The champions of France did not succeed in their bet to defeat the Rouennais on their ice. By way of consolation, the people of Grenoble will be delighted to have been carried this evening by a gala Brent Aubin and like yesterday by a Dylan Fabre in tune, two exceptional individuals on this Easter weekend and which allow them to always believe in their superiority. Only, all the talent of the Isérois was not enough to overcome Dragons with a taste of revenge in their mouths after their road trips in matches n°1 and n°2, with an extra soul recovered from yesterday and increased tenfold by the noisy crowds who came to support them for the two matches on Île Lacroix.
In this match n°3 first interrupted, then canceled to replay entirely the day after match n°4 because of holes in the Rouen ice, the visitors will be rewarded for their start to the match by a superiority and the opener by Brent Aubin with a slap shot at the top of the right circle (1-0 at 2’28). Not enough to offend the troops of Fabrice Lhenry who responded tit for tat with a shot swept in the right circle by Christophe Boivin in a game installed in advantage of a man with Mallet on screen in front of the goalkeeper (1-1 to 4 ’58).
Les Brûleurs de Loups produced an intense rhythm and volume of play with the aim of creating intervals, turnovers or opposing imprecisions, exploited by Dylan Fabre, untenable in the left circle, stumbling over Pintaric (6’04). With Florian Chakiachvili’s penalty (7’27), everything was going to get complicated for the fragile locals in inferiority in the series. Sacha Treille from close to the right was dangerous at five against four (7’38). Aleksi Elorinne played firefighter during an incomplete save by Pintaric on a shot from Aurélien Dair (8’02). Damien Fleury in a good position could not find the solution to Pintaric (9’24).
Loïc Lampérier’s teammates now played with five but it was not easier for them. Jere Rouhiainen in the slot felt the leather of the Slovenian goalkeeper (10’32). Sometimes, the tenants of Péchalat managed to keep up with the pace set by their opponents. Served back by Rolands Vigners, Guimond hit hard, too crossed on the right (11’02). Poor puck control, Norman, caused a turnaround in favor of the visitors. Brent Aubin, in front of the cage, skillfully deflected a cross from Deschamps (1-2 at 11’44). The Grenoble residents thus logically took the lead. On the action after, Adel Koudri sent Fabre overflowing on the left. The winger won a duel against Pintaric by placing the puck above the shield thanks to quite incredible wrists, grit, control and speed (1-3 at 13’01). Rouen got lost trying to compete in speed with the planes from Grenoble which were too fast for them. Fabrice Lhenry took his time out to reframe his team. This coaching will prove to be judicious.
Indeed, the players from the banks of the Seine will find their game identity and no longer try to compete with Grenoble on their ground. While Lucien Onno goes to the bench without a helmet, Yeo is frustrated by Stepanek’s mitt (13’56). Furious, the Rouennais now impose themselves during the duels in the band. This allows them to attack the cage or take the puck out to the backs placed at the blue line. Maxim Lamarche is forced to play firefighters on a half-stop by Stepanek. Sacha Guimond can find Lampérier for an acrobatic deflection (2-3 at 15’30). The goal acquired with enormous character from the line of the Rouen captain set an already white-hot public on fire.
A little overwhelmed by the relentlessness of the Dragons, the partners of Joël Champagne relapse into the faults already seen yesterday. A high stick from Fabre, poorly controlled at the end of a shot, and a slash from Lamarche gave the Dragons 1’05 to equalize. Florian Chakiachvili hits a shot from the point between the flanks of Champagne, Raymond and Stepanek, which Lampérier was able to hide (3-3 at 17’49). Already boosted, Péchalat explodes!
In less than five minutes, the RHE, just before the first break, speaks again as equals with the champion.
But on returning from the locker room, Brent Aubin pushed a loose puck behind Pintaric’s back so that Grenoble regained the lead (3-4 at 21’48). It doesn’t matter for these Dragons because they know how to do it. One Dylan can hide another. In a completely different style than the prodigy opposite, Dylan Yeo, surprised on the action of Aubin’s third goal, will do everything, all alone. After a forecheck charge in the boards, the back intercepted the puck and went on the backhand to equalize (4-4 at 22’20). It is the sixth time in 83 minutes that the Seinomarins have picked up the score against league leader Magnus who, at the same time, fails to maintain his lead!
Supported as rarely, Fabrice Lhenry’s men were going to take the lead after a puck blocked by a devoted Charlie Dodero on an attempt by Deschamps (24’18). Alexandre Mallet, deprived of a goal yesterday almost at the same time of the game, stands up despite his opponent, and can complete a throw from Elorinne, pushing the puck dragging behind Stepanek, on his stomach, abandoned by his defense (5 -4 at 24’42).
Halfway through the game, however, the situation was not hopeless for the BDLs, but Jyrki Aho decided to withdraw his number one goalkeeper from the ice. Raphael Garnier stands in front of the cage. Charlie Dodero was not clairvoyant when he lost his helmet. The rear was sent to prison to the chagrin of Fabrice Lhenry. Aurélien Dair (30’21) and Treille are dangerous (30’47). Damien Fleury loses control of the puck in the neutral zone. The veteran’s error allowed Joris Bedin to pass the rubber on to Tessier who had gone on a breakaway to feign the substitute goalkeeper (6-4 at 31’01). Boissière is jubilant!
