Shanghai Dragons vs Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Prediction 12 September 2025
📣 Can the "Dragons" secure points in their third consecutive home game? On Friday, last season's champions, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, will visit the SKA Arena. The "Railwaymen" clinched victories in both of their home games and are now embarking on a four-game road trip from Saint Petersburg to Moscow with confidence.
Head-to-Head
The "Dragons" and the "Railroaders" clashed on the ice four times last season. Yaroslavl's team came out on top in all four encounters, with only one game ending in a hard-fought battle. In October last year, powerful defensemen Kyle Wood and Yuri Pautov helped the Dragons secure a two-goal lead by the start of the second period. However, the top lines of the Yaroslavl team prevented the Chinese club from achieving an away victory, leveling the score and clinching the win in overtime (3-2). The Railroaders claimed their most decisive victory in early September in Mytishchi, winning 6-2. On that occasion, Slovak defenseman Martin Gernat scored twice on the power play.
Head-to-head statistics Shanghai Dragons - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Shanghai Dragons Team Overview
After a solid preseason where the "Dragons" secured third place in the Moscow Mayor's Cup, Gerard Gallant's squad kicked off their campaign with a commanding victory over the "Army Men from the Neva" on familiar ice. In the season opener, the "Blue-Orange" were outshot, less aggressive in blocking shots, and struggled on the penalty kill, yet their outstanding offensive play overwhelmed the club from Saint Petersburg. The second home game was less fortunate: conceding two goals to the "Sailors" in the first period put the "Dragons" on the back foot. With three minutes left in regulation, Ryan Spooner leveled the score, but Max Ellis's lone successful shootout attempt wasn't enough to secure a win over the team from Vladivostok.
Match Results: Shanghai Dragons
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Team Overview
The newly crowned champions showcased their high level of play in the season opener, edging out Chelyabinsk Traktor in a 2-1 shootout victory. Young star Egor Surin is currently in the spotlight, having scored in both home games for the "Railwaymen." In Tuesday's clash against Severstal, Yaroslavl were outshot but dominated in other aspects, proving to be far superior to the "Steelmen." Radulov and his teammates excelled in faceoffs, capitalized on a power play, and were much more aggressive in physical play. It’s worth noting that during the summer, Canadian coach Bob Hartley took over the team, replacing Kazakhstan's Igor Nikitin. Hartley previously led Avangard Omsk to the Gagarin Cup in the 2020/2021 season.
Match Results: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
🏒 Projected Lineups
Shanghai Dragons: Rybar - Bischoff, Duszak - Popugaev, Spooner, Merkley
Lokomotiv: Isaev - Sergeev, Bereglazov - Surin, Radulov, Ivanov
🥅 Goaltenders
Former Spartak and Dinamo Minsk netminder Patrick Rybar is the Dragons' top choice for the new season. The goalkeeper delivered impressive performances against the Red-and-Whites and Moscow's Dinamo at the Mayor of Moscow Cup and earned the title of the tournament's best goalie. On Monday, Patrick stopped an incredible 44 shots from the Mariners, though he conceded two goals in the shootout.
It's likely that 25-year-old Daniil Isaev will defend the net again on Friday. Last regular season, the goaltender played 41 games, securing 29 wins, and recorded eight shutouts, boasting the league's best goals-against average of 1.61. Currently, Isaev's goals-against average stands at a daunting 0.96, striking fear into opposing forwards.
Editorial Prediction
Despite Daniil Isaev's typically standout performance between the pipes and solid defense from Yaroslavl, consider betting on a total of over 4.5 goals. This total hit in both of the Dragons' opening games and was recorded in three out of four head-to-head clashes with Lokomotiv last season. A meeting between two Canadian coaches always promises an exciting and high-scoring contest. We are confident that Bob Hartley's aggressive style will fire up the forwards in blue-and-orange jerseys, leading to a flurry of goals.No comments
Betting Tips: Shanghai Dragons - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
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