Dragons wake up after 40 minutes

With an emotional minute of silence followed by the French anthem sung by all the arena also the icehockey pays the tribute to the victims of Paris. But on the ice both teams show the most beautiful side of the sport, a true and correct competition for a key victory in the group. Pushed by its fantastic crowd Rouen assaults the opponent from the very beginning of the game, earning two power plays in the first four minutes and opening the score at the end of second with a powerful long-range shot by Florian Chakiachvili: goalie Stefan Zigardy, maybe covered, seems not impeccable. Tychy, supported by a lot of fans arrived from Poland, reacts immediately: Vitek and Kolarz test the reaction of Dany Sabourin with dangerous shots and Radoslaw Galant ties the game at 11:54, taking advantage of a bad positioning of Dragons defence, with a personal action. The rest of the period is pleasant with Tychy able to keep opponent away from the goal poking Sabourin with a constant pressure while Rouen is more confusing especially when attacking. With 50 seconds to play and Rouen with a man less – Oliver Labelle out for tripping – Tychy goes beyond: the stick of Jaroslaw Rzeszutko materialises near the line right on time to deflect the shot of Jaroslav Hertl sending his team in the restroom with a deserved advantage.

Jaroslaw Rzeszutko celebrating the second goal

The central period sees Rouen suffering three consecutive penalties in the first minutes, well played by Tychy to keep the puck far from the defence, even if without goals, with the best chance during the third with a shot by Hertl deflected by Sabourin and a personal action by Kartoshkin blocked by Rouen goalie. Also home team can use an advantage but produces just a shot whispering near the post of Zigardy. At 30 Damien Raux has a great chance alone against Zigardy, finished with a shot on the goalie. Home team ties game at 30:15 after a controversial penalty called to Lopuski: on 4vs4 Sacha Treille capitalize a smart assist by Guenette. Tychy has immediately a good chance with Sabourin reactive on Witecki and another three power plays, courtesy of a nervous Rouen, all not capitalized, showing a dangerous limit in not killing the favourable situations. Miss a goal, let in a goal: Rouen starts the last period very aggressive and capitalizes the first power play with François Guenette well assisted by Sacha Treille. Tychy reels and Dragons bite again 2 minutes later: the shot of Marc-Andrè Thinel misses the net but the rebound finds Jason Krogh ready to score. This period is completely different from the others, Rouen seems to have find the right concentration while Tychy hasn’t the same capacity to control and play wisely the puck, suffering also the fifth goal, scored at 45:12 by Jason Krogh stubbornly recovering a puck on the board to beat Zigardy. Tychy manages to score the third goal at 50:27 with Mateusz Bepierszcz, even if the credit goes mainly for Kamil Kalinowski, skilful to steal a puck and serve the teammate. The game finishes between the chants of the fans for three points very sweaty but fundamental for the ambitions of French team.

MVP: Stefan Zigardy – Dany Sabourin

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