Last night’s match pitted Nice against the Reims team in the semi-finals of the French First Division Championship. Nice had won last Wednesday’s away game by 4 goals to 2 and was keen on winning this second match to be able to focus on the final. However, the Reims team decided otherwise, and the suspense remains until tomorrow’s decisive match.
While the match started with a striking cross from the young Finnish player of NICE, Karri KOIVU, it was the Reims players who were the most incisive: they opened the scoring on their 1st power play, through Blake COSGROVE. Early in the game, the Nice players showed some inaccuracies, both in their passes and shots, and took a little time to find themselves.
A few minutes later, Nice equalized on a beautiful collective action (Stefan RUSNAK), then took the lead through Stefan MAJERNIK, thanks to a well-negotiated power play. The somewhat agitated Reims players got frustrated and conceded a 3rd goal by Jozef SLANINAK, following a beautiful move initiated by Michal DIAN. Towards the end of the period, Reims was penalized twice (2 x 2 min penalties), but Nice, with a 5 against 3 advantage, didn’t manage to finish the game early. Eventually, it was Reims who scored a goal at the end of the period, coming back to 3 to 2.
At the start of the 2nd period, Reims showed a different side: They attacked from the start and were much more tenacious. Despite being shorthanded, they even managed to level the score, thanks to former Nice player Jens ERIKSSON, making it 3-3!
It was then that Nice experienced a lapse in play, allowing Reims back into the game. Reims dominated and took the lead (3-4), thanks to better accuracy in front of the goal. End of the 2nd period 4 to 3 for Reims and the entire Nice crowd, who had come out in large numbers to support the Eagles, were in full suspense for the final period…
The 3rd period started poorly for Nice, who conceded a goal once again by Jens ERIKSSON (3-5). They even conceded another goal a few minutes later from Pierre-Charles HORDELALAY, bringing the score to 6 goals to 3 for Reims.
While some saw Nice defeated behind a wall of Reims defenders, they scored a goal while shorthanded, thanks to a beautiful play by Joonas SAARI. This goal lifted their spirits and gave them a boost at the end of the period (4-6).
Reims’ defense became more aggressive, and despite multiple unwarranted Reims fouls not being called, no penalties were given. The determined Nice players continued their efforts and took the risk of removing the goaltender to have a 6th skater on the ice. Their strategy paid off: they scored a determined goal on a deflection by Josef SLANINAK, following a beautiful collective play (5-6). They were just short of leveling the score, but Reims’ executioner this evening, Jens ERIKSSON, scored a final empty-net goal to conclude the game at 5-7.
Thus, Nice was not to be discredited as they put on a strong response at the end of the match. However, they will need to be more consistent throughout the game and play a more physical game if they hope to win against this team of Reims giants.
by Mickael Chandioux
