Liam Kirk scored and provided two assists as Great Britain toppled Japan in overtime to remain unbeaten at the IIHF Division 1A World Championship.
Pete Russell’s side raced into a two-goal lead through Robert Dowd and the returning Kirk, who found twine on either side of the first intermission, only for Japan to respond with a three-goal surge in the second period to flip the contest on its head.
Josh Batch levelled the score in the 48th minute with a powerful one-time shot from the left circle, before Japan reclaimed the lead almost immediately through Yushiroh Hirano.
Ben O’Connor restored parity with two minutes left in regulation, beating Yuta Narisawa from the point, with Brett Perlini providing the net front screen.
Dowd found twine for the second time of the afternoon in overtime, securing Team GB’s third consecutive two-point win of the tournament.
With that in mind, here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s showdown in Sfântu Gheorghe.
Takeaway 1 — Liam Kirk remains that guy for Team GB
After helping Eisbären Berlin lift the DEL Playoff title just days earlier, Liam Kirk slotted straight back into Pete Russell’s lineup and wasted no time making an impression.
Installed on the first line alongside Perlini and Dowd, the 24-year-old sparked Team GB’s attack into life after two flat performances to open the tournament.
Kirk made his mark early, producing a sublime assist to set up Dowd’s opener late in the first period.
The former Arizona Coyotes prospect split Japan’s defensive pair with a pinpoint cross-ice pass, threading the needle perfectly for Dowd to fire home.
He added a goal of his own early in the second, beating Narisawa with a quick-release five-hole shot, before providing the primary assist on O’Connor’s late equaliser.
Ben O’Connor, Team GB (Image: Dean Woolley)
Looking ahead, Kirk’s presence will be pivotal as Russell & Co. prepare to face Poland and Italy, their two main promotion rivals.
Takeaway 2 — Japan laid Team GB’s defensive weaknesses bare
For all their attacking potential, Team GB’s defensive play remains a concern — and Japan exploited those flaws repeatedly in a chaotic second period.
The warning signs were there on Sota Isogai’s 25th minute strike, with five British skaters collapsing around the crease and still failing to clear the danger.
It wasn’t an isolated incident.
Too often, Team GB’s defensive coverage lacked structure and composure, allowing Japan to establish sustained pressure and generate high-danger chances.
Communication lagged, zone exits were too often botched, and support for Jackson Whistle — who made 30 saves — wasn’t consistent enough in front of the net.
Against a team like Japan, who move the puck quickly and rely on speed over size, those lapses were exposed.
Takeaway 3 —It’s still all to play for in Romania
Despite winning three games from three, Team GB find themselves third in the Division 1A standings — a testament to how fine the margins are in this year’s promotion race.
Their victories, while vital, have all come against the tournament’s lowest-ranked opponents in Romania, Ukraine, and Japan, making the next two games against Italy and Poland decisive.
Italy, who top the table with seven points, have shown resilience and structure throughout proceedings, leading the way with the tournament’s stingiest defence. Poland sit level with Team GB and Ukraine on six points.
With such a congested table, every period, every goal, and every decision matters. There is no margin for error — Team GB must win out from here.
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