This Friday, February 6, 2026, at 8 p.m., the Palais des sports Jean-Bouin was the scene of a thrilling scenario. After leading 2-0 and then seeing Briançon’s Red Devils come back to level in the last third, the Eagles of Nice remained calm to win 3-2 after overtime. A victory with character, precious in Nice’s dynamics, achieved at the height of suspense.
Briançon Takes the Lead Right from the First Third
The start of the match clearly favored the visitors. More aggressive and quicker in transitions, the Red Devils set their rhythm and prevented Nice from developing their game. The Eagles of Nice struggled to exit their zone cleanly and suffered under Briançon’s pressure.
This domination was quickly materialized. At 3:53, Briançon opened the score with a goal by Sato Kohei, perfectly assisted by Chase Dubois and Braiden Dorfman. The forward adjusted the Nice goalkeeper and gave his team the lead. Nice tried to respond but lacked precision and accuracy in their passes.
Briançon continued their momentum and doubled their lead at 10:53. Sasha Djigaouri finished a well-constructed play after excellent work from Matthew Barnaby and Fredrik Strömgren. With the visitors leading 2-0, they showed impressive control in this first third. Despite a few attempts by Nice towards the end of the period, the Eagles of Nice remained offensively mute and returned to the locker room with a two-goal deficit.
A Second Third Still Fruitless for the Eagles of Nice
The second third was more balanced, but the scenario remained unfavorable for the Niçois. The Eagles showed more intent, gained intensity in duels, and spent more time in the offensive zone. However, they struggled to create real clear-cut chances.
Briançon, well-organized defensively, managed their lead seriously. The lines were compact, retreats effective, and counters well controlled. Both goalkeepers were rarely challenged, and the game became more closed, often fragmented by physical duels at the center of the ice.
No goals were scored in this second act. After forty minutes of play, Nice had yet to find the flaw and still trailed 2-0, leaving doubts lingering in the stands of Jean-Bouin.
Nice’s Revival in the Final Third
Returning from the locker room, the Eagles of Nice showed a completely different face. More aggressive and more determined, they immediately put pressure on Briançon’s defense. This increase in intensity was finally rewarded. At 3:54 of the third third, Nicholas Cherkowski reduced the gap for Nice, well assisted by Hugo Nogaretto. The crowd woke up and encouraged their team.
Galvanized by this first goal, the Niçois continued their efforts. Briançon retreated and increasingly bore the brunt of the opponents’ attacks. As the minutes passed, tension rose, and Nice pressed for an equalizer. The Red Devils held on for a long time but eventually gave in at the very end of the encounter.
At 18:05, Teemu Loizeau sprang up to score the equalizing goal from a pass by Samuel Régis. The Jean-Bouin arena erupted: after forty scoreless minutes, Nice had leveled at (2-2) and claimed a deserved overtime.
A Swift and Decisive Overtime
The overtime began at a high pace, with each team seeking the liberating goal. But it lasted only 25 seconds. From a high recovery, Jesper Larinmaa intercepted the puck and perfectly launched Teemu Loizeau. The Nice forward did not flinch and scored the winning goal, sealing the score at 3-2.
The relief was total for the Eagles of Nice, who turned around a very badly handled match and won at the end of suspense.
A Mental Victory for the Eagles of Nice
This success has a special flavor for the Eagles of Nice. Long dominated and silent for two thirds, the Niçois showed patience, solidarity, and character to come back in the game. The third third, entirely to their advantage, perfectly illustrates this regained mental strength.
Teemu Loizeau, who scored two goals including the winner, is logically the man of the match. But this victory is above all collective, the result of a group that never gave up despite adversity.
For Briançon, the frustration is immense. After leading 2-0 and long containing Nice’s offensives, the Red Devils gave in the last third and in overtime. However, they still leave with a point after a solid but incomplete performance.
Thanks to this victory, Nice collects two valuable points and regains confidence. This Friday night at the Jean-Bouin arena might well mark a turning point in the season for the Eagles of Nice, capable of overturning the most compromised scenarios in Ligue Magnus.
