Hiroo Iizuka scored two goals to lead the Nippon Paper Cranes to a 5-1 victory in Game 3 of the Asia League Ice Hockey finals on Tuesday in Kushiro, Hokkaido Prefecture.
Nippon Paper holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Seibu Prince captain Takahito Suzuki scored the game's first goal at the 2:55 mark of the first period. In the period, the Rabbits outshot the Cranes 25-4.
Momentum shifted in the second period.
Iizuka tied it at 1-1 less than three minutes into the period. Darcy Takeshi Mitani, Hideyuki Osawa and Iizuka added goals over the next 10 minutes to give the hosts a 4-1 advantage entering the final period.
Joel Dyck scored Nippon Paper's final goal 6:25 into the third.
Forward Masatoshi Ito had a team-high three assists for the Cranes.
Game 4 will be held on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Kushiro.