Nikko Ice Bucks defeated Anyang 6:2 in the Asian Hockey League on Saturday evening, September 20th, 2026. The hosts moved further clear in their pursuit of the standings, while the visitors' struggles continued. We had tipped this outcome beforehand, giving the home side a 48 per cent probability of victory — a call that proved accurate.
Anyang arrived buoyed by their 4:3 win over Nikko just two days earlier, but the momentum shifted quickly. The visitors could not keep the game within reach for long, and the hosts sensed blood. By the time the second period ended, the visitors had not only lost their footing but also their composure.
The visitors had beaten Nikko 3:2 in March and followed it with a narrow victory in September, yet this time the pattern broke. Anyang's recent form included losses to Red Eagles Hokkaido on both April 2nd and March 29th, and a heavy 7:4 defeat on March 28th. They had not won since their early-season triumph over the hosts, and the gap between expectation and reality widened.
Nikko sit second in the table after three matches, with two wins and one loss. No points are recorded yet in this format, but the trajectory is clear. The hosts have not lost at home this season and have now taken four points from their last three meetings with Anyang.
The result extends Nikko's advantage in the head-to-head record. Anyang's run of five matches without a win stretches further, and the visitors face a difficult road ahead. The hosts, meanwhile, have kept their position and their confidence intact.
