Grenoble answers Bordeaux in a thrilling finish after claiming the first match of the Ligue Magnus final against Bordeaux, Grenoble had to resort to a shootout to respond to the Girondins and equalize with a victory each (2-2, 1-0 tab).
The Wolves of Grenoble are not backing down. Defeated on Friday after a highly spirited match by the Boxers in the opening of the Ligue Magnus final, the Grenoble players did not let the second round slip away, still on their home ice at Polesud. The game saw both teams exchanging blows, but it was the Girondins who found the breakthrough at the end of the first period. Taking advantage of a numerical superiority, with Christophe Boivin off the ice for high-sticking, Pierre-Olivier Morin won his duel with Matija Pintaric to open the scoring.
“Bordeaux held their ground”
This advantage did not last more than five minutes into the second period. While Aina Rambelo had left the Boxers one man down for obstruction, Andrius Kulbis-Marino seized his opportunity by beating Quentin Papillon to level the playing field. The Wolves then took the lead 33 seconds before the return to the locker rooms. With a numerical advantage, Francois Beauchemin found the back of the Girondin net to put his team ahead with 20 minutes left in the game. However, Tommy Giroux equalized for both teams in the middle of the third period.
“Treille propels Grenoble”
Taking advantage of Guillaume Leclerc’s two-minute penalty, the Canadian winger pushed both teams into overtime. Ten additional minutes of play did not bring a decision, and a shootout was necessary to separate the two teams. While William Pelletier lost his duel against Matija Pintaric, Sacha Treille gave the advantage to the Wolves by beating Quentin Papillon. This success remained the only one in this high-pressure shootout. With this victory (2-2, 1-0 tab), Grenoble evens the score in this final with one win each before two upcoming games on Bordeaux’s ice on April 14 and 15.
