Eagles and Halla see streaks come to an end

Sunday night in the Asia League was the polar opposite of Saturday night. The long streak of the Eagles finally came to an end and Halla got shut out after scoring 7 goals the night before.

Oji Eagles vs Nippon Paper Cranes

The Eagles switched their netminders again and gave Yuta Narisawa a turn on Sunday night. Mike Radja was the first to beat him 12 minutes into the game. Shots were even through the first at 10 each,

In the second, Cranes goalie Ryohsuke Ohshima shined. After falling behind 1-0, the Eagles poured it on out-shooting the Cranes 17-6 in the second period. Coming from the Eagles, one would have expected the period to end in their favor. Despite the lop-sided shot totals, Ohshima stood tall, letting in just 2 goals, while the Eagles scored 3 on their few chances. Early in the second Yanadori and Nishiwake scored for the Cranes. At the 32 minute mark Sato got the Eagles on the board, but the Cranes quickly scored again with Kubo getting the marker. Kuji got one more for the Eagles late in the period, leaving the score 4-2.

The Eagles kept it coming in the third period, getting 15 shots, but not finding the back of the net. Near the end of the period with the goalie pulled, Radja got his second of the game when he scored on the empty net making it 5-2.

Radja had 2 goals and an assist for the Cranes while Ohshima made 40 saves.

Anyang Halla vs Tohoku Free Blades

After winning 7-4 the night before, Halla opted to change their keeper and give Sung-je Park the start. They just forgot all the little things that made their last four games a success. During their four game win streak Halla averaged 41 shots a game, and 5 penalties a game with many of them being coincidental roughing minors. Sunday night they managed just 25 shots and took 8 penalties.

Tanaka got the first goal for the Blades at the 14 minute mark of the first period. Both teams took three penalties in the first, but Halla was unable to convert as they were out-shot 10-7.

Halla got two more power-play opportunities in the second as Farynuk took his second and third penalties of the game, but they failed solve netminder Hashimoto. They were also still out shot 12-8. Mizuuchi scored seven minutes into the period, while Takahashi scored at the mid-way point.
In the third, Halla finally drew even on shot totals but still couldn't get anything going. The Blades scored on an early powerplay 8 minutes into the period as Suzuki got the goal. A couple of straight power plays for Halla produced nothing and with 90 seconds left, they Woo-sang took a holding penalty to finish out the game.

Tanaka had a goal and an assist, and Wrigley had 2 assists for the Blades. The teams will meet again on Tuesday night to decide this three game set.

 

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