Easy win for Japan

After a day-off World Championship is back in action in Belfast with possibly the most predictable clash: Japan, with a perfect record so far, faces Estonia, still looking for the first points in the tournament, but encouraged by the good performance against Great Britain. Coach Suzuki don't drop his guard and align the best lines possible, with goalie Fukufuji in the net while Estonia has Roman Shumikhin between the pipes, defended in the first two games by Koitmaa.

Estonia has a good start, with a chance for Titarenko, rebounded by Fukufuji, and a power play not converted, but when Japan pushes the gas appears the difference between the teams. Furuhashi has the first good chance, Shumikhin is reactive in deflecting the dangerous shot. The Estonian castle resists until the last minute of period when the defence let Daisuke Obara advancing towards the cage without opposition, takes aim beating Shumikhin in the lower angle.

Less than a minute in the second and Keigo Minoshima doubles the score with a nice one-timer, taking a puck getting out from Estonia defensive zone. Hirano fires on the crossbar the last part of a beautiful combination at minute 28, before the third goal, scored again by Obara, benefitting of a rebound on a Ueno shot. As in the game against Great Britain, Estonia feels the repercussion of goals suffered and strays: the fourth Japanese goal, scored at 33:29 by Shogo Nakajima, is mainly a courtesy of Baltics defence, allowing the Japanese forward to prepare the shot without opposition. The awful momentum for Estonia is breaking by a bizarre goal, scored by Embrich, or better by Fukufuji head: in a confused melee, the shot from Embrich rears up falling on goalie mask getting into the net. The goal energizes the team, coming close to second goal with Titarenko and twice with Makrov, finding the deserved second goal with a nice finishing of Vadim Vasjokin, well served from behind the net by Kevin Parras. Two goals deficit is enough for Japan, quickly answering to Estonia comeback scoring twice in 2 minutes: with Hiroki Ueno with a shot touched lightly by Shumikhin at 42:49 and Go Tanaka at 44:13. Despite some tension in the ice in the last part of period, the new double advantage by Japan fizzles out the further attempts of Estonia that close another game leaving a good impression but still without a victory. Japan continues the perfect campaign waiting for the first important game tonight between Great Britain and Lithuania that can scratch a contender from the gold medal race.

MVP: Aleksandr Petrov – Shogo Nakajima

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