Missed Chances Prove Costly as Dragons Fall in Season Series

A game defined by missed opportunities tilted away from the Shanghai Dragons on Tuesday night, as SKA Saint Petersburg capitalized late to secure a 5–2 win at SKA Arena and tighten their grip on the season series.

Shanghai returned to action after a five-day layoff-forced by HC Sochi’s travel issues-and kept most of its look from the recent trip to Moscow. Spencer Foo and Borna Rendulic swapped lines, and Andrei Kareev got the start in goal.

Early Punch, Early Reply

The Dragons were chasing almost immediately. SKA’s very first shot beat Kareev just 17 seconds in, as Khairullin walked into space and fired from the slot. Shanghai answered with urgency and physical edge, forcing Pleshkov into early work. The response came at 4:22 when a quick counter finished with Rasskazov burying his chance to make it 1–1. The hosts nearly took the lead late in the period, but Pleshkov denied Bryntsev to keep it even.

Back-and-Forth in the Middle

Penalties defined the opening half of the second, but neither power play found rhythm amid turnovers and bobbled pucks. At 29:37, the Dragons broke through at even strength-Rielly hit Merkley in stride near the blue line, and Merkley snapped it home for a 2-1 lead. The advantage was short-lived. Just over a minute later, Savikov answered with a deceptive shot, and at 36:54 a fortunate bounce off Rasskazov’s skate put Shanghai back behind, 3–2, despite a strong penalty kill moments earlier.

The Decisive Power Play

The third period began shorthanded for Shanghai after a costly too-many-men infraction. They survived that kill, then earned a power play of their own-only to surrender a breakaway and take another penalty. SKA made it hurt this time, converting to stretch the lead to 4–2 with half a period remaining. The Dragons pushed and generated looks-Popugaev and Merkley both had chances-but couldn’t finish. A late SKA power-play goal sealed it.

Shanghai heads back on the road next, visiting Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on January 17 as the playoff race continues.

FONBET KHL Regular Season
Shanghai Dragons – SKA Saint Petersburg 2–5 (1–1, 1–2, 0–2)

January 14 | Saint Petersburg, SKA Arena | Attendance: 9,538
Goaltenders: Kareyev – Pleshkov

Scoring Summary:

0–1 — Khairullin (Vorobyov, Zykov) 00:17
1–1 — Rasskazov (Rendulic, Wagner) 04:22
2–1 — Merkley (Reilly) 29:37
2–2 — Savikov (Blandisi) 30:55
2–3 — Goldobin (Plotnikov, Loktionov) 36:54
2–4 — Plotnikov (Zykov, Vorobyov) 49:42 PPG
2–5 — Leipsic (Goldobin) 59:07 PPG

Press Office, Shanghai Dragons