The two Synerglace Ligue Magnus teams experienced very different scenarios for their Coupe de France quarter-final. Angers controlled their entire match for a score of 6-1. Briançon did not experience an easy match in Epinal. Trailing 2-0, the Red Devils reversed the situation and qualified for the semi-finals.
Briançon confirmed his status as a resident of Synerglace Ligue Magnus, but it was tough for almost two thirds with the Division 1 leader. After a save from Griffen Outhouse, Dominik Fujerik was on the lookout to recover the puck. He can send it to Hugo Sarlin, who finishes right in the middle (1-0, 12’16). Continuing from the first third, the residents of D1 have started the second perfectly. At the end of the powerplay, Alexandre Lubin goes behind for Florian Sabatier. The spinalian finishes the work and makes the break (2-0, 23’04). But the Red Devils have not said their last word. Bror Stomgren reduced the score three minutes from the end of the middle third, after a high recovery from Sean Richards (2-1, 37’00).
At the start of the last period, the Haut-Alpins showed a completely different face to take the advantage. Left alone in front of the cage, Chase Dubois uses Conor Maceachern’s pass. In the process, Sean Richards completed an excellent solo raid, and scored his team’s third goal (2-3, 42’25). Benjamin Berard scores a similar achievement in favor of the visitors, and allows them to make the break, ten minutes from time (2-4, 49’50). The Wildcats try everything by leaving their cage empty, but they are unable to get back on track. Unlike their opponents who scored a final goal by Gaëtan Villiot, for a final score of 5-2. After two eliminations in the round of 16, they return to the semi-finals, as in 2021-2022.
Three years after their last appearance in the semi-finals, the Dukes of Angers return to this stage of the competition with a great success against Nice! After a good recovery from Robin Gaborit, Matt Wilkins sends a sublime pass behind the back to Braeden Shaw. The Angevin striker adjusts Conrad Molder with the backhand, in the top corner (1-0, 7’07). The Angevins mastered their subject against the helpless Niçois in the second third. In the enclave, Nicolas Ritz found the net at the near post then Matthew Prapavessis widened the gap on the hour mark (3-0, 29’54). Despite the change of goalkeeper, the Eagles fail to find a second wind. Alone at the far post, Téo Sarliève sends a missile into the cage (4-0, 33’46). Philippe Halley delays before finding the top corner by turning around and Nicolas Ritz, for his double, brings the score to 6-0 (6-0, 38’18).
Despite the heavy delay, the Eagles did not want to finish blank, and they succeeded in doing so. The puck experiences a false bounce in contact with the boards, Marek Sloboda, present on the rebound, takes advantage (6-1, 52′). The score remains there and the Dukes qualify for the last four.
Tuesday December 17
- Epinal (D1) 2-5 Briançon (SLM) (1-0 ; 1-1 ; 0-4)
- Angers (SLM) 6-1 Nice (SLM) (1-0 ; 5-0 ; 0-1)
Wednesday December 18
Semi-final draw:
Thursday December 19 at 12:30 p.m., live on YouTube
The draw will be reversed if the club drawn first:
- plays in the championship one division or more above its opponent;
- already played at home in the previous round while their opponent played away.
Diffusion
The entire competition will be followed on our new platform: https://www.hockeyfrance.tv/. You can subscribe directly at the link. Only matches played in a Synerglace Ligue Magnus, Division 1 and Division 2 ice rink already equipped with cameras will be broadcast.
