Second-period Surge Sinks Dragons In 6–0 Loss To Avtomobilist

The Shanghai Dragons opened the Moscow Mayor’s Cup with a 6–0 loss to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, with five second-period goals turning what had been a tightly contested game into a difficult afternoon at Megasport Arena.

The matchup against a revamped Avtomobilist team led by Alexei Kudashov marked the beginning of a demanding stretch for Shanghai, with three games in three days serving as the Dragons’ final preseason test before the start of the KHL regular season.

For Thursday’s noon start, Shanghai rested several players, including Pavel Khomchenko, Pavel Koledov, Calen Addison and Brett Murray, while newcomer Yegor Solovyov slotted into the third line. Amir Miftakhov got the start in net.

Scoreless Through 20

There was little to separate the teams in the opening period.

Even after an early Shanghai penalty, Miftakhov wasn’t called upon often as the Dragons did a good job disrupting Avtomobilist’s entries and limiting clean looks around their own net.

Shanghai generated opportunities of its own at the other end. Dmitrij Jaskin came closest, getting two point-blank attempts on Alikin but failing to find a way through.

Miftakhov delivered the biggest save of the period late, denying Avtomobilist on a breakaway to send the teams into the first intermission scoreless.

Five-Goal Second Changes Everything

The game turned sharply after the break.

Anton Slepyshev opened the scoring at 24:51, attacking with speed down the wing before driving toward Miftakhov and finishing the play himself.

Shanghai remained within one for several minutes, but Avtomobilist then took complete control with a devastating stretch midway through the period.

From 31:06 to 33:55, the Yekaterinburg club scored four times in just 2:49.

Cameron Lee Gross made it 2–0 before Adam Ružička added a power-play goal at 32:52. Just 22 seconds later, Slepyshev converted another man advantage for his second of the afternoon.

Daniel Sprong completed the four-goal burst at 33:55, giving Avtomobilist a 5–0 lead.

The difference in pace became increasingly apparent during the stretch, with Avtomobilist arriving first to loose pucks and winning the battles that determined possession.

Dragons Shut the Door After Sixth

Ružička added his second of the game just 1:53 into the third period, extending Avtomobilist’s lead to 6–0.

But that would be the final goal of the afternoon.

Shanghai settled down after the difficult second period, kept Avtomobilist off the board for the remainder of the game and saw out the final 18 minutes without further damage.

The Dragons now turn the page quickly, with their second game of the Moscow Mayor’s Cup coming against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod at noon on August 29.

Following the game, General Manager Evgeny Artyukhin and Head Coach Mitch Love will hold a press conference ahead of the start of the new KHL season.

Moscow Mayor’s Cup — Day 2
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg – Shanghai Dragons 6–0 (0–0, 5–0, 1–0)

August 28 | Moscow, Megasport Arena | Attendance: 817
Goaltenders: Alikin – Miftakhov

Scoring Summary

1–0 — Slepyshev (Blacker, Busygin) — 24:51
2–0 — Gross — 31:06
3–0 — Ružička — 32:52 PP
4–0 — Slepyshev (Gorbunov, Gushchin) — 33:14 PP
5–0 — Sprong (Blacker, Vorobyov) — 33:55
6–0 — Ružička (Gushchin, Barabanov) — 41:53

Shanghai Dragons Media Relations, Moscow