This evening, starting at 7:15 PM, Nice Hockey hosts Anglet for the fifth and final match of the play-off finals. The team that wins the match will raise the Division 1 trophy. A face-off not to be missed!
This year, the two clubs have shared the points. Each team won at the other’s venue during the regular season, and in the play-offs, each won at home. But tonight, one team will necessarily emerge victorious from this clash after 60 minutes, 70 minutes (if overtime), or more, following a tense penalty shootout.
Sharing victories, pressure but not the cup
The Jean Bouin rink is expected to be full, and the supporters will, as usual, play their crucial role as the “seventh man,” which is very valuable for the Nice players during the first two home games. Nice is coming off two consecutive defeats on Anglet’s ice, but Eagles’ coach Stan Sutor doesn’t seem worried: “Our two defeats in Anglet are in the past. In play-offs, it’s not like in the league. You don’t lose a point in the standings but a won match. It’s already in the past. As soon as we left the match, we analyzed what went right and wrong. We then moved on to recovery to properly prepare for tonight’s game. Now, we have to win at home.”
Nice Hockey had the upper hand after its two consecutive wins. Aurélien Macon’s teammates no longer have a wildcard. Only victory can erase these two setbacks. However, coach Stan Sutor doesn’t think the Eagles are under more pressure than Anglet: “The pressure is on both sides, it’s 50/50. Anglet left here with their backs against the wall, and they managed to come back. There’s no reason we can’t succeed. They may say they’ve caught up, but they’ll think they can’t lose after this comeback, so the pressure is just as much on us as on them. I think the players aren’t thinking about the past but are focused on preparing well and giving their all for this final match.”
An historic evening?
After 11 consecutive victories, the Nice team saw their streak come to a halt at tonight’s opponent. But on paper, Nice has noted that Anglet travels poorly, very poorly. The Basques are on a five-game losing streak away from home in all competitions. Nice has already experienced a final in 2012 against Mulhouse, which they lost. This time, they want to come out victorious and lift the cup in front of their supporters. There’s nothing left to do but win.
Kevin Chifflet
