The Japanese saw off Great Britain 6-0 while the Czechs defeated neighbours Slovakia 3-0, with both losing countries slipping to their second defeats.

That means that the top two cannot be dislodged with just one match of the round robin phase to go.

Japan dominated their game with Satoru Sudo opening the scoring shortly before the three minute mark.

Masahuru Kumagai then turned on the style, helping himself to the remaining five goals en-route to a deserved player of the match award.

Britain’s goaltender Rob Gaze made 32 saves to keep the score down.

"Today we played very well and we are satisfied as a team but there were a lot of chances to get more goals so next time we will do our best to change these chances into goals," Kumagai said.

"Against the Czech Republic the whole team has to defend well and when the chance occurs, the puck must go in."

Zdenek Habl opened the scoring for the Czechs after a scoreless first period, with Michal Geier doubling the advantage.

David Palat then added some further gloss with the third.

"I am satisfied with the team’s performance" said Czech defender Pavel Kubes. 

"I think everyone put in full effort.

"We all knew what the game is about and that we needed to win this game in order to secure the place in the final. 

"So it’s definitely satisfying. 

"We completed the task."

Both Japan and the Czechs are contesting the B-Pool after being relegated from the A-Pool in American city Buffalo last year.

They will meet each other in the final round robin match on Friday (December 2) before the final on Saturday.

Britain and Slovakia will also play each other twice, starting with a round robin clash before a third-fourth play-off.

The latter game takes on added significance as the top three countries from the B-Pool will progress to the Qualification Tournament for the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympics.