Dragons Rally, But Fall In Overtime. Shanghai Claim A Point Vs. Neftekhimik

The Dragons iced the same lineup as in their previous outing, with one adjustment on the blue line as Kalynuk replaced Reilly. Andrei Kareev got the start in goal once again.

Special teams everywhere

The opening period felt endless, stretching to nearly 45 minutes thanks to a parade to the penalty box on both sides. Power plays came in every shape imaginable — 5-on-4, 4-on-3, even 5-on-3 — and as soon as the teams returned to even strength, another whistle followed. Shanghai also lost Ben Harpur early, forcing the coaching staff to rotate just five defensemen. Amid the chaos, Neftekhimik struck first at 10:46, but Kirill Rasskazov answered late in the period, snapping a shot under the crossbar to make it 1–1.

Two-goal swing

It was no surprise that special teams carried into the second period. Neftekhimik had a shorthanded goal waved off, challenged the call, and ended up killing nearly two full minutes of a 5-on-3. Shanghai couldn’t convert, and once the game settled into five-on-five, the visitors took control. Two goals in a span of 1:42 midway through the period pushed Neftekhimik ahead 3–1, despite several quality chances at the other end.

Labanc brings life

The Dragons tried to raise the tempo in the third, but Neftekhimik initially dictated play, keeping Kareev busy. A sustained shift by the Josephs line finally created some havoc in front of Filipp Dolganov, and moments later Shanghai capitalized on the power play. Kevin Labanc unloaded a precise shot to cut the deficit to one.

Another comeback

With time ticking down, the Dragons pressed. Their persistence paid off with 6:29 remaining when Kuznetsov jammed home a rebound to tie the game 3–3. Shanghai nearly took the lead on the next shift, but Dolganov froze the puck, and regulation ended deadlocked – Shanghai’s second overtime game in three days.

Overtime heartbreak

The Dragons had the first look in extra time, with Labanc forcing a save and Josephs just missing the rebound into an open net. At the other end, Kareev turned aside Serikov, but moments later Neftekhimik converted a 2-on-1 rush to seal it. Shanghai salvaged a valuable point, but dropped the overtime decision for the second time this season to Neftekhimik.

The Dragons close out the calendar year on December 30 at home against SKA.

FONBET KHL Regular Season
Shanghai Dragons – Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 3–4 OT (1–1, 0–2, 2–0, 0–1)

December 26 | Saint Petersburg, SKA Arena | Attendance: 4,501
Goaltenders: Kareyev – Dolganov

Scoring Summary:

0-1 — Serikov (Shafigullin, Dergachyov) 10:46
1-1 — Rasskazov (Popugayev, Akolzin) 18:08
1-2 — Belozyorov (Zhafya­rov, Mityakin) 33:12
1-3 — Nadvorny (Krivolapov, Fedotov) 34:54
2-3 — Labanc (Kalinyuk, Sutter) 48:20 PPG
3-3 — Kuznetsov (Bryntsev) 55:31
3-4 — Khoruzhev (Belozyorov) 62:11 OTW

Press Office, Shanghai Dragons