This Friday evening, the Eagles of Nice traveled to Amiens for the 31st round of the Ligue Magnus. After an eventful match, the team from Nice won in a shootout (5-4).
Chasing a third consecutive win, following victories against Cergy Pontoise last week and against Anglet at home, on Tuesday. That was the goal for the Eagles of Nice. The teammates of Louis Belisle are in good form in the championship. Facing them were the Gothics of Amiens, ranked 6th in Ligue Magnus, two positions above Nice, in 8th. The Amiens team had been through three consecutive losses.
Amiens started the match better. Predictably, the Gothics opened the score with Antonin Plagnat scoring in the 7th minute (1-0). But the Eagles quickly got back into the match. Ondrej Kopta equalized four minutes later for Nice (1-1).
The Eagles took the lead in the second period. Captain Louis Belisle finished off a fine team move in the 22nd minute (1-2). For the first time in the match, Nice was ahead. However, Amiens equalized soon after, in the 24th minute (2-2), through Jared Freadrich. The game was on again.
Two offensive teams
Everything was to play for in the final period of this match. With a power play advantage, Amiens scored a third goal through Illies Djemel in the 42nd minute (3-2). Nice’s reaction was quick. On a counterattack, Ondrej Kopta won his one-on-one to score his second goal of the game in the 45th minute (3-3). Neither team was backing down. Louis Vitou restored the lead for the Eagles, five minutes before the end of the match (3-4). The Gothics were not deterred, as Amiens equalized shortly after, just seconds later, through Danick Bouchard (4-4). The game intensified, with the puck moving swiftly from one goal to the other, in an ever-increasing pace. Overtime was needed to separate the two teams.
No goals were scored during the overtime, leading to a penalty shootout. The Eagles eventually won (2-1) at the end of the shootout, thanks to several saves by Conrad Mölder. This marked the third consecutive win for Nice in Ligue Magnus.
The next match for the Eagles will be next Tuesday. Nice will travel to Bordeaux for the 33rd round of the Ligue Magnus championship. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 PM.
