This Tuesday, the Nice hockey players faced their rivals from Grenoble. A match to forget for our Nice team, who were unable to assert themselves in this game. A difficult 1-4 defeat for our players to digest.
Against the top-ranking team in the Ligue Magnus, the Eagles could not impose their style of play. In a cold arena warmed by the supporters’ chants, the Nice team was eager for revenge.
Lack of Realism and Solutions
The Azurean hockey players started their match very poorly. In the very first minute, Aurélien Dair scored a goal with a powerful shot. Grenoble led the game (0-1). With defensive issues and lack of execution in front of the opposing net, the Eagles were punished once again. Matias Bachelet found the gap in the goal guarded by Raphaël Garnier, and the Brûleurs de Loups took control (0-2). Three minutes later, the Isérois buried the Azureans further with a magnificent pass from Alexandre Mallet to his Canadian compatriot Christophe Boivin. By the 9th minute, it was the beginning of the end for our players. Valentin Grossetete broke through the defense and found an opening, deceiving the Slovenian Luka Kalan and the Nice goalkeeper. (0-4) for the Grenoble team in the first period.
In the second period, the Eagles were determined to come back in this game. They returned to the ice more determined than ever. The players followed the puck closely and eagerly drove into the scrum. A different team from the start of the match emerged before the spectators at the Jean Bouin rink. The stick strikes resonated in the arena, and the players exchanged blows. It took until the 19th minute for Nice player Nicolas Ruel to finally find the back of Pintaric‘s net. A glimmer of hope for our Eagles, who ended this second period trailing by three goals (1-4).
Nice Cracks
The Eagles were dominated at the start of this final period. The Grenoble team were relentless, settling in the Nice half. They multiplied their shots and circled around the goalkeeper’s net. Nice could thank Raphaël Garnier, the backup goalie, who continuously made saves. With 10 minutes remaining, the Azureans took the initiative and pressed into the Isérois’ half. But the chances did not materialize, and still, no goals for our reds and blacks. A sad end to the match without goals and yet another defeat for our Eagles. See you tomorrow for the 4th match of the series.