And that’s six. That’s the number of consecutive defeats suffered by the Nice Eagles. Despite the support of their fans who once again filled the rink, the Niçois were no match for the Angers Dukes.
This October was long and difficult for the Nice Eagles. After this marathon of eleven games, the result is not the most flattering with only three wins including one in a shootout against eight defeats. As a result, the Eagles fell from third to fifth place but still have two to three more games than their direct competitors. After five consecutive losses including one against Angers which again stood in their way, the Niçois were aware of the importance of quickly turning things around. “We need to play as a team and give our all for the full 60 minutes in this last game before the break,” said Samuel Regis. Often caught off guard during short periods, the Azuréens have had the unfortunate tendency to self-sabotage in a matter of minutes lately. Unfortunately, the lesson was not learned tonight against a confident Angers team.
Right from the start, the visitors imposed their rhythm. More precise, faster, the Dukes took control of the puck and created the best opportunities. It only took three minutes for Angers to open the scoring: Romain Gutierrez found the net with a pass from Robin Gaborit and Simon Pasquet (0-1). Nice barely had time to catch their breath before Jonathan Charbonneau doubled the score four minutes later (0-2), capitalizing on a defensive lapse.
Pascal Margerit’s men tried to respond, but unsuccessfully. Despite 11 shots in the first period, the Niçois lacked sharpness in front of Matthew O’Connor’s goal. Angers, for its part, showed clinical efficiency. Romain Gutierrez scored a double, before Robin Gaborit, the assist on the opening goal, became a scorer himself for the fourth goal on a power play just before the break. At (0-4) after twenty minutes, the Eagles once again faltered right as the action started.
The second period did not allow for a reversal of fortunes. The Maralpins, penalized several times, endured the visitors’ constant pressure. Philippe Halley first increased the lead on another power play at the half-hour mark (0-5), then repeated it just before the end of the middle period (0-6), still on a power play. The Dukes thus capitalized on Nice’s indiscipline.
The Eagles, for their part, kept fighting, but their lack of offensive and defensive cohesion was evident. The few incursions into the Angers’ zone were neutralized by a compact and disciplined defense. Successive penalties from Isaac Coulaud and Yoan Salve further hindered the local efforts. At (0-6) after forty minutes, the goal was now to avoid humiliation.
An Encouraging Final Period
In the final period, Nice finally regained some momentum. Spurred on by a loyal crowd, the Eagles finally managed to salvage some pride. Robin Johansson reduced the deficit in the 47th minute (1-6) with a good service from Mathieu Desgagnés and Nicholas Cherkowski. Then, two minutes before the end, Henrik Rommel added a second goal (58:30, 2-6), well assisted by Jesper Larinmaa and captain Nicolas Ruel. Two late goals that provided a bit of comfort to a team otherwise dominated in all areas.
The statistics speak for themselves: Nice took 24 shots compared to 21 for Angers, but the efficiency was on the Dukes’ side. The Angevins scored three times on a power play, versus none for the Niçois. Discipline also weighed heavily: twelve minutes of penalties for Nice, against only two for Angers.
Pascal Margerit will have work to do before the next game. His team showed encouraging signs towards the end of the match. The Nice Eagles will have to swiftly turn the page and regain confidence after a break that promises to be restorative.
See you on November 10 for the resumption of the Magnus League with an away game that already looks crucial for confidence in Briançon.
