Dragons Open Strong But Fall in Shootout to Ak Bars

Shanghai Dragons returned home for a rare appearance at SKA Arena on November 23, welcoming perennial contender Ak Bars Kazan. After missing significant time due to injury, Riley Sutter rejoined the lineup as the fourth-line center, while Patrik Rybar got the start in goal.

High-pace opening, chances at both ends

From the drop of the puck it was clear neither side intended to sit back. Both clubs traded rushes, funneling pucks to the blue paint and asking their goalies to work early. Kazan preferred a vertical approach—driving play high, resetting to the point and letting their defensemen hammer shots from distance. The Dragons struck in transition: fast entries, layered support, and wave-after-wave pressure off the rush.

Amid the chaos, Shanghai produced the first breakthrough. With 2:43 left in the period, Spencer Foo lofted a high “air mail” style chip into open space. Austin Wagner sprinted onto it, split the defense and finished cleanly on a breakaway. Dragons led 1–0 after 20.

Dragons surge to 2–0 – then Kazan answers

Shanghai came out firing to start the second. Josephs, Foo and Sucese all tested Amir Bilyalov as the Dragons turned sustained zone time into scoring chances. Their pressure paid off: Vladimir Kuznetsov burst down the left side in transition, Riley Sutter jumped the play, and the returning center buried a feed to the far post for 2–0.

That punch woke Ak Bars up.

Kazan cranked up their tempo midway through the frame, attacking with layered screens and cross-slot touches. On 31:45, Artyom Galimov snapped home a rebound to cut the lead. Eight minutes later, Alexander Barabanov wired a quick-release finish to tie the game 2–2 heading into the intermission.

Trading blows, no one blinks

The third period became a fast-break chess match. Ak Bars hunted long offensive cycles; the Dragons answered with breakaway rushes. Borna Rendulic nearly broke the stalemate on a 2-on-1, while Kazan threatened from tight angles off puck recoveries, but both goalies slammed the door.

With playoff-style caution creeping in, neither side wanted to be the first to blink. Regulation solved nothing.

Overtime chances slip away

Three-on-three overtime tilted toward the Dragons. Spencer Foo, Gage Quinney and Wagner each generated looks that could have delivered a statement home win, but Bilyalov matched every attempt—tracking drag-moves and swallowing rebounds.

The shootout was decisive: Barabanov and Sasha Chmelevski converted for Ak Bars, while Shanghai came inches short when Quinney hit the post. Final score: Ak Bars 3, Dragons 2 (SO).

Shanghai now heads out on another road swing – Chelyabinsk → Nizhnekamsk → Kazan – before returning home again.

FONBET KHL Regular Season
Shanghai Dragons — Ak Bars Kazan — 2—3 SO (1—0, 1—2, 0—0, 0—0, 0—1)

November 23 | SKA Arena, Saint Petersburg | Attendance: 11,118
Goaltenders: Rybar — Bilyalov

Scoring Summary:

1–0 Wagner (S.Foo) 17:17
2–0 Sutter (Kuznetsov) 26:49
2–1 Galimov (Сhmelevski, Safonov) 31:45
2–2 Barabanov (Semyonov, Lyamkin) 39:20
2–3 Barabanov 65:00 SOW

Press Office, Shanghai Dragons