Les Brûleurs de Loups have regained their form and the goal path with two convincing victories against Nice (6-2) and Chamonix (6-1). Something to be reassured and operate a small rise in the standings since they are currently sixth but with only 12 games played is much less than most of the Magnus League teams. After having concluded the “round trips” against Briançon, Cergy, Mulhouse and Nice, they face the Rapaces de Gap this evening for the first time this season for a Dauphinois derby which in general keeps its promises. Many players have also played for both teams: we find for example in the ranks of Gap Arnaud Faure, Romain Chapuis, Bostjan Golicic and Julian Junca who all wore the Grenoble jersey while Fabien Bourgeois, Lucas Bonnardel and Fabien Colotti played in Grenoble in the youth teams. Les Rapaces come to Grenoble to try to erase a painful defeat a week ago in the Hautes-Alpes derby against Briançon (2-4) while Gap had clearly won against the same opponent (5-0) ten days earlier.
After a tribute to Christophe Tartari for his 800th match with the Brûleurs de Loups uniform, we are witnessing a cautious start to the meeting between two teams who fear each other. Fabien Bourgeois asks for the first Horak. The third line of the Rapaces did a good job in the offensive zone and Romain Chapuis managed to get a penalty from Lucien Onno, pushed to the fault. First numerical superiority therefore for Gap in this meeting after only two minutes of play. But the Raptors have all the trouble in the world to install power-play and the Grenoble boxplay easily kills the penalty. For a second warning following an engagement, the Raptors are also penalized. Grenoble’s turn to be in numerical superiority. A big throw from Treille goes right past the goal guarded by Julian Junca. The residents of Isère circulate the puck well but cannot find a really dangerous shooting situation. Five against five, Colotti tries his luck in the axis but Horak deflects the puck. The Rapaces insist in the offensive zone with Julien Correia, author of a good throw diverted by Horak. The Brûleurs de Loups are in difficulty in their defensive zone, Bisaillon must sacrifice himself on a hot action should the Grenoble cage. Grenoble ended up reacting with a recovery from Legault on a good pass from Kearney.
A few seconds later, Legault put it back on the rebound following a throw from Kearney, pushed back from the boot by Junca. When Fabre is penalized, Gap gets another power-play opportunity. This time the Gapençais settled more easily in the offensive zone and Dimitri Thillet released two big throws on the Grenoble goal but the frame gave way each time. Finally, the Rapaces ended up opening the scoring on a long throw from Chad Langlais who took advantage of Correia and Golicic’s screen in front of Horak (0-1, 13’33 ‘). Opening of the logical score for Gap who was more insistent in the offensive zone. Grenoble tries to react in the last five minutes but struggles to put the game in attack. Hardy tries his luck twice, Junca is forced to work. But decidedly the Brûleurs de Loups cannot find their rhythm in this third since Sauvé is penalized for a charge against the gang on Raphël Faure. Gap can therefore finish the third in numerical superiority but does not manage to widen the gap against a well-grouped Grenoble defense. The Raptors therefore lead by a goal when they return to the locker room.
From the start of the second half, Grenoble had a big opportunity with Joël Champagne who hit Junca’s leg at close range. The Wolf Burners seem more active at the start of the third but Valier is sanctioned for an incorrect charge on Prissant. Fourth numerical superiority for the Raptors who have the opportunity to make the break. Gap sets up the power play but is surprised on a counter from Fleury and Rohat, the latter finding Junca on the path of his shot in good position. The Raptors insist on the end of the penalty and Thillet throws towards the skylight but Horak blocks with the mitten. The roles are finally reversed on a collision of Bonnardel on Koudri along the tape. It is only the second numerical superiority for Grenoble which only needs 12 seconds to convert the power-play into a goal on a blue throw from Hardy deflected in passing by Dair (1-1, 24’41 ‘) .
Efficiency in special unit welcome for Grenoble which is relaunched in this meeting especially that the Gapençais in turn fall into indiscipline with an obstruction whistled against Bourgeois on Valier. Despite a good one timer from Aleardi, the Wolf Burners did not take advantage of the opportunity this time. They will have another chance because a few moments later: it is Vondracek who is sanctioned for an obstruction on Kearney. This period extended to five against four allows Grenoble to establish its domination on the game but this time the efficiency is not there. A throw from Hardy in the axis causes a small stir in front of the gapençaise cage, Dair and Joubert are sent to prison. Les Brûleurs de Loups insist four against three but they can not find the loophole in a well-placed Gapensaise defense and a solid Junca in front of the cage. Gap manages to return to numerical equality and is immediately dangerous on a counter from Gutierrez concluded with a throw from Colotti blocked by Horak. A sustained charge after Legault’s whistle on Cirgues is worth ten minutes of misconduct for the Grenoble striker. In a more and more upset match, the penalties are linked from one side to the other. On a sharp attack from Aleardi, Prissant is pushed to the fault but the numerical advantage which looms for Grenoble is canceled by an unnecessary charge from Treille on Chapuis.
Correia irregularly interrupts a counterattack from Fleury. Grenoble found itself five against four and soon five against three when Raphaël Faure tripped Sacha Treille in front of the slot. Terglav takes a time out to organize this double numerical superiority. The Grenoblois multiply the throws with Hardy and Aleardi in particular, but the Gapençais boxplay is admirable, like Colotti who throws himself on three consecutive throws. A close range recovery from Munoz could have allowed Grenoble to take the lead but Junca closes the door. On a very dangerous action from Aleardi, Bonnardel is pushed foul. Another penalty against Gap which allows Grenoble to evolve for the sixth time (!) In numerical superiority in this third. And this time will be the good one for Grenoble since on a fast rise of the puck, Dair centers for Fleury whose recovery without control comes to lodge in the top of Junca (2-1, 38’59 ‘). At the end of this third completely chopped by too many penalties, Grenoble finally manages to break the gapençais lock to take control in this meeting.
