Eagles continue their winning streak

The Oji Eagles continue their dominance of the Asia League by winning their eighth and ninth games in a row over the weekend. They defeated the Icebucks on Saturday and Sunday night by healthy margins, and continued to get goals and support from the whole team. There were six games in total over the weekend in Japan with both Korean teams travelling there.

Saturday

Oji Eagles vs Icebucks

Oji poured on the offence out-shooting the Bucks 46-15. They got five goals from four players and Shuhei Kuji had 2 goals and an assist for them. Masato Domeki took three penalties during the game including a misconduct for a check from behind mid-way through the first period. In the second period Hashiba and Takahashi scored only 15 seconds apart. The Bucks got goals from Ishizuka and Uchiyama, while Yakura assisted on both goals. Oji won the game 5-2

Nippon Cranes vs High1

Despite only taking a single penalty all game, High1 couldn't get anything going on Saturday night. Outshot 36 to 26, and without their star forward Swift, who was serving a one game suspension, High1 ended up shut-out 5-0 for the second time this season. Shigeno had two goals for the Cranes, while Tonosaki, Sakagami and Obara each had a couple of points, with Tonosaki's goal coming during the only penalty High1 took of the game.

Freeblades vs Halla

After getting shut down last weekend by the Eagles, Halla was looking for a positive outcome and they got it. After the Freeblades scored a couple of early goals, Halla pulled starting netminder Eum and put in Sung-je Park midway through the first period. Park stopped all 31 shots that he faced. Jackman gave the Halla the lead late in the second period and with one second left they scored on the empty net to make the final 4-2. Mark Derlago had 2 goals and an assist for Halla. Tanaka had 1 goal and 1 assist for the Freeblades. The Freeblades did outshoot Halla 42-31, but were stonewalled after an early offensive outburst.

Sunday

Oji Eagles vs Icebucks

After losing the previous night, the Icebucks were hoping to snap the Eagle's winning streak. Like Saturday night's contest this game was filled with penalties. A check from behind late in the first period caused a stir as Saito, for the Eagles, received a misconduct and Keller and Suzuki were both sent off with double minors for roughing. All together there were 18 minor penalties called in the games as well as a penalty shot near the end of the game for the Bucks. Oji heavily outshot the Bucks again by a margin of 54 to 18. They were more successful in the goals department scoring 8. After 6 goals the Bucks switched their netminder but it did little to slow the bleeding. Oji's 8 goals came from seven different players. Ogawa got himself an Asia League Gordie Howe Hatrick with a goal, 3 assists and a roughing penalty. Saito also had a goal and 3 assists for the Eagles. Bonk had the lone goal for the Bucks in their 8-1 loss.

Cranes vs Halla

A slow star hurt Halla in this game. The Cranes started quickly with a goal only two minutes into the game and were ahead 2-0 by the end of the first. Halla again pulled starting goalie Eum and put in Park. By the end of the second period they were ahead 3-0. Halla scored quickly in the third period though, and with five minutes left they made it 4-3. On a powerplay with a minute left, they tied the game up to send it to overtime. With only one second left in overtime Osawa scored for the Cranes to give them the victory. Halla only took a single penalty in the game, and outshot the Cranes 42-27. Ishikawa proved to be difficult for Halla to solve. Woo-sang Park had 2 goals for Halla while Radunske had 3 assists. Tonosaki had 3 assists for the Cranes while Radja, Obara, and Yule each had a goal and an assist.

Freeblades vs High1

High1 was six games into the season and still hadn't gotten a victory in regulation time. They were finally able to change that Sunday night, despite being outshot 41 to 38. In an unusual offensive outpouring High1 got 7 goals from six different players. The Freeblades' goalie was chased midway through the second after 3 goals. Yu-won Lee had a goal and 3 assists for High1 as Ishioka and Ahn each had a goal and 2 assists. Farynuk had a goal and 2 assists for the Freeblades.

 

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