Defeated in the previous encounter, the Eagles of Nice eagerly awaited the arrival of the Ducs d’Angers at the Jean Bouin rink. Supported by their home crowd, the Nice team played an intense match, sometimes dominating, but once again fell short (3-5). A frustrating defeat for the Eagles of Nice, who never gave up.
A committed first period
The start of the match was balanced, with the Eagles of Nice being diligent and well-positioned defensively. However, at 5:15, Angers capitalized on a momentary lapse to open the scoring. Ironically, it was a player from Nice, Léo Coulaud, who initiated the play before assisting Timothée Loizeau, who scored 1-0 for the Ducs.
Hurt but not beaten, the Eagles of Nice gradually gained momentum. Their dominance was rewarded with a power play goal at 17:56: Olivier Centazzo, well-positioned in front of the net, scored from a precise pass by Marios Prapavessis (1-1). Soon after, Nice struck again. At 18:32, Mathieu Serer, set up by Nick Manning, put the Eagles of Nice ahead (2-1). A successful first period for Nice, who headed to the locker room with a one-goal lead.
Second period: Angers shifts the momentum
The second period began in the worst possible way for the Eagles of Nice. Just 1:01 in, Romain Gaborit equalized for Angers after a well-executed team play (2-2). This goal completely revitalized the Ducs, who gradually gained the upper hand.
Nice tried to hold their ground, but Angers proved more effective, especially during power plays. At 11:06, Théo Sarlieve gave the hosts the lead, perfectly assisted by Roberto Gutierrez and Olivier Archambault (3-2). The Eagles of Nice struggled but stayed in the game.
Just before the break, at 19:01, Angers extended their lead. Timothée Loizeau, already a scorer in the first period, doubled his tally with a pass from Julien Lefebvre and Jules Mugnier (4-2). A goal at the worst moment for Nice, who saw the Ducs take a two-goal lead.
Third period: the Eagles of Nice still believe
With their backs against the wall, the Eagles of Nice attacked the final period with determination. Their effort was rewarded at 5:42. In a power play, Timothée Loizeau scored his third goal of the night, bringing the score to 4-3 with an assist from Lucas Cirgues. The gap narrowed, and the match became breathless.
Nice pushed forward, launching multiple attacks and putting pressure on the Angers defense. The Eagles of Nice created several dangerous situations but lacked precision in the final touch. Angers, solid and disciplined, awaited their opportunity.
It arrived at 16:58. On a quick counterattack, Connor Donaghey scored the fifth goal for the Ducs, assisted by Marios Prapavessis (5-3). A definitive blow for Nice, who could not come back.
A frustrating but telling defeat
This defeat against the Ducs d’Angers left a bitter taste for the Eagles of Nice. Led, then equalizing, ahead before relenting, the Nice team showed a combative and coherent spirit, capable of competing with one of the strongest teams in the league.
While they lacked the clinical edge at crucial moments, the mindset and intensity displayed remain encouraging for the future. The Eagles of Nice will need to build on this performance to quickly bounce back and turn these promising displays into points. There is still a long way to go, but the Eagles of Nice have shown they have the tools to be a disruptive force.