Champagne was penalized at the end of the second third for having sent the puck over the plexiglass which allowed Gap to start the third period in numerical superiority. Harmless raptors in this power-play, Grenoble boxplay regularly clearing the puck outside the defensive zone. Les Brûleurs de Loups try to make a break with Sauvé in particular who throws on Junca. A good throw from Chapuis is blocked by Horak who responds nicely. Curiously the pace drops in this third period without whistled penalty which contrasts with the second period. The arbitration is sometimes surprising because on the same shift two penalties could have been whistled against Legault then Tartari but no sanction will be taken on the action. It took a little for Thillet not to score in front of the slot but the puck was pushed back at the last minute by Horak. A few minutes later, it’s Hardy who finds himself in a similar situation but Junca closes the door. On a long shift in the offensive zone, Kearney tried twice to beat Horak but came up against a decidedly intractable Junca. The Raptors do not give up, Golicic tries again but Horak responds.
After a great opportunity from Hardy, Gap was held back by a penalty from Vondracek who caught Munoz when he was shooting. This will be the only penalty called in this third. This is a good opportunity for Grenoble to definitely kill the suspense. But the Wolf Burners fail to be surprised on a counterattack quickly played by Gutierrez, Horak deflecting the puck in extremis. The Gapençais manage to kill this penalty to throw their last forces into the battle in the last three minutes. But even at five against five, the puck is well preserved in the offensive zone by the Burners of Wolves. A charge from Sauvé on Colotti leaves the striker gapençais a few seconds on the ice. Eric Blais asks for a time out to try everything for everything in the last two minutes. Junca’s exit will be short-lived since on a release from Tartari, Champagne deflects the puck into the empty cage (3-1, 59’11 ‘). Denny Kearney will even add a fourth top goal in the dying seconds on a poor clearance from the Gapençaise defense and this despite the return of Junca in front of the cage (4-1, 59’49 ‘).
Grenoble won in a serious game on the defensive plan with a well-established Horak and a solid defense like the game in numerical inferiority which will have neutralized the power-play gapençais. The Brûleurs de Loups were nevertheless inside in the first third but the multiple penalties whistled against Gap in the second period allowed them to pass in front with two goals scored in numerical superiority by Dair and Fleury whose association with Champagne still worked well tonight. . If there was waste offensively, this is also due to the selflessness of the Gapençais who did not hesitate to fold on the opposing throws. The Raptors for their part may regret this indiscipline in the second third which costs them the meeting but also a certain lack of precision in the last gesture with many shots off target on dangerous actions.
Next week, the Brûleurs de Loups will challenge the last two teams that they have not yet faced this season, Amiens and Anglet during a “road trip” during which it will once again be necessary to fill up on points. to return to the top of the ranking. As for the Raptors, they will have the opportunity to bounce back on Sunday by hosting Cergy-Pontoise.
(Photos by Philippe Crouzet)
Grenoble – Gap 4-1 (0-1, 2-0, 2-0)
Friday February 19, 2020 at 8 p.m. at Pôle Sud. Game behind closed doors.
Arbitration by Jérémy Rauline and Benjamin Gremion assisted by Guillaume Barthe and Alexia Cheyroux
Penalties: Grenoble 24 ‘(6’, 8 ‘+ 10’, 0 ‘), Gap 20’ (2 ‘, 16’, 2 ‘)
Tirs : Grenoble 54 (12, 23, 19), Gap 31 (13, 10, 8)
Engagements : Grenoble 49 (16, 20, 12), Gap 22 (7, 7, 8)
Score evolution:
0-1 to 13’33 ‘: Langlais assisted by Faure and Vondracek
1-1 to 24’41 ‘: Dair assisted by Hardy and Valier (sup. Num.)
2-1 to 38’59 ‘: Fleury assisted by Dair and Champagne (sup. Num.)
3-1 to 59’11 ‘: Champagne assisted by Tartari (empty cage)
4-1 at 59’49 ‘: Kearney assisted by Baylacq and Legault
Grenoble
Attackers:
Aurélien Dair (2 ‘) – Joël Champagne (C) (2’) – Damien Fleury (A)
Sacha Treille (2 ‘) – Adel Koudri – Alex Aleardi
Dylan Fabre (2’) – Peter Valier (2’) – Julien Munoz
Denny Kearney – Julien Baylacq – Maxime Legault (10’)
Defenders:
Yann Sauvé (2 ‘) – Sébastien Rohat
Kyle Hardy – Lucien Onno (2 ‘)
Christophe Tartari (A) – Sébastien Bisaillon
Guardian:
Lukáš Horák
Substitute: Sébastien Raibon (L). Absent: Patrick McEachen (injured)
Gap
Attackers:
Julien Correia (2 ‘) – Bostjan Golicic (A) – Roman Vondracek (4’)
Dimitri Thillet – Romain Gutierrez (C) – Fabien Colotti
Lucas Bonnardel (4 ‘) – Romain Chapuis – Paul Joubert (2’)
Maxence Bortino – Gaëtan Villiot
Defenders:
Raphaël Faure (2 ‘) – Chad Langlais
Axel Prissant (2 ‘) – Fabien Bourgeois (A) (2’)
Louis Cirgues – Arnaud Faure
Guardian:
Julian Junca [sorti de 58’59’ à 59’11’]
Substitute: Aurélien Bertrand (L). Absent: Brayden Sherbinin (injured), Mathieu Guertin, Pierre Robert (injured), Jimmy Darier (injured).
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