One victory from the heaven

And now it will be Japan – Great Britain to decide who will go to the heaven of Division Ia and who will stay in the purgatory of Division B for at least another year. As organizer predicted compiling the fixtures and fans expected, the last game in the round robin will be the decisive one, supposing Great Britain, as logical, will defeat pointless Netherlands tonight. Lithuania, after losing with home team, leaves three points also to Japan, along with the impression to be a team growing but not yet ready to compete at top level. Japan, instead, after the horrible campaign of last year culminating in the relegation, does until now what was expected: to be competitive for a prompt coming back.

Both teams take the ice with complete rosters and goalies Fukufuji and Pavliukov in the net. Lithuania has a better start and after few seconds a mistake by Japanese defence puts Rulevicius in front of the net with Fukufuji able to close the space for the shoot. At the first chance Japan cynically open the score: Pavliukov makes a difficult save on Hirano with Makuru Furuhashi pouncing the rebound netting after another save by the goalie with the Lithuanian defence quite static. Early taking the lead, Japan can play its fitting style, waiting for the opponent without be much aggressive, always organizing the attacking phase, not by chance usually shooting more than the rival. Lithuania has a good momentum in the second part of first period and the best chances with a shot by Aliukonis deflected by Fukufuji, an attempt by Gintautas and maybe the most dangerous with Katulis firing on the goalie few steps from the net. The pressure of Baltics results in the 1-1 goals at the begin of second period: Mei Ushu loses a puck on Kaleinikovas pressure, the number 21 centres for the perfect one-timer of Emilijus Krakauskas leaving no chances to Fukufuji. The goal suffered awakes Japan that needs two minutes to restore the advantage: wrong pass by Aliukonis, Hirano sends the puck to Obara for 2-1 Japan. No time to celebrate and Lithuania ties with a Kaleinikovas deflection on Katulis shot. After 5 minutes with fireworks, the game is back at the composed rhythm imposed by Japan, even if Asian team needs a gullibility by goalie Pavliukov, who don’t secure a puck allowing Kenta Takagi stealing it scoring the easiest goal, to take the lead again. The begin of third period sees more pressure by Lithuania: Arnoldas Bosas misses the tie goal for few, but after a penalty each, Japan finds the decisive fourth goal, scored at 47:13 with an insisted move by Yushi Nakayashiki, reactive in recovering the puck after his first shot was rebounded by Pavliukov. A deserved but not easy victory sealed by two goal more: Kenta Takagi with a personal move finished with a precise shot behind the goalie at 47:52 and captain Go Tanaka netting a nice wrap around by Sho Sato at 54:51. A post hit by Bosas closes the contest with a too severe punishment for Lithuania, still on race for a medal, even if not the most valuable

MVP: Mindaugas Kieras – Daisuke Obara

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