The Nice Eagles were defeated on Tuesday night at the Mériadeck ice rink by the Bordeaux Boxers (6–4), following a spectacular and offensive match. Despite a solid team performance and several strong moments, the team from Nice paid dearly for a few defensive mistakes and a lack of efficiency in key moments.
The losing streak continues for the Nice Eagles. In Bordeaux this evening, the Azuréens visited the site where their string of defeats began (on October 19, 6-2). Nevertheless, there was hope before the match, and a response was expected tonight against the Boxers, who were also the last team to be defeated at home (on October 17, 4-3 OT).
The match started at a fast pace, driven by the 3,500 Bordeaux spectators. The Boxers quickly took the lead with a goal from Kevin Dusseau in the 3rd minute. Three minutes later, Craig Puffer doubled the score for Bordeaux, setting the tone for a one-sided first period (2–0).
Nice struggled but remained organized. After several crucial saves by Alexis Shank, the Eagles finally found a breakthrough in the 18th minute. Through a brilliant combination between Louis Cirgues and Henry McKinney, Adam Nobes turned into a scorer to narrow the gap (2–1). This goal restored confidence in the Nice team, who returned to the locker room still in the game despite the score deficit.
The Eagles react
The start of the second period marked the awakening of Pascal Margerit’s men. Taking advantage of a power play, Jesper Larinmaa equalized at 21:29, assisted by Henrik Rommel and Colin Morillon (2–2). Nice then dominated the play, following up with good zone exits and an aggressive forecheck.
But Bordeaux quickly regained control. Jérémy Ouellet-Beaudry (27:46) and Quentin Tomasino (32:03) restored the two-goal lead for the home team. The Eagles didn’t give up. Despite being short-handed, Jordan Mugnier received a penalty, but his teammates remained solid. At 35:52, Nicholas Cherkowski brought Nice back within one (4–3), with the help of Hugo Nogaretto.
An open and undecided final third
The final act was set to be uncertain. In the 47th minute, the Eagles utilized another power play to level the score. Mathieu Desgagnés finished a beautiful team play initiated by Jesper Larinmaa and Samuel Régis (4–4). At this moment, Nice seemed capable of overturning the match.
However, Bordeaux, more efficient, made the difference in the critical moments. William Pelletier restored the lead for the Boxers at 59:21 (5–4), before the same player scored a sixth goal in the empty net a few seconds later (6–4). A cruel scenario for the Nice players who conceded a fifth consecutive defeat, courageous but punished on the details.
An encouraging performance nonetheless
Even if the result doesn’t fully reflect the match dynamics, the Nice Eagles can take several positive points. The Nice power play, effective (two goals with a man advantage), put pressure on the Bordeaux defense. Jesper Larinmaa, named the team’s best player, confirmed his role as an offensive leader. Adam Nobes and Nicholas Cherkowski also stood out with their activity and technical accuracy.
Defensively, Nice struggled against the speed of the Bordeaux trio Puffer–Ouellet-Beaudry–Pompei, but Alexis Shank kept his team in the match with several key saves. The Nice team also showed great solidarity during penalty-killing phases, conceding few clear chances despite eight penalty minutes.
This defeat, frustrating but rich in lessons, offers encouraging prospects for Nice. The team from Nice is expected by their supporters Thursday for the reception of Angers (8:00 PM) before enjoying a well-deserved ten-day break, which will be beneficial for both body and mind.
