CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- With seven ECAC Hockey contests to play, No. 17 Harvard men's ice hockey (10-7-4, 8-4-3; 19 points) sits in a tie for third with Quinnipiac in the league standings heading into a key Friday night (Feb. 7) contest at Dartmouth (10-8-4, 7-6-2; 16 points). Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. (ESPN+). Three points separate five teams currently from 3rd to 7th place in the ECAC Hockey standings, and both Harvard and Dartmouth are in that group in a chase for a first-round bye in the league playoffs. Harvard is 2-1-3 in its last six league contests, earning points in its last four league road games (1-0-3).
How to Follow
Broadcast: ESPN+ l International Feed
Live Stats: at Dartmouth
Twitter: @HarvardMHockey
Game Notes: Harvard
What to Know
• Harvard is one of the top scoring teams in the nation, with an average of 3.76 goals per game (No. 3, NCAA), and has done so through a balanced scoring effort. Sophomore forward Casey Dornbach leads the team in scoring with 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists). He is No. 6 in the NCAA in scoring (per game), with 1.38 points per contest. Sophomore forward Jack Drury (10 goals in his last seven games; nine-game point streak) and first-year forward Nick Abruzzese (15 points in his last 10 games) are red hot. Drury was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Month, and Abruzzese was named Rookie of the Month for January. Defensemen Reilly Walsh (5-14-19) and Jack Rathbone (4-14-18) are two of the top scoring blueliners in the nation.
• Harvard's power play is No. 1 in the NCAA at 30.8% (24-for-78) on the season. The Crimson has scored at least one power play goal in 17 of 21 games this season.
• Harvard has been a fast-starting team this season, scoring first in 15 of 21 games this year. The Crimson is third in the nation with an average of 1.24 goals in the opening period of play.
• First-year forward Nick Abruzzese, sophomore forward Casey Dornbach, and sophomore forward Jack Drury are Harvard's nominees for the 2020 Hobey Baker Award. Abruzzese (10-18-28) leads all NCAA freshmen with an average of 1.33 points per game. Dornbach is Harvard's leading scorer (10-19-29) and has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in his last 12 games. Drury (14-13-27) is third among NCAA scorers with 1.50 points per game and has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in his last nine games, with a nine-game point streak.
• After a 9-3-3 in stretch that saw the Big Green climb into the national rankings, Dartmouth is 0-3-1 in its last four games, allowing 17 goals in that stretch. Sophomore Drew O'Connor (12-11-13) leads the team in scoring, with Quin Foreman (10-10-20) also a threat. First-year defenseman Tanner Palocsik (1-14-15) has been excellent on the backend. Senior Adrian Clark (10-7-4, 2.98, .905) has started all but one contest.
Harvard Hockey on Social
Ted Donato '91, The Robert D. Ziff '88 Head Coach for Harvard Men's Ice Hockey
Following success as a player at the collegiate, professional and international levels, Ted Donato has begun piling up a long list of accomplishments as head coach at his alma mater. The former Crimson captain has guided Harvard to four 20-win seasons, captured ECAC Hockey and Ivy League championships, claimed six NCAA tournament berths, a Frozen Four appearance, led his team to six ECAC Hockey championship games, and coached 11 All-Americans and 15 National Hockey Leaguers. As a player at Harvard he was named the 1989 MVP of the Frozen Four during the Crimson's national title run. Drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1987, Donato played 796 games over 13 NHL seasons. His career in the NHL commenced after he competed on the 1992 USA Olympic team where he scored four goals and three assists in eight games.
Up Next
Harvard plays Boston College in the consolation game of the 68th Beanpot at TD Garden in Boston next Monday (Feb. 10) at 4:30 p.m.
