Ligue Magnus: In a crazy match, the Nice Eagles overturn Amiens

To launch this new Ligue Magnus season, the Nice Eagles traveled Tuesday night to Amiens’ Coliseum. In an animated and long undecided match, the Nice team turned around the Gothiques before winning in overtime (3-4).

Dressed in their preseason blue jerseys, the delivery of official kits having been delayed, the men of Pascal Margerit suffered from Amiens’ pressure right from the start. After only 1 minute and 56 seconds, Jere Vertanen, alone on the left, beat Alexis Shank and opened the scoring for the Gothiques (1-0).

Long dominated and imprecise in their clearances, the Nice team struggled to get out of their zone. Horvath deflected a first Nice attempt in the 10th minute, then remained vigilant against Rolands Vigners’ shot. 

The game gradually became more balanced, and with a first power play, the Eagles equalized at 14 minutes and 22 seconds. Hugo Nogaretto finished a beautiful combination with Edouard St-Laurent and Nicolas Ruel to bring the two teams level (1-1). After a difficult start, the Nice team finally stepped up their game in this first period.

The Eagles crack at the worst moment

After the break, the Eagles displayed much better intentions and imposed their rhythm more, but Amiens was dangerous on the counter. The Gothiques regained confidence and forced Alexis Shank to remain vigilant. 

At a numerical disadvantage, the Nice team came close to a breakdown, but their goaltender made a nice stick save before making multiple stops. He could not stop everything though, Jere Vertanen found the gap under his boot to earn a hat trick and give his team the advantage (2-1, 11 minutes 50).

Nice tried to react but Kieran Craig eventually widened the gap. A goal validated after video review despite protests for obstruction on the goaltender (3-1, 17 minutes 34). The pattern seen in the first period had completely reversed. The Eagles had lost their way after the numerical disadvantage, despite their good start to the period.

Nice finally clinches victory in overtime

With their backs to the wall, Nice had to react quickly to hope to turn the match around. The Eagles came back into the game in the 3rd minute and 21 seconds. Maxime Toukmatchev deflected a Colin Morillon shot and reduced the deficit (3-2). Carried by this momentum, the Nice team then took advantage of Mony‘s penalty to push.

After persistent effort, their work finally paid off. Alexandre Gagnon equalized at 14 minutes and 50 seconds and sent both teams to overtime (3-3). Nice then clinched the victory after a wild sequence where Amiens hit the post. Samuel Régis went alone on the counter and beat the goaltender, securing two valuable points for his team (3-4, 1 minute 08).

The next match will take place Friday, September 18 at 8 p.m. at the Jean-Bouin Sports Palace against Anglet.