Shanghai Dragons vs Avtomobilist Prediction 18 March 2026
📣 In their final home game of the season, the Shanghai Dragons will face off against Avtomobilist. With both teams out of the playoff race, this matchup might lead to a more open and relaxed style of play.
Head-to-Head
In their February clash, Avtomobilist secured a commanding home victory with a 4-1 scoreline. Interestingly, the Dragons, led by captain Spencer Foo, were the first to find the net but couldn't maintain their lead. Despite outshooting the Yekaterinburg side twofold, the visitors failed to get past Vladimir Galkin. Looking at the head-to-head record, Avto hold the upper hand with 14 wins compared to the former Kunlun's 5 victories. Encounters on the ice with the Beijing team often prove high-scoring affairs: a total of over 4.5 goals has been recorded in 6 of their last 9 meetings.
Head-to-head statistics Shanghai Dragons - Avtomobilist
Shanghai Dragons Team Overview
The Dragons' current form is far from impressive, with the team suffering five consecutive defeats. Shanghai's average scoring rate stands at 2.47 goals per game, while their defense struggles, conceding an average of 3.44 goals per match. A significant issue is their performance in the third period, where they rarely score more than one goal. North American players frequently find themselves penalized, leading to goals conceded while shorthanded. The Dragons have managed to outpace other Western underdogs, yet they have not surpassed last season's Kunlun's performance, having accumulated only 54 points so far. The club's management faces a challenging offseason, with anticipated changes in the Dragons' front office.
Match Results: Shanghai Dragons
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Team Overview
Avtomobilist have been delivering consistent performances, securing seven wins in their last ten games. The team from Yekaterinburg have solidified their position in fourth place in the East and will kick off the first round of the playoffs at home. However, they won't be able to climb higher than third-placed Ak Bars in the standings with only two regular-season games remaining. "Avto" boast a strong offensive game, with Sprong and his teammates averaging 3 goals per match, while their defense, led by Tryamkin, concedes 2.33 goals per game. In recent away games, Avtomobilist have excelled in the second periods, limiting their opponents' scoring opportunities. However, the first game of their road series didn't go as planned-they fell to neighboring Metallurg with a score of 3-4. Forward Reid Boucher might return to the lineup for the first round of the playoffs.
Match Results: Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
🏒 Probable Lineups
Shanghai Dragons: Tikhomirov - Bischoff, Reilly - S. Fu, Sutter, P. Fu
Avtomobilist: Galkin - Tryamkin, Blacker - Sprong, Sharov, Macek
🥅 Goalkeepers
With Patrik Rybar on the injured list, we continue to watch Andrey Tikhomirov in action. The 30-year-old netminder has played 22 games for the Dragons, posting a less-than-stellar goals-against average of 3.31. His defensive teammates frequently find themselves penalized, offering little support to the goalie.
Avtomobilist's goaltending duo consists of Yevgeny Alikin and Vladimir Galkin. We anticipate Galkin will start in net on Wednesday, having played only half of the recent match against Metallurg. Galkin boasts a goals-against average of 2.13, though he failed to maintain a save percentage above 90% in his last two outings.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Avtomobilist, having firmly secured the fourth spot in the East, seemed to ease off in their last two games, allowing opponents to score 7 goals. The Dragons might capitalize on this vulnerability from the Ural team and delight their St. Petersburg fans in their final home game of the season. Considering that the total over 4.5 goals has been a feature in six of the last seven head-to-head encounters between Avtomobilist and the former Kunlun on Chinese ice, we anticipate another open game with plenty of scoring opportunities.No comments
Betting Tips: Shanghai Dragons - Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
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