This Friday marked the first official match of the Riviera Cup. The Nice Hockey Elite team hosted the Mulhouse Scorpions at its indoor Jean Bouin rink. The team from Nice triumphed 4-2 over their Alsatian counterparts.
The games have begun. Nice is off to the best possible start this season. The first match of the 2020 Riviera Cup ended with a convincing victory for the Riviera team. It was a well-deserved success despite a tenacious game by the Mulhouse team.
Two Tight Opening Periods
Antonรญn Duลกek opened the scoring for the Nice team. The Czech international maneuvered past the Alsatian defenders and, despite intense pressure, managed to put the puck in the back of the net. Nice led 1-0 seven minutes before the end of the first period.
But the Mulhouse team’s response was immediate. A minute later, Milan Jurรญk broke through into the Nice team’s zone to level the score (1-1). The period ended with this tie score.
The second period commenced with two penalties, one for each team, and both played five-on-five. It was a blow for Mulhouse as they conceded a second goal through Valรจre Vrielynck. Leading 2-1, Nice finished the second period again with five players after the penalty given to Tomรกลก Knotek.
Nice Pulls Ahead
The Nice team seemed to dominate the proceedings. Ondลej Kopta added a third goal, giving his teammates a more comfortable lead on the scoreboard (3-1; 3rd period).
The match grew increasingly difficult for Mulhouse with two new penalties for Vincent Melin and Julien Munoz with fifteen minutes left. Inaccuracies in passes cost the blue-clad team numerous opportunities.
Nice sealed the deal with a fourth goal by Boris Brincko (4-1). Milan Jurรญk’s double five minutes before the final whistle made no difference; the Alsatians eventually lost with a final score of 4-2.
Thus, Nice won their first home match of the Riviera Cup and will host the Gap Raptors on Sunday evening.
