Japan beat Estonia 6-2 to continue their unbeaten start to the World Championship Division 1 Group B in Belfast.
Tuesday afternoon’s victory means Japan have now won three games out of three to sit at the top of the table on nine points.
Japan went ahead late in the first period through Daisuke Obara’s shot through traffic on the powerplay (19:06).
Goal two arrived 43 seconds into the second period thanks to Keigo Minoshima’s one-time shot from the slot (20:43).
Daisuke Obara’s bundled in Japan’s third on the powerplay (31:48) and Shogo Nakajima danced in from the left to scored a superb fourth (33:29).
Riho Embrich got Estonia on the board when he netted from close range at 34:26 and Vadim Vasjonkin scored their second, firing top shelf from the slot (41:55).
Japan regained their three-goal advantage through Hiroki Ueno’s low shot from out in front (42:49) and Go Tanaka made it 6-2 when he picked up a loose puck and fired home in the left circle.
Estonia are without a win in their three matches.
Photo credit: Ian Offers.