Dragons Fall Short Against CSKA in Second Mayor’s Cup Game, Rally Too Late

MOSCOW — Less than 24 hours after their dramatic 3-2 win over Spartak, the Shanghai Dragons returned to the ice to face CSKA Moscow in the second game of the Mayor’s Cup on August 30, 2025. Goalie change wasmade, with Kareev replacing Rybar between the pipes, and minor line adjustments were implemented. Quinney donned the captain’s “C,” flanked by assistants Sutter and Somerby.

CSKA jumped out of the gate quickly, asserting early control and striking on just the third minute. A puck popped out of the scrum behind the net, landing on Yapparov’s stick, who snapped it into the far corner from the slot — 1-0. The Dragons answered with a rush from Spencer Foo and earned a power play shortly after, but Bischoff’s shot lacked the necessary heat to beat the CSKA defenders. The home side pressed their advantage, converting a 5-on-4 setup as Yanchenko pounced on a loose puck in front to double the lead. 2-0, and Shanghai faced a major uphill battle to get back into the game.

The Dragons showed flashes of life early in the second period but were quickly forced into extended defensive sequences. A well-rested CSKA skated at full speed, creating one dangerous scoring chance after another. By the 28th minute, the Red Army had extended their lead to 4-0 with goals from Abramov on the power play and Guryanov. The game finally settled into a more structured pace, but tempers flared just before intermission following a heavy hit on Rielly, which sparked a brief altercation between Somerby and Provolnev — Shanghai’s defenseman came out on top in the physical exchange.

Seventeen minutes of intermission didn’t cool the home side’s aggression. CSKA continued to push from the opening faceoff of the third period, prompting Bischoff to deliver a clean, physical check that drew a response, sparking another mini-brawl with Akolzin and Poltapov exchanging punches. The Dragons converted the subsequent power play, with Quinney wristing a perfect shot into the top corner – 4-1 – marking his third goal across two tournament games.

Three minutes later, Chekhovich cut the deficit to 2-4, reigniting Shanghai’s hopes. Sutter followed up with a blistering shot that ricocheted off both posts, narrowly missing the net – an incredible chance to bring the Dragons even closer. Despite continued pressure and several quality chances, CSKA held firm, skating out of Megasport Arena with a 4-2 victory.

Next Up: Shanghai Dragons will face off for the third-place match on August 31 against Dynamo Moscow. Tickets are available through the tournament website.

Mayor’s Cup – Day 3:
CSKA Moscow – Shanghai Dragons 4-2 (2-0, 2-0, 0-2)

Megasport Arena, Moscow | 2,794 in attendance
Goalies: Gamzin – Kareev

Scoring Summary:

1:0 – Yapparov (Yanchenko, Dolzhenkov) 02:06
2:0 – Yanchenko (Sprong, Buchelnikov) 09:28 PP
3:0 – Abramov (Gardner, Buchelnikov) 22:57 PP
4:0 – Guryanov (Nesterov, Drozdov) 27:30
4:1 – Quinney (Sucese) 45:47 PP
4:2 – Chekhovich (Bryntsev, Quinney) 48:44

Shanghai Dragons Media Department, Moscow