The Eagles of Nice are eliminated from the Coupe de France after their 4-1 defeat against the Briançon Red Devils in the round of 16. During a physical and intense match, Nice opened the scoring but succumbed to the offensives of the reigning French champions. An experience that will be valuable for the remainder of the season in Division 1 (the second national level).
As with every home game, the Jean Bouin rink was almost full. In the corner of the main stand, the “Testa Pelada” supporters’ group made their presence felt, cheering their players in this prestigious match between Nice Hockey (D1) and Briançon (Ligue Magnus).
Nice got off to the best possible start with a goal less than two minutes after kickoff. The shot from Slovakian Vladimir Kubus lodged into the top corner, unstoppable for the Briançon goalkeeper. The rink believed in the upset. However, Briançon immediately responded through Lionel Tarantino, taking advantage of a poor defensive retreat by the Eagles. The match was filled with intensity from both sides and hard hits, like the one that saw Nice’s Alexis Besson forced to leave due to bleeding. After only 5 minutes of play, Briançon took the lead (2-1) thanks to Damien Raux, who was named man of the match. Despite having a two-minute power play at the end of the period, Nice was unable to equalize. They came close after a scramble in front of Briançon’s goal.
“We were apprehensive, we watched them play. On our power plays, we handled some situations poorly, it’s a shame,” acknowledged Nice Hockey’s captain, Aurélien Macon, after the match.
The second period saw a change of dynamic, with Nice coming onto the ice with better intentions, like the first two shots of this period taken in less than a minute. However, it was against the run of play that Briançon’s forward, Marc-André Bernier, extended their lead. The Red Devils’ number 41 deflected a long-range shot just in front of the Nice goalkeeper, making it 3-1 as the clock hit the 32nd minute. The second period ended with a power play for each side without any goals, but with some fine saves from Vojtech Sedlacek, the young 22-year-old Nice goalkeeper.
The third and final period started poorly for the Eagles with a penalty (2 minutes + 10 minutes) given to Martin Slovak for an illegal check from behind. In the sequence, the Nice goalkeeper received the same penalty for moving the goal. Nice found themselves shorthanded for 4 minutes without conceding a goal. Likely fatigued from their efforts, Nice conceded a final goal in the 56th minute, scored by Jaka Ankerst. It was quite logical that the Briançon Red Devils emerged victorious on the ice of the Nice Eagles with a score of 4-1. Nice will likely regret their lack of attacking efficiency and some errors in the final gesture. A match against one of the finest teams in France that should prove beneficial in their next game on Saturday in Courbevoie for their return to Division 1.
Kevin Chifflet
