Dragons Dominate Dynamo, Clinch Bronze at Mayor’s Cup

MOSCOW – The Shanghai Dragons capped off their Moscow preseason stint with a resounding statement, cruising to a 6-1 win over Dynamo Moscow in the bronze medal game of the Mayor’s Cup. The win marked a strong finish to the tournament, showcasing the Dragons’ depth and offensive firepower.

For the third-place showdown, the Dragons welcomed back key contributors Ryan Spooner, Adam Clendening, and Jeremy Groleau, while top scorer Gage Quinney sat out to rest. Patrik Rybar returned to the net, and the captain’s “C” was handed to Bischoff for the contest.

Shanghai nearly struck on their opening 3-on-2 rush, but a slight miscue in front left Dynamo’s net unscored. Dynamo pushed back early, testing Rybar on a huge chance from Sharakanov, but the Dragons’ goalie was sharp, keeping the visitors off the board. Just five minutes into the first, Ellis unleashed a wrister from the faceoff circle, catching Kulikov off guard for 1-0 Dragons. Dynamo ramped up the pressure immediately afterward, yet Shanghai’s defense held firm, with Sucese threatening on a breakaway shortly after.

The second period exploded for Shanghai. Burmistrov, Sucese and Ellis executed a perfect three-man passing sequence, shuffling the puck at high speed to create space – Ellis finished off the play for his second of the night, 2-0. Less than four minutes later, a near-identical combination featuring Popugaev, Spencer Foo, and Spooner produced a textbook 2-on-1 rush, ending with Spooner firing home 3-0. Dynamo briefly scored on a subsequent attempt, but the goal was waived off due to skate contact.

Momentum continued to swing heavily in the Dragons’ favor. At 32 minutes, Clendening blasted a shot from the blue to capitalize on a power play, and soon after that Parker Foo added a slick turnaround shot, forcing a netminder change for Dynamo. With the score at 5-0, Shanghai dialed back the attack slightly, though Comtois managed to sneak one past Rybar just 35 seconds before the second intermission.

The Dragons played smart in the third, protecting their large lead. At 47:34, Burmistrov finished off a rebound from Sucese’s shot attempt for 6-1, and even a mid-period goalie swap to Kareyev did nothing to slow down Shanghai. Dynamo was unable to mount a meaningful comeback, as the Dragons closed out the match with confidence and precision.

Next Up: The Shanghai Dragons open their KHL regular season on September 6, hosting SKA St. Petersburg at their home ice. Tickets are available through the team’s official site.

Mayor’s Cup – Day 4:
Bronze Medal Game: Dynamo Moscow – Shanghai Dragons 1:6 (0:1, 1:4, 0:1)

Megasport Arena, Moscow | Attendance: 1,747
Goalies: Kulikov (Selivanov 32:20) – Rybar (Kareyev 49:45)

Scoring Summary:

0:1 – Ellis (Groleau) 04:25
0:2 – Ellis (Sucese, Burmistrov) 20:57
0:3 – Spooner (S. Foo, Popugaev) 24:37
0:4 – Clendening (Spooner, Popugaev) 31:41 PP
0:5 – P. Foo (Burmistrov) 32:20
1:5 – Comtois (Will) 39:25
1:6 – Burmistrov (Sucese, Ellis) 47:34

Press Office, Shanghai Dragons, Moscow