At the end of the middle third, Grenoble will have the greatest number of chances. But the big guns from Isère come up against Matija Pintaric. Damien Fleury does not erase his blunder because of the goalkeeper’s boots (32’44). Sacha Treille has punch but also stumbles on Pintaric’s pads (33’55). Thimothé Quattrone opens a way but he is confused by the goalie (34’38). Nicolas Deschamps is less precise in his deflection attempt (38’09). However, Rouen remains dangerous through Rolands Vigners (36’07) and Boivin (39’57).
The last period is a bit of an attack defense especially since the RHE is clumsy and offers a new power play to Grenoble. Only the PK of the Dragons is no longer as disarmed as the previous evenings despite a try from Nicolas Deschamps (42’29). With Matija Pintaric, the Norman square is doing well. It was five against five that a badly dosed pass to prepare for an exit from the zone conceded a superb game at three and allowed Brent Aubin to achieve an explosive quadruple (6-5 at 45’38).
A few cold sweats will still be felt in the stands whose encouragement will not weaken, on the contrary, during two new Rouen penalties, still well negotiated by the special teams launched on the ice by Fabrice Lhenry. They definitely took the measure, almost overpowering five-man attacks first rushed and then exhausted by the men in white. Matija Pintaric definitely closed the door to Kyle Hardy (52’59 & 57’11) and company (Raymond at 56’48).
Jyrki Aho will play these last two cards. Replace his goalkeeper with an attacker (57’12), then take his time out (58’49). In vain !
Rouen was first able to overthrow a champion who seems to have overplayed a little beyond his abilities. The Dragons then succeeded in what the BDLs have not been able to do in the last two days, unable to maintain (six times) a brilliantly acquired advantage (at least for five of them) as soon as they no longer impose a frenzied pace in the face of the enemy’s rage. The end of the Dragons match was far from perfect, however without damage thanks to a little more freshness. The RHE can show a smile of satisfaction after getting back on the starting line of this final where everything remains to be done. Undoubtedly the hardest.
Rouen – Grenoble 6-5 (3-3, 3-1, 0-1)
Monday April 10, 2023 at 4:15 p.m., at the Nathalie Pechalat ice rink in the Guy Boissière sports center.
Referees: Damien Bliek and Pierre Dehaen assisted by Cyril Debuche and Clément Goncalves.
Penalties: Rouen 14′ (4′, 4′, 6′); Grenoble 8′ (6′, 2′, 0′)
Shots: Rouen 25 (13, 9, 3); Grenoble 36 (11, 15, 10)
Superiorities: Rouen 2/4, Grenoble 1/7
Score evolution:
0-1 at 02’28: Aubin assisted by Rouhiainen (num. sup.)
1-1 at 04’58: Boivin assisted by Guimond and Bedin (sup. num.)
1-2 at 11’44: Aubin assisted by Deschamps and Fleury
1-3 at 13’01: Fabre assisted by Koudri and Munoz
2-3 at 15’30: Lampérier assisted by Guimond and Vigners
3-3 at 17’49: Chakiashvili assisted by Tessier and Lucenius (double digital sup.)
3-4 at 21’48: Aubin assisted by Fleury
4-4 at 22’20: Yeo
5-4 at 24’42: Mallet assisted by Chakiachvili and Elorinne
6-4 at 31’01: Tessier assisted by Bedin (inf. num.)
6-5 at 45’38: Aubin assisted by Fleury and Deschamps
Rouen
Forwards:
Loïc Lampérier (C) – Kelsey Tessier (A) – Rolands Vigners
Christophe Boivin – Niclas Lucenius – Alexandre Mallet
Joris Bedin – Vincent Nesa – Quentin Tomasino
Bastien Maïa – Kaylian Leborgne – Tommy Perret
Rears:
Florian Chakiachvili (A) – Aleksi Elorinne
Sacha Guimond – Charlie Dodero
Dylan Yeo – Enzo Cantagallo
Guardian :
Matija Pintaric (31 saves)
Substitute: Tonin Caubet (G). Absent: François Beauchemin and Valentin Claireaux (injured).
Grenoble
Forwards:
Sacha Treille – Joel Champagne (C) – Aurélien Dair
Brent Aubin – Nicolas Deschamps – Damien Fleury (A)
Julien Munoz – Adel Koudri – Dylan Fabre
Flavien Dair – Quinton Howden – Timothé Quattrone
Rears:
Kyle Hardy – Maxim Lamarche
Janne Jalasvaara (A) – Jere Rouhiainen
Bobby Raymond – Lucien Onno
Guardian :
Jakub Stepanek (7 stops) then Raphaël Garnier at 24’42 (12 stops) released from 57’12 to 60’00.
Replacement: Alexandre Pascal. Absent: Markus Poukkula (injured) and Pierre Crinon (young dad).
