This Saturday (8:45 PM), the Eagles are heading to Tours for game 1 of the Division 1 playoffs quarterfinals. The Tours Remparts team, against whom the Nice Hockey team has never succeeded this season, lost away (6-5) and at home (3-6). The time for revenge has come for Stan Sutor’s men.
Now, it’s no laughing matter. It’s playoff time for Nice Hockey, the third-place finisher in the regular season (34 points with 16 wins and 8 losses), achieving the club’s goal. A nearly perfect first half of the season with a leading position for a few days, followed by a more challenging sequel with disappointments like the defeat against Tours (3-6).
On the other hand, Tours, promoted to D1 this season, surprised hockey specialists and fans. The Tourangeaux had an impressive season to climb to the 6th place (27 points with 12 wins and 12 losses) on the final day by beating Neuilly-sur-Marne 6-3. Throughout the year, the underdogs managed to raise their level of play to compete in this D1, and even beyond.
A match that, on paper, seems to favor the Eagles. But this season has shown that favorites are not necessarily the winners at the final buzzer. It is, therefore, a match to be taken very seriously.
For coach Stan Sutor, it’s the start of a new championship: “I am pleased with the season, the third place reflects the team’s quality. Tours beat us twice, but in the playoffs, we reset everything to zero. The players are very motivated, and we will do everything to win this first match.”
To prepare for this match in the best conditions, the Côte d’Azur club will be at full strength. The Nice team can count on the return of Koivu, absent for five weeks due to injury, on a successful Rehak, who scored four goals in Toulouse during the last match of the regular season, and a team traveling with confidence after a rather positive end to the season (3 wins and 2 losses in the last five matches).
Kevin Chifflet
Photo credit: Nice Hockey
