

Two minutes later, Quinnipiac put the game’s first score on the board. Forward Kellen Jones skated down the right side of the ice and sent a pass across the zone to teammate Clay Harvey, whose one-timer deflected past Richter and in.

The teams traded good looks throughout the period, but neither could take advantage of its power-play opportunities. Harvard’s best chance, a slapshot from the right circle by junior defender Ryan Grimshaw, sailed over the net. Hartzell later made a kick save, as Crimson sophomore Danny Biega sent the puck flying through the Bobcat defense. Richter responded with a glove save of his own with 15 seconds remaining in the period to keep the game tied.

“Kyle was very solid,” Donato said. “He gave us a chance to be in the game...we’ve got to score some goals for him and get him a lead.”

Harvard evened things up 5:06 into the second period, when, after a skirmish in the right corner, junior Alex Killorn was able to emerge and redirect the puck off the side of the net.  Classmate Eric Kroshus picked it up in the slot and put it through Hartzell’s legs for his third goal of the season.

“There was good pressure that shift,” Kroshus said. “A few times the puck turned over on forecheck. I just wanted to get rid of it quickly and luckily it went in.”

But Quinnipiac responded on a power play just three minutes later after a too-many-men penalty on the Crimson. Defenseman Mike Dalhuisen picked off a Harvard attempt to clear and sent a pass to Langlois, who hit Dunbar coming around the net on the right side. After a skirmish in front, Dunbar was able to put the puck off a Crimson defender’s skate and redirect it past Richter, giving the Bobcats the 2-1 advantage.

Moments later, Quinnipiac had a great chance to expand their lead. But after a shot fired from the top of the left circle deflected off Richter, the goalie dove backwards, landed on the puck, lost his stick in the ensuing scramble in front, and held on until the puck was cleared.

Harvard was unable to respond on a power-play in the final three minutes of the half after Hartzell denied multiple direct shots on goal.

“I think [Hartzell] was very solid,” Donato said. “They did an excellent job blocking shots in front of him.”

About four minutes into the third, the Bobcats opened their advantage further. After Richter made a kick save with his right pad on a Dalhuisen shot, Langlois took the rebound and put it back over the senior’s shoulder to give Quinnipiac the 3-1 edge.

Hartzell denied the Crimson the rest of the way, and his impressive performance was highlighted by a kick save with his right pad on a Killorn wrist shot. Sophomore Marshall Everson later had a great look in front after taking a pass from Biega behind the net, but was denied by the sophomore goalie. Hartzell then made a string of saves with Harvard playing a man up in the final minute to preserve the victory.

“They’re a big defense,” Kroshus said. “We tried to put a lot of pressure on them. We did that, [but] their goaltender played pretty well tonight.”

It was the Crimson’s second loss in as many weeks to the Bobcats after falling 5-4 in Hamden, Conn. on November 20. The team now has a three-week break before renewing action New Year’s Day at the Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup in Vermont.

“[Right now], we don’t have the energy and the cohesion to really bring out some of the talent that’s in the locker room,” Donato said. “It’s a challenge for us. The break probably comes at a good time.”

—Staff writer Scott A. Sherman can be reached at ssherman13@college.harvard.edu.