After a beautiful victory against Mulhouse (3-0), the Eagles were slapped at Jean Bouin. During the 21st day of Ligue Magnus, Nice lost to Chamonix (1-5), a frustrating defeat against a low-ranked team.
Feeling confident after their success against Mulhouse last week, the Azuréens took to the ice at Jean Bouin again. Facing a struggling Chamonix team ranked 10th, Nice was nevertheless shaken at the start of the match.
More aggressive and focused, Chamonix needed only 3 minutes of play to kick off hostilities. Defender Numa Besson opened the scoring and allowed his team to take the lead (0-1). The Eagles tried to react immediately, but despite a two-minute power play, the home team still couldn’t break through. Possession clearly favored Nice in this first act, but Peter Hrehorcak’s partners were guilty of approximations. Despite another power play, the red and black finished the first twenty minutes without a single goal. The Eagles displayed a lot of clumsiness, and the home team would need to show more determination if they wanted to breach Chamonix’s defense.
Back on the ice, the Niçois were caught off guard again after just a few seconds of play. American Colin Sullivan, with a sudden shot, found the back of the net despite the presence of local players. Chamonix widened the gap for the first time in the match (0-2). The Eagles were unrecognizable in this second act. After losing the puck, Valentin Coffy found himself alone against the Nice goalkeeper but missed his one-on-one. A third goal wasn’t far off. Well positioned, the puck circulated perfectly among the Chamonix players. The Savoyards capitalized on a power play to score the third goal of the match through Malo Ville. The Eagles were sinking with less than two minutes remaining in the second period. Apathetically, the locals no longer seemed to believe in a comeback against the unleashed Chamonix players.
A Match That Turns Into a Demonstration
In full confidence, Chamonix continued their perfect performance against Nice. Evan Jasper, with a touch of finesse, completed a magnificent play orchestrated by Lukas Hilding (0-4). The Eagles were expected to retaliate, but it was an off day for the locals. The clock was ticking in this final period but to no avail, as Nice was heading straight towards a deserved and very heavy defeat. The nightmarish evening continued for the Eagles. After a solo number, the Dane Evan Jasper scored his double (0-5). Despite their low league position, Chamonix was giving a lesson to Nice, second in Ligue Magnus. At the very end of the match, the Eagles saved face with a goal from the inevitable Romain Carpentier. Facing Rouen in their next match, a reaction will be expected.
