The thrilling tally came on the power play with Germany’s Laura Kluge in the box for tripping. The Japanese used their timeout before scoring. They outshot the Germans 34-30 in this hard-fought battle.

The winner of the best-of-three relegation series will return for the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Women’s Championship in Kamloops, Canada. The loser will be sent down to Division I Group A.

Marie Delabre built up a German lead that lasted for nearly two periods. She got a power play goal at 7:52 of the first period, and added an unassisted tally at 5:23 of the second, just 10 seconds after a tripping minor to Yoneyama had expired.

But 18-year-old Rui Ukita turned the tide with an unassisted goal of her own on the power play, coming with just 40 seconds left in the middle frame.

Hanae Kubo, the shootout heroine of Japan’s 4-3 win over Sweden, tied it up for this newly promoted, never-say-die squad at 3:30 of the third.

The game turned into a penalty-fest down the stretch. Germany took three minors to Japan’s two, but neither side could capitalize on the power play.

There were plenty of standouts for Japan here, including defender Ayaka Toko, who assisted on both the tying and deciding goals.

Game Two goes Friday at 14.00 at Rosengards Ishall.