The French Synerglace Ligue Magnus heads into a crucial weekend as teams battle for playoff positioning and to avoid the relegation zone. With the regular season nearing its conclusion, every game carries significant weight, and this 27th matchday promises a series of compelling contests.
Tight Race at the Top
The battle for playoff spots is particularly intense between the Wildacts Épinal and the Lions de Lyon, currently tied with 40 points each. Épinal comes off a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Chambéry, while Lyon has been on a roll with three consecutive wins. The key to this matchup could lie in special teams play. Épinal boasts a strong powerplay, ranking fourth in the league with over 23% efficiency, but struggles significantly on the penalty kill, allowing a league-worst 26 goals.
Mid-Table Battles and Playoff Push
The Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne are facing a difficult stretch, having won only two of their last ten games, both at home. They’ll be tested by the resurgent Yétis de Mont-Blanc, who have won four of their last five. Mont-Blanc excels in games that go beyond regulation, with a 75% win rate in overtime/shootout situations (six wins in eight attempts).
Valenciennes finds themselves in a precarious position, just four points above the relegation zone. They’ll host the Corsaires de Nantes, who have rediscovered their form with a 4-1 win against Neuilly-sur-Marne. This game is expected to be high-scoring, with Valenciennes possessing the second-best offense in the league (102 goals scored) but also the second-worst defense (104 goals conceded).
Alsace Aiming for Top Four
The Iceberg de Strasbourg is looking to secure a top-four finish and direct qualification to the quarterfinals. They’ll face a tough test against the Ours de Villard-de-Lans, who have dramatically improved their chances of avoiding relegation with three straight wins, closing the gap to just three points behind Dunkerque (34 points). A key individual battle to watch will be between Sébastien Trudeau of Strasbourg (4th in league scoring with 39 points) and Bjorn Robinson of Villard-de-Lans (6th with 35 points).
Dunkerque in Danger
The Corsaires de Dunkerque are in a precarious position, having lost four consecutive games and sitting just one point and three points ahead of the playdown zone. They’ve brought in Mario Richer as a consultant, a former coach in the Synerglace Ligue Magnus and assistant coach in the KHL, hoping to turn their fortunes around. However, they face a difficult road trip to league leaders Cholet (54 points), where Joey Musa will be aiming to reach 20 goals and solidify Cholet’s top-four status.
Caen Seeking Confidence, Meudon Pushing for Playoffs
Following a defeat at Villard-de-Lans, the Drakkars de Caen will look to regain confidence ahead of the playoffs. Currently second with a ten-point lead over the fifth-placed team, they can secure their quarterfinal berth with a win against Meudon. The Comètes de Meudon, still in contention for a playoff spot, are in good form with three wins in their last four games. Their previous encounter was a thrilling affair, with Caen winning 6-5 in overtime on Meudon’s home ice.
Tours Capitalizing on Momentum, Morzine-Avoriaz Looking for Stability
The Remparts de Tours capitalized on a good weekend, being one of only two teams in the top half of the standings to secure a win, defeating Valenciennes 5-1. They’ll aim to build on that momentum with a trip to Morzine-Avoriaz. The Pingouins de Morzine-Avoriaz had a strong run of four consecutive wins before falling to Lyon 3-2, and a victory would help them secure a more comfortable position heading into the playoffs. Maxim Zuziakin has been in excellent form for Morzine-Avoriaz, with ten points in his last six games.
Crucial Clash Between HCMP and Chambéry
This 27th matchday features a critical game between the HCMP and Chambéry, both looking to improve their standings. The HCMP has struggled recently, with three losses in their last four games, while Chambéry has lost their last three. The stakes are different for each team: Chambéry, at the bottom of the standings, has a slim chance of reaching the playoffs, while the HCMP aims to secure a top-eight finish and home-ice advantage in the eighth-finals. The HCMP will need to improve their powerplay, currently ranked last in the league with a 15.79% efficiency, against a Chambéry team that leads the league in that category with over 35%.
Match Schedule – Saturday, February 21st
- Épinal – Lyon (18h05)
- Neuilly-sur-Marne – Mont-Blanc (18h30)
- Valenciennes – Nantes (18h40)
- Strasbourg – Villard-de-Lans (19h00)
- Cholet – Dunkerque (20h00)
- Caen – Meudon (20h30)
- Morzine-Avoriaz – Tours (20h30)
- HCMP – Chambéry (20h30)
All games will be streamed live on HockeyFrance.TV.
