For this second match of the French First Division Championship, and particularly the first home game for the Nice team, more than 1,000 spectators were present at the Jean Bouin sports hall.
Once again, Nice came out on top at the “finish”, overtaking the visitors in the last third. Except for the decisive goal, Nice had difficulties in finalizing collectively, but the victory is deserved, offering the public a performance full of enthusiasm throughout the match.
As if the wait since last April had not been long enough for the Nice public eager to see their team again, they had to wait a few additional minutes. The match was delayed by a quarter of an hour to repair a railing and change the Nice team’s jerseys.
Goalkeepers in play:
Nice: Jimmy LUNDBERG #1
Lyon: Guillaume RICHARD #29
1st Period: Nice dominant but error-prone
As if they had a lion’s heart, the Nice players entered the match with dominance both in play and in scoring opportunities. The Nice attack assaulted Richard’s goal, as exemplified by the initial action well initiated by the young Finnish duo KUMPULAINEN/PERANEN, who penetrated the Lyon defense before taking a dangerous shot. The eagles hovered in the offensive zone, with BERNIER passing the puck to KUMPULAINEN on the right side: dribble, puck protection, he manages to bypass two players before adjusting the opposing goalie with a mid-height shot to the left (1-0). The lion is subdued, conceding a power-play due to a stick charge by CORRY, but Nice, insufficiently decisive in finishing, fails to widen the gap. Moments later, KROTAK skillfully serves MACON two meters from the Lyon goal, but the chance goes begging as the puck bounces, preventing him from giving his team some breathing space. On the Lyon counter, MACON speeds back into defense, as if to make up for the previous action but commits a foul. The Lyon team, now on a power play, seeks the flaw and finds it through a substitution error in Nice’s line. Indeed, the Lyon goalkeeper sees all four Nice players leaving at the same time and quickly relaunches to KRISTIN, who was waiting at the opponent’s blue line. He then equalizes by creating space to find an angle and shoots low (1-1). Everything had to be redone for Nice, and stunned by this poor substitution, they make another mistake: nobody is marking JOHANSSON, who finds himself alone in front of the net and scores thanks to a pass from LEBEY, working on the right (1-2).
The Eagles charge again, and despite two clear chances from THEMAR/KROTAK and SLANINAK/MAJERNIK, the score does not change. At the end of the first period, the Azuréens are trailing 2-1 due to a lack of offensive success and two clear mistakes, quickly punished.
2nd Period: Nice levels the score
Nice starts this second period with a strong determination to level the score. The desire is there, the players are moving well, the passes connect, and some heavy hits punctuate the match, as demonstrated by DANA, who strikes on his right side in the neutral zone before retrieving the puck. And when individual talent makes the difference: KROTAK on the left side breaks through and, after a series of dribbles, reaches the net and equalizes (2-2).
Both teams rush into the battle, and Lyon overexerts itself by operating on two lines to deploy its best elements. The actions flow, and finally, it’s Lyon who takes the lead once again with a second goal by KRISTIN (2-3): he dribbles LUNDBERG while moving outward, waiting for him to go down, then sends the puck into the top of the net. The play and actions continue, and it’s Nice’s turn to pose a threat: SLANINAK, behind Richard’s net, passes to MAJERNIK who sends the puck straight toward the top corner, but the Lyon goalkeeper withstands and, with a reflex save, prevents what seemed like a determined equalizer. Nice doesn’t give up, and a few minutes later, it’s the same two players who find the net: in a 2-on-1 break, SLANINAK effectively serves MAJERNIK, who equalizes (3-3).
Towards the end of the second period, after a penalty against DUBAJ, Lyon tries to capitalize on its power play, but the Nice goalkeeper remains impeccable. In the aftermath, he even avoids the worst by blocking a tricky puck when a jam of players formed in front of his posts.
3rd Period: The Nice Claw
In this third period, Lyon seems less well, probably fatigued from cycling through just two lines earlier. Since the beginning of the match, Nice has struggled to find effectiveness in its collective efforts to score. Until the 45th minute, when the trio of KROTAK, MACON, THEMAR lights up Jean Bouin with a superb collective movement starting from defense and finally concluding with a goal (4-3). The puck was quickly cleared from the Nice defensive zone, creating a 3-on-2 offensive. While KROTAK on the right side attempted to pass between the two Lyon defenders, believing they could reclaim the puck directly, they ignored MACON arriving on the left. Despite the obstacles, the puck reaches MACON, who could have taken his chance against the Lyon goalkeeper, but he chooses differently: he sets up THEMAR on the right, positioned at the second post, who finishes the beautiful move with a shoot while the Lyon goalkeeper seems overwhelmed.
The game slowly tightens up, neither side wanting to risk an equalizer nor to fall further behind. The teams become more cautious, leading to tougher defenses and some fouls. Tempers flare at the very end of the game in front of LUNDBERG’s net, but the score remains unchanged.
A word from Stan SUTOR, Nice’s coach:
“Again in this championship round, we made mistakes, which is unfortunate. On the first goal, it’s simple: the players all changed at the same time because they were exhausted, and that’s not how modern hockey should be played. Players should stay for 30-40 seconds maximum. We must discipline ourselves defensively to not give the opposing team hope and put ourselves in danger. Tonight we managed, but we gave away too many gifts, and by being more disciplined in our game, we will have the means to be more comfortable in the matches. […] I am pleased with the desire the team has; it’s an undeniable strength for me. However, despite good individual performances that made the difference tonight, we need to bring it back to the collective, and we still have work to do…”
