Second Period Swings It Spartak’s Way As Dragons Fall At Home

The Shanghai Dragons opened a two-game homestand against Spartak Moscow looking to halt a rough stretch, and the coaching staff didn’t hesitate to shake things up, reworking forward lines and defensive pairings. Patrik Rybar got the start in goal as the Dragons searched for a spark — and an early breakthrough.

Fast, Physical Opening

Spartak came out flying, pushing pace, attacking in waves, and testing Rybar from the opening shifts. The Dragons absorbed the pressure, broke cleanly through the forecheck, and answered with sharp counterattacks of their own. Just as Shanghai began to tilt the ice, penalties interrupted the momentum, forcing extended defensive shifts.

Popugaev Finishes the Break

Spartak’s power play tried to collapse the slot and work the puck down low, but Rybar was composed and aggressive in his crease. At 11:23, patience paid off for the Dragons: a clean 3-on-1 rush ended with Nikita Popugaev wiring a feed from Borna Rendulic past Alexandar Georgiev to make it 1–0. Spartak pressed late in the period, but Shanghai survived the push and carried the lead into intermission.

Spartak’s Three-Goal Middle Frame

The Dragons started the second period on the front foot, pinning Spartak in their zone and firing pucks toward Georgiev. But missed battles and loose coverage proved costly. Between the 28th and 30th minutes, Spartak forced their way to the crease twice, scoring gritty goals from point-blank range to flip the game. A subsequent Shanghai penalty led to a power-play strike by Joey Keene, stretching the deficit to 3–1. A coach’s challenge followed, but the goal stood.

Late Push Comes Up Short

With a two-goal cushion, Spartak tightened up in the third, clogging the neutral zone and countering selectively. Shanghai briefly saw hope when Spartak was whistled for delay of game, but an offsetting penalty erased the advantage. The Dragons pushed late, pulling the goalie for extended six-on-five pressure and generating a couple of close looks, yet the equalizer never came.

Spartak takes the opener of the back-to-back set, 3–1.

Up next: The Dragons will get another shot at redemption December 24 at SKA Arena, once again against Spartak Moscow.

FONBET KHL Regular Season
Shanghai Dragons – Spartak Moscow 1–3 (1-0, 0-3, 0-0)

December 19 | Saint Petersburg, SKA Arena | Attendance: 5,072
Goaltenders: Rybar – Georgiev

Scoring Summary:

0-1 — Popugayev (Rendulic, Josephs) 11:23
1-1 — Ruzicka (Jaros, Vorobyov) 27:18
1-2 — Ryabov (Mansurov) 29:57
1-3 — Keane (Todd, Ruzicka) 34:12 PPG

Press Office, Shanghai Dragons