Dragons Hold Off Spartak For 2–1 Preseason Win In Moscow
After a stretch of training sessions at the Patriot complex outside Moscow, the Shanghai Dragons returned to game action with a 2–1 preseason win over Spartak Moscow at Sokolniki.
Newcomer Takhir Mingachyov centered the third line between Givani Smith and Mikhail Kotlyarevsky, while defenseman Daniil Malorosiyanov moved up to forward on the fourth line. Pavel Khomchenko got the start in net for Shanghai.
Dragons Strike First
Shanghai looked right at home on the road from the opening faceoff.
The Dragons spent much of the first period on the attack, generating shots and sustained offensive-zone pressure while still getting numbers back defensively and giving Spartak very little around their own net.
Two power-play opportunities came and went without a goal, but Shanghai didn’t need the man advantage to open the scoring.
The newly formed Mingachyov line struck at 7:33. Smith and Mingachyov helped work the puck to Kotlyarevsky, who found space through the middle and fired home the game’s opening goal.
Smith was a constant physical presence throughout the period as well, getting involved after whistles and making life uncomfortable for the Red-and-White all over the ice.
Petan Answers Spartak’s Push
Spartak responded almost immediately after the first intermission.
Just 46 seconds into the second, Mikhail Maltsev finished a setup from Daniil Gutik and Pavel Poryadin to tie the game at 1–1.
The goal gave the hosts a spark. Spartak controlled stretches of play over the next several shifts, keeping the Dragons hemmed in their own end and looking to build on the momentum.
Shanghai weathered the pressure – and then Nick Petan took matters into his own hands.
Petan used a body fake to create separation from his defender, worked himself into shooting position and snapped the puck into the far corner at 26:19 to restore the Dragons’ lead.
2–1 Shanghai.
From there, the game settled back into an even rhythm. The Dragons defended with structure while remaining dangerous whenever opportunities opened up in transition.
Buteyets and PK Shut the Door
Vyacheslav Buteyets replaced Khomchenko to start the third period and immediately found himself tested.
Shanghai was forced to kill off a 5-on-3, but Buteyets and the penalty killers stood their ground. Spartak controlled much of the puck as the period went on, forcing the Dragons to spend extended stretches defending.
The hosts got one final power-play opportunity late and threw everything they had at the Shanghai net.
The Dragons didn’t break.
Buteyets and the defense survived the final push, protected the one-goal advantage and closed out a 2–1 victory in Moscow.
Preseason Game
Spartak Moscow – Shanghai Dragons 1–2 (0–1, 1–1, 0–0)
August 24 | Moscow, Sokolniki Sports Palace
Goaltenders: Zagidulin – Khomchenko (Buteyets — 40:00)
Scoring Summary
0–1 — Kotlyarevsky (Smith, Mingachyov) — 07:33
1–1 — Maltsev (Gutik, Poryadin) — 20:46
1–2 — Petan (Boykov, Groleau) — 26:19
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