Six-Goal Thriller in Moscow! Dragons Let One Slip Away but Take a Point vs. Spartak

MOSCOW — The Shanghai Dragons opened their latest road trip with another clash against Spartak Moscow – the fourth meeting between the two teams since preseason – and what a game it turned out to be. Greg McKegg made his debut on the fourth line alongside Parker Foo and Akolzin, while Adam Clendening retained the captain’s “C” in the absence of Spencer Foo. Andrei Kareev started in goal.

Early Penalty, Early Trouble

The Dragons were forced to play shorthanded almost immediately when Ellis took a minor penalty. They killed off most of the two minutes, but with just 15 seconds left, Spartak’s Todd — a familiar name on the scoresheet in these matchups — converted from close range. 1-0 Spartak. The hosts pressed hard for a second goal, but disciplined defensive play and calm goaltending from Kareev kept Shanghai within striking distance.

Popugaev’s Solo Effort

The Dragons settled down midway through the period, flipping the momentum with long offensive shifts and aggressive puck retrieval. Their persistence paid off when Ryan Spooner sent Nikita Popugaev on a breakaway; the winger stretched out and, in full dive, slipped the puck around the goalie – 1-1. Shanghai nearly took the lead moments later, but Kevin Labanc’s close-range attempt missed the target by inches.

Spartak Strikes, Dragons Respond

The second period opened with relentless Spartak pressure. Kareev faced a barrage of shots but stood tall, denying multiple high-danger chances. A penalty to Rendulic gave the hosts another opportunity, and after Parker Foo broke his stick defending, Lockhart made it 2-1 Spartak. Just three minutes later, Pashin extended the lead to 3-1.

But the Dragons refused to fold. In a furious two-minute stretch, Rilley and Merkley both scored to tie the game 3-3, with Labanc assisting on both tallies. The period ended in chaos – Todd hit the crossbar with 21 seconds remaining as both teams traded rushes.

Rendulic Rockets Dragons Ahead

The third period began 4-on-4 after a major to Spartak’s Zaitsev and a minor to Somerby. As soon as Shanghai returned to full strength, Rendulic hammered a one-timer under the bar to give the Dragons their first lead, 4-3, with Labanc earning his third assist of the night.

A Wild Final Ten Minutes

Midway through the period, Spartak enjoyed a brief 5-on-3, but Kareev and his penalty killers stood firm. Moments later, Clendening unleashed a shot through traffic to make it 5-3, and just 30 seconds after that, Akolzin buried another — 6-3 Dragons!

The celebration didn’t last long. Ryabov pulled one back for Spartak, 6-4, then Todd made it 6-5 on a power play with less than two minutes left. With 12 seconds remaining, Rubtsov found space in front and tied the game 6-6, silencing the Dragons bench.

Another Shootout Heartbreaker

Overtime saw both sides trade cautious rushes, and Spartak earned a late power play but couldn’t capitalize. In the shootout, however, it was Spartak’s captain – and China’s all-time KHL appearance leader – Luke Lockhart who sealed the win.

Despite the heartbreaking finish, Shanghai earned another road point and showcased their relentless offensive firepower in one of the season’s most chaotic games.

Next Up: The Dragons continue their road trip in Minsk against Dinamo on October 24.

KHL Regular Season – FONBET
Spartak Moscow – Shanghai Dragons 7:6 SO (1–1, 2–2, 3–3, 0–0, 1–0)

October 21 | Moscow, Megasport Arena | Attendance: 6,064
Goalies: Volokhin (Zagidulin – 40:00) – Kareyev

Scoring Summary:

1:0 – Todd (Pashin, Maltsev) 03:22 PPG
1:1 – Popugayev (Spooner, Duszak) 07:38
2:1 – Lockhart (Pashin, Keane) 26:43 PPG
3:1 – Pashin (Zaitsev) 29:59
3:2 – Reilly (Labanc, Quinney) 37:00
3:3 – Merkley (Clendening, Labanc) 38:53 PPG
3:4 – Rendulic (Labanc, Merkley) 42:53 PPG
3:5 – Clendening (Rendulic, Spooner) 52:45 PPG
3:6 – Akolzin – 53:48
4:6 – Ryabov (Lockhart, Kuzmin) – 54:12
5:6 – Todd (Lockhart, Keane) – 58:43 6-on-4 PPG
6:6 – Rubtsov (Maltsev, Todd) – 59:48 6-on-5
7:6 – Lockhart – 65:00 SOW

Press Office, Shanghai Dragons