For this 13th day of D1, Nice Hockey is traveling to Mulhouse. The team from Nice is on a streak of three consecutive victories and is determined to finish this first half of the championship in the best possible way.
A victory against their nemesis would allow the Eagles to strengthen their current third place position and gain confidence before facing the current leader of D1, Anglet, next week.
With 60 minutes to go before the mid-season mark, Nice Hockey stands third in the championship with 16 points in the standings. After 11 matches played, the record is 8 wins and 3 losses. These are highly favorable results for the Eagles, whose goal is to finish in the top 4. With six wins out of the last seven matches and some thrilling comebacks (overtime victory in Coubervoie, triumph over Mont-Blanc after trailing for a large part of the game), Nice proves that their podium position is no fluke. A smart and precise summer recruitment is now bearing fruit, despite the departures of Touchette and Bergin at the beginning of November. Nice Hockey will present a full lineup tonight, featuring their latest recruit, Adam Rehak.
As for Mulhouse, the club is currently only in 6th place with 12 points. However, unlike Nice, the Mulhouse Scorpions have only played eight games (three fewer than Nice) and their mid-season record is equally impressive. With 6 wins and 2 losses, Mulhouse is close to the Top 4, which was their declared objective at the start of the season. Nice Hockey’s nemesis (eliminated them 2-1 in the quarter-finals last season) is coming off two consecutive setbacks: against Anglet (4-3), the D1 leader, and against Rouen (5-2) in the Coupe de France. The Scorpions are eager to erase this unsuccessful week and get back on track in front of their home crowd.
Goals are expected on the ice in Mulhouse. Last year, the two teams faced each other five times. Mulhouse has the upper hand with 4 wins to 1. Notably, this season, Nice defeated Mulhouse (4-1) in a friendly during the ASECA tournament at the end of August.
Photo credit and more information at news.nicehockey.fr
Kevin Chifflet
