* Record: 4-2-1, 4-2-1 ECAC Hockey

* Last time out: Defenseman Brian McCafferty and center Jimmy Fraser each had a power-play goal and an assist, but the Crimson couldn't hang on to a third-period lead and settled for a 3-3 tie Tuesday at Brown.

* In the crease: Kyle who? Freshman Matt Hoyle has played every minute of Harvard's season, posting a 4-2-1 record, 1.70 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and a shutout.

“He has stabilized that position for us so far,” coach Ted Donato said. “For a team that had a lot of question marks at that position coming into the year, he's played very solid.”

Hoyle's taken over for all-league selection Kyle Richter, who is missing the season because of “unspecified academic reasons,” according to the Boston Globe.

* Key skaters: The Crimson have balanced scoring in the early going, with four players tied for the team lead with five points. Senior winger Nick Coskren leads the team with four goals, three of which have come on the power play. Along with McCafferty, Buffalo Sabres draft pick Alex Biega is one of the leaders on the blue line.

* Of note: Harvard has scored the first goal in six of its seven games. ... The Crimson have scored a pair of short-handed goals already. ... Cornell has lost three of its last four games at home to Harvard. ... Matt McCollem (St. Louis), Alex Killorn (Tampa Bay) and Doug Rogers (N.Y. Islanders) are also NHL draft picks.

Special teams

Cornell: Power play — 10.3 pct., 45th in the nation; penalty kill — 95.5 pct., third.

Harvard: Power play — 20.0 pct., tied for eighth; penalty kill — 86.0 pct., 26th.

— Brandon Thomas