The Nice Eagles won 5-4 in Courbevoie this weekend for the 7th day of the D1 championship. Four days after the French Cup defeat against Briançon, the team from Nice is back on track and is now in 7th place in the standings.
A close match was expected between two teams close in the standings (Courbevoie, 6th and Nice, 8th). The mission was clear, the winner would move ahead of their opponent. With Slovak suspended for two matches (headbutt against Briançon), the Nice Hockey team had to win to not fall behind the top of the table.
After a first period quite devoid of opportunities, both teams returned to the locker room with a blank score of 0-0.
The second period is completely different from the previous one and it starts badly for Nice’s Andrej Brejka, who receives a two-minute penalty. Following that, Courbevoie opens the score and even doubles it. After 4 minutes of play in this second period, the locals lead 2-0. But the Eagles have resources and will also take advantage of their power play (4 against 3) following the penalties inflicted on two Courbevoie players. The team from Nice benefits from this and ties the score thanks to Milan Varga, assisted by Yohanne Lacheny, who also scores to equalize. The match is getting exciting, and the score is 2-2 after 6 minutes in the second period. A fraction of a second later, Samuel Aquin gives the Nice Hockey team the lead, followed shortly by Stephan Klimek. At the half-hour mark, Nice is leading by two goals, 4-2.
This match is far from over. Courbevoie does not intend to give up, and their player Juraj Dancsak brings hope back to his team, making it 4-3. The Roosters even equalize in the 35th minute through Alexandre Leroux, 4-4. A crazy match! Both teams have had the opportunity to lead by two goals, but no goalkeeper has been able to keep his team in the lead, a draw is deserved and the third period will not change anything. Therefore, the game goes into overtime to determine a winner.
Right at the start of overtime, the Nice Hockey team gives everything to secure this victory, and it is Karri Koivu who scores the golden goal after 7’12’’. The Nice Eagles win 5-4 on the ice of Courbevoie and rise a place in the standings. An important victory before hosting Neuilly, 10th, next Saturday at the Jean Bouin ice rink.
Kevin Chifflet
