Just fresh off their title as D1 French champions, Nice Hockey laced up their skates again yesterday at the Jean Bouin ice rink. For this first promotion playoff match in the Ligue Magnus, the Eagles fell 4-2 against Morzine-Avoriaz. It seemed Nice Hockey still had their minds on their Saturday victory.
It was essential to be present right from the start of the match this Tuesday evening at the Jean Bouin ice rink, as both teams advanced forward and pierced through fragile defenses. It was Morzine who quickly took the lead after Varga lost the puck. Schwindt recovered the puck and went alone against Sedlacek, who couldn’t do anything (0-1, 2’47”). Well-positioned offensively, the Eagles responded a minute later. Hampl charged up the left and centered for Lacheny, who just had to push the puck into the net (1-1, 3’44”). Sedlacek, hero of the final against Anglet, conceded a second goal on a close-range shot by Holecko (1-2, 4’35”).
Once again, the Nice team was more reactive than proactive and tied the score thanks to Varga, who neatly hit the Pengouins’ goalie while in a power play (2-2, 8’40”). Tired, the Eagles conceded another goal at the end of the period. After a stopped shot, Sedlacek released the puck, followed by a slight scramble, benefiting McIntosh, who scored the third goal for Rhone (2-3, 18’05”). “There was a lot of physical and mental fatigue for this game after winning the cup on Saturday. The objective achieved, there was a natural decompression,” explained Stan Sutor, Nice Hockey coach.
The spectacle was definitely not there
Not really focused on their game in the first period, the Nice team continued in the same way in the second. The evening’s opponent, also not very appealing, allowed Stan Sutor’s men to believe for a moment that a comeback was possible. After ten boring minutes, Nice became enterprising, a shot went between the legs of Morzine’s goalkeeper. The puck rushed towards the back of the net before a Penguins player desperately cleared it. For the referee, this clearance happened on the line, which didn’t please the crowd who believed in the equalizer.
The match fell back into boredom, Morzine showed realism and did not waste their rare opportunities. Another one-on-one between Sedlacek and Corriveau, the latter did not miss the chance to increase the score and sealed the fate of the azurean keeper (2-4, 37’47”). “Morzine has technical skills and speed that show they are a Ligue Magnus club. They also have large builds and thus good physical abilities,” said Pascal Margerit.
A defeat, for the last home game
During the last period, neither team sought to produce play. The Nice team attempted, without conviction, a few long-range shots. In minds, the match was already settled, and Morzine headed toward victory. Announced as a big game between the D1 champion and a team wishing to defend their spot in the Ligue Magnus, the match ended up being disappointing. The Penguins took a considerable advantage in this playoff by winning their only away game. For their last home game, the Nice Eagles received great support from the Jean Bouin ice rink crowd after an exceptional season marked by this first D1 French championship title. The Saturday match could be decisive if Morzine wins at home. Should the Eagles manage to achieve the feat of bringing it to one win each, the decisive match would take place the next day, still at the Morzine ice rink. “We gave them four gifts, now we are in a very unfavorable position for promotion. The players are competitors and will want to win there. We are tired; we are used to playing one game a week, and now we have played six games in twelve days,” concluded Pascal Margerit, assistant coach.
Alexandre Demesy
