BOSTON, Mass. – Harvard men's ice hockey triumphed over Northeastern, 4-3, at the TD Garden during the Beanpot Third Place Game. This victory marked Harvard's efficacy on the power play, converting four opportunities as they capitalized on Northeastern's penalties throughout the match.
The contest commenced with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. Northeastern struck first early, maintaining pressure for the initial stages of the first period. But the Crimson didn't take long to respond: first-year forward Mick Thompson maneuvered through the Huskies' defense, netting the tying goal after just minutes.
Despite the early deficit, Harvard's strategy began to shine through during the second period. The Crimson took control, netting three goals on power plays. They surged forward just 56 seconds after the break, with junior defender Mason Langenbrunner scoring his first of two goals thanks to a superb assist from sophomore forward Ben MacDonald. This successful strike put Harvard up, 2-1, and ignited their momentum.
A mere moments later, Harvard extended their lead. Junior forward Casey Severo cleverly redirected a shot from senior defender Ian Moore, marking his career-high with 10 goals this season. Northeastern attempted to rally back, finding the net to bring the score to 3-2, but Langenbrunner quickly responded with another power play goal—a commanding slapshot on the left side, giving the Crimson a reassuring 4-2 advantage.
Heading to the third period, Harvard controlled the game with remarkable defense. Despite one last Northeastern bingo to narrow the gap, the Crimson proved resilient, successfully holding off any potential last-minute comebacks from the Huskies.
With 19 total shots on goal, Harvard celebrated not just the win but the standout performance from their players. Langenbrunner exhibited prowess by scoring multiple goals for the first time, highlighting his significant role within the team throughout the match.
Prior to this game, Northeastern found itself once again struggling with penalties, committing six infractions during the first two period—their inability to stay disciplined became central to their undoing this time around. "The Huskies committed six penalties through the first two periods and the Crimson responded by scoring four power-play goals," reported the Boston Globe, reflecting on Northeastern's failures.
After the match finished, Harvard's all-time series lead against Northeastern now stood at 68-38-1, evidencing the intense rivalry played out on the ice. The Crimson’s power play statistics filled the team with optimism as they prepared for their next opponents up north this weekend—a two-game ECAC road swing against St. Lawrence and Clarkson.
Looking forward, Harvard eyed the growth opportunity it gained from this win, as they attempted to build momentum, hoping to snag consecutive victories, something they have only accomplished twice this season. "Harvard will look to make it two wins in a row...when it returns to the ice Friday for an ECAC road game against St. Lawrence University," remarked local coverage.
This latest triumph at the Beanpot solidified Harvard's spot as they sought to redefine their season, showcasing the potential within their roster and hinting at future successes on the collegiate hockey front.