Comeback Complete! Jaskin Lifts Dragons To Overtime Win In Season Opener
A month of preseason work led to this moment.
The Shanghai Dragons opened the 2026–27 KHL regular season in dramatic fashion Saturday, rallying from three goals down before captain Dmitrij Jaskin scored 1:29 into overtime to secure a 5–4 victory over Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.
Shanghai opened the season with Nic Petan, Jaskin and Nikita Alexandrov on the top line, while Nick Cicek and Brennan Menell formed the first defensive pair. Amir Miftakhov got the start in net.
Plenty of Pressure, No Reward
The Dragons came out with pace and aggression, immediately putting Neftekhimik under pressure. Shanghai’s speed caused problems for the hosts, who were repeatedly forced to relieve pressure by icing the puck.
Mikhail Kotlyarevsky had one of the best early opportunities, finding space in the middle of the offensive zone, but Yaroslav Dolganov was there to make the save.
At the other end, Neftekhimik converted its first dangerous chance.
A feed from behind the net found Nikita Khoruzhev, who finished from in front at 5:38 to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.
The goal shifted momentum toward Neftekhimik, which spent the next several minutes pinning Shanghai in its own zone and making line changes difficult.
Miftakhov and the Dragons weathered the pressure while looking for opportunities in transition, but a late penalty proved costly. Artur Tyutalin converted on the power play at 16:47 to make it 2–0.
Shanghai nearly found an answer while shorthanded when Brett Murray threatened at the other end, but Dolganov shut the door.
Solovyov Opens the Account, Ottenbreit Beats the Buzzer
Shanghai returned for the second period determined to change the game and immediately began applying pressure around the Neftekhimik net.
The Dragons eventually earned their first power play of the night — and it produced goals at both ends.
First, Nikita Nadvorny scored shorthanded at 30:14 to extend Neftekhimik’s lead to 3–0.
Just 31 seconds later, Shanghai finally broke through.
Yegor Solovyov converted the remaining power-play time off a setup from Menell and Vladimir Kuznetsov, scoring the Dragons’ first goal of the 2026–27 season.
And with the clock nearly expired in the second period, Shanghai struck again.
Turner Ottenbreit jumped into the rush as the extra attacker and finished with just two seconds remaining, with Kotlyarevsky and Miftakhov picking up the assists.
What had been a three-goal deficit was suddenly down to one.
3–2 after 40. Game on.
Comeback Complete
Shanghai carried that momentum straight into the third.
An early Neftekhimik penalty gave the Dragons an immediate opportunity to tie it, with Alexandrov threatening before Solovyov, Kuznetsov and Murray generated further chances around the net.
The Dragons made no secret of their intentions. They pushed numbers forward and attacked relentlessly, while remaining aware of Neftekhimik’s ability to counter.
At 47:01, the pressure finally paid off.
A loose puck bounced into the danger area around Dolganov’s crease, and Stepan Khripunov got there first, burying the rebound to complete the comeback.
From 0–3 to 3–3.
Captain Delivers in Overtime
Neftekhimik responded immediately.
The hosts attacked Miftakhov’s net and even attempted a lacrosse-style finish during a chaotic sequence that ended with the Shanghai goaltender penalized for dislodging the net.
Another penalty followed, leaving the Dragons facing a lengthy 5-on-3.
This time, Neftekhimik capitalized. Alexei Belozerov scored at 49:39 to put the hosts back in front, 4–3.
Shanghai killed off the remaining 4-on-5 time and went right back to work.
Then came another power play — and another response.
With the Dragons skating 4-on-3, Jaskin and Menell combined to find Petan, who converted at 52:32 to tie the game once again.
4–4.
A frantic finish featuring penalties on both sides couldn’t produce a winner, sending the Dragons into overtime in their first game of the new season.
They needed just 89 seconds.
Menell and David Chen worked the puck into the offensive zone before sending it toward the crease, where Jaskin got his stick on the puck and redirected it home.
Captain. Game-winner. Comeback complete.
5–4 Dragons.
After trailing 3–0 midway through the game and 4–3 in the third period, Shanghai scored five of the final six goals to open the season with two points on the road.
The Dragons continue their road trip on September 8 against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
KHL Regular Season 2026–27
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk – Shanghai Dragons 4–5 OT (2–0, 1–2, 1–2, 0–1)
September 6 | Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhim Arena | Attendance: 4,440
Goaltenders: Dolganov – Miftakhov
Scoring Summary
1–0 — Khoruzhev (Tochilkin, Andreychenko) — 05:38
2–0 — Tyanulin (Bikmullin, Fedotov) — 16:47 PP
3–0 — Nadvorny (Nikolishin) — 30:14 SH
3–1 — Solovyov (Menell, Kuznetsov) — 30:45 PP
3–2 — Ottenbreit (Kotlyarevsky, Miftakhov) — 39:58
3–3 — Khripunov (Ottenbreit) — 47:01
4–3 — Belozyorov (Zhafyarov, Tyanulin) — 49:39 PP, 5-on-3
4–4 — Petan (Jaskin, Menell) — 52:32 PP, 4-on-3
4–5 — Jaskin (Menell, Chen) — 61:29 OTW
Shanghai Dragons Media Relations, Nizhnekamsk
