ICE HOCKEY – Coupe de France: Amiens crushes Nice and reaches the final four – GazetteSports

The Amiens Gothiques rose to the occasion, putting in the perfect match, offensively and defensively, to defeat the Eagles and thus qualify for the semi-finals of the Coupe de France.

A few days before facing each other again, this time in the championship, Amiens and Nice were competing this evening for a place in the semi-final of the Coupe de France. Both teams are absolutely keen to capture this precious ticket. This can be seen on the ice, both Amiens and Niçois have a few chances but the goalkeepers intervene. Danick Bouchard is the first to find the fault following an offensive throw-in (1-0, 5’00). A few moments later, the Gothiques found themselves in powerplay and managed to double the lead through Mathieu Boucher, left alone at the far post (2-0, 6’26). The Aigles de Nice react and Yoan Salve quickly reduces the score (2-1, 7’45). The opportunities kept coming, with clear Amiens domination. On a new powerplay, Mario Richer’s players are two steps ahead on a superb triangle game initiated by Matias Lehtonen who transmits to Thomas Suire on the right of the cage, the latter ideally serving the captain of the Gothiques (3-1, 12’04). The locals had the opportunities to take a larger lead but Lehtonen, Freadrich and Suire missed good opportunities, Nikita Bespalov contributed to these failures. On their first numerical superiority the Nice came back to a goal again on an offensive throw-in (3-2, 17’58’).

Eagles explode in mid-flight

The Gothics of Amiens took this second third in stride, immediately putting pressure on their opponents’ cage like Dan Gibb’s long-range attempt well saved by the Nice goalkeeper. Defensively, they are just as aggressive, Bergeron sacrifices himself to block a shot from Luka Kalan. After missing the last two games for a muscle injury, Kaylian Leborgne is nursing his return to the ice by also scoring his goal (4-2, 25’11). In the process, Amiens strikes again, following another recovery of the puck, from Antonin Plagnat, Ilies Djemel recovers the puck and adjusts Nikita Bespalov (5-2, 26’48). During almost the entire second third, the Samarians stifled the Aigles de Nice, unable to shake off the pressure imposed. Abandoned by his defense, the Alpine goalkeeper managed to once again stop Dan Gibb with a glove save. Mario Richer’s men lay siege to the cage to try to increase the score but came up against the cornered Nice rear guard. Amiens validates its period of domination in the last two minutes of the third twice, first thanks to Mathieu Boucher’s double (6-2, 38’12)then Danick Bouchard’s hat-trick (7-2, 39’04). The Gothics took off in this fully mastered period.

The Gothics finish the job

From the start of this third period, the Reds and Blacks show that they are not satisfied, Antonin Plagnat scores the eighth Amiens goal (8-2, 42’24). They continue to attack despite their six-goal lead. Clément Fouquerel rises to the occasion, impassable, he is as serene as he is well helped by his defense. Tomas Simonsen, Mathieu Boucher and Antonin Plagnat failed to worsen the score. The pace of the match weakens, with its comfortable lead, the Gothics manage the end of the match and no longer have to play the game. In powerplay two minutes from time, Matias Lehtonen participates in the party by unlocking his counter under the colors amiénoises (9-2, 58’21). The siren sounds and the Gothiques d’Amiens qualify with flying colors for the semi-finals of the Coupe de France after their overwhelming victory against the Aigles de Nice.

Coupe de France, 1/4 final
Amiens – Nice: 9-2 [(3-2)(4-0)(2-0)]

Goals for Amiens: Danick Bouchard (1-0, 5’00) assists Suire; Mathieu Boucher (2-0, 6’26) assists Tessier and Freadrich; Danick Bouchard (3-1, 12’04) assists Suire and Lehtonen; Kaylian Leborgne (4-2, 25’11) sat Lavigne and Freadrich; Ilies Djemel (5-2, 26’48) assists Plagnat; Mathieu Boucher (6-2, 38’12) assists Maïa and Bault; Danick Bouchard (7-2, 39’04) assists Tessier; Antonin Plagnat (8-2, 42’24) assists Djemel and Belharfi; Matias Lehtonen (9-2, 58’21) assists Niskala.

Goals for Nice: Yoan Salve (2-1, 7’45) assists Kalan and Abramov; Jesper Larinmaa (3-2, 17’58) assists Reini and Nikiforov.

César Willot
Photo credit: Kevin Devigne – Gazette Sports