Received 3/3 at home. Largely victorious over the Bordeaux Boxers (5-1) thanks in particular to a controlled start to the match and an exciting finish, the Nice Eagles start the week in the best possible way at home.
Two days after being caught off guard in Marseille, the Nice Eagles were heading into a busy week with three matches. It started tonight against the defending French champions, the Bordeaux Boxers. French champions who are on two consecutive defeats in their last two matches. Everything was possible for this gala match at the Jean-Bouin skating rink.
And the first period did not disappoint. The Eagles came into their match with strong physical engagement, in line with their solid performance last Friday. After an initial alert on both sides and good reflexes from both goalies from the start of the match, the Nice players took control of the game five minutes later by taking advantage of a strong spell with a man advantage. The pressure intensified until the 10th minute and a close-range shot was turned away, before Fletcher Anderson came through to capitalize on this successful start 30 seconds later putting the score at 1-0 for the home team. Soon after, taking advantage of a misjudgment by the Bordeaux goalie out of his cage, Teemu Loizeau, assisted by Jules Lefebvre, allowed the Nice players to extend their lead at the 11th minute (2-0). Solid both offensively and defensively, the Eagles could count on an Alexis Shank imperious in goal, author of several key saves including a decisive intervention one minute before the final siren. Despite a period ending in a power-play disadvantage, Nice maintained their advantage and returned to the locker room with a two-goal lead.
Nearly perfect match finish
The pace eased upon return from the locker room, allowing the visitors to take slight possession control without managing to get on the board. Facing this Bordeaux block, the Nice players proceeded with quick transitions without immediately looking dangerous. At the 9th minute of the second period, despite a bright opening between the lines for their top scorer, the Bordeaux players again ran into the effectiveness of the Eagles’ goalie. Better positioned thereafter, Nice rebalanced the game by pressing harder, without however exciting the match like in the first period. The rare chills came in the final minute of the period. First on a heavy shot, then on a final Nice attempt 20 seconds before the buzzer, also unsuccessful. The two teams thus returned to the locker room with an unchanged score.
Upon returning to the ice, the Bordeaux players were more incisive and sharper in their offensives. Dominated, the Nice players dug in and endured the pressure relying on an impeccable collective block. In the final ten minutes, the game balanced out. Determined to preserve their advantage and committed to keeping their clean sheet, the Eagles remain unstoppable. Better yet, they deliver the killing blow late in the match.
Six minutes from the final siren, Lucas Colombin, assisted by Maxime Zoumatcheff and Louis Cirgues, added to the score. Less than thirty seconds later, Teemu Loizeau scored a brace on assists from Rolands Vigners and Louis Cirgues. Delivering the killing blow, 4-0 with five minutes remaining.
Heroic throughout the match, Alexis Sank could only concede Quentin Tomasino’s reduction in score for Bordeaux. But Nice didn’t give up and played offensively until the end of the match, scoring a fifth goal through Alexandre Gagnon assisted by Samuel Regis. Final score 5-1 for the Nice team.
The Eagles still unstoppable in their “cauldron”
While the scoreboard displays a very heavy (5-1) at the final whistle, the match turned during a suffocating second period where the Eagles had to dig in against Bordeaux assaults. “We couldn’t do anything, we couldn’t get the puck out. Honestly, getting out 2-0 at the end of the second period is a miracle,” admits striker Teemu Loizeau lucidly. But by relying on an iron-clad defensive block and impactful transitions, Marc-André Lévesque’s men perfectly executed the game plan to break the defending French champions in the final period. A prestigious victory savored by the Nice coach: “The victory is beautiful against the defending champion.”
Beyond the victory, the start of the season rests in the hands of Alexis Sank. Author of a masterful performance, the Eagles’ goalie frustrated the Bordeaux attackers, particularly during a suffocating second period where Nice bent without ever breaking. “Getting out 2-0 at the end of the second period is a miracle. Alexis Sank held the fort and wins us the match,” admits the Nice striker after the match. A view shared by coach Marc-André Lévesque, pleased to preserve his team’s unbeaten record on Jean-Bouin ice: “We want this little skating rink to be a real cauldron. The fans are showing up, it’s the least they can do. It was the motto from the start of the season to be unstoppable at home.”
After this new home victory, Nice takes three points and climbs to 4th in the standings. Next match for the Nice Eagles Friday October 2 against Rouen for the 7th day of Ligue Magnus. Kickoff 8 p.m. at the Jean-Bouin skating rink.
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