Barys Astana vs Shanghai Dragons Prediction 20 February 2026
📣 On Friday, Barys will host the Shanghai Dragons on their home ice. Both teams currently sit outside the top eight of their respective conferences, yet they still hold a theoretical chance of making the playoffs. Can Mikhail Kravets find a way to outplay a team he knows well? We'll find out soon enough.
Head-to-Head
The Friday clash will mark the first meeting of the season between Astana and Shanghai. Let's review the matchups from 2024. Interestingly, both encounters two years ago ended with identical 2-0 victories for the former Kunlun. Goalie Jeremy Smith, who left the Dragons' den in the offseason, secured two shutouts. Somerby, Fu, and Clendening were involved in the scoring plays and continue to play for the Chinese team. In terms of overall head-to-head results, the current hosts have the upper hand with 16 wins compared to Kunlun's eight victories. It's also notable that in recent years, the teams have rarely thrilled fans with a high-scoring performance.
Head-to-head statistics Barys Astana - Shanghai Dragons
Barys Astana Team Overview
Barys are not in top form, having suffered three defeats in their last five outings. This week, Mikhail Kravets' squad clashed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, but ultimately dropped a point in overtime, losing 3-2 OT. The North American duo of Walsh and Vecchione put in a tremendous effort and thrilled the home crowd with a remarkable comeback. However, they can't afford to squander points moving forward. Barys have 10 more games ahead, where they need to secure 2 points each time. It's worth noting that their average scoring rate this season is 2.21 goals per game, while conceding an average of 2.93 goals. The overall inconsistency in results is concerning, but the current schedule is arguably easier for the hosts than for the Dragons. Yet, the injury to forward Shaikhmeddenov, who performed well last year, doesn't play in their favor.
Match Results: Barys Astana
Shanghai Dragons Team Overview
The Shanghai Dragons approach their upcoming match on the back of six consecutive defeats. Their only victory in recent times was against the modest Sochi, and that was back in late January. On average this season, the Shanghai side scores 2.46 goals per game while conceding 3.3 goals. Their away performance is particularly concerning, with an average of 3.77 goals allowed per match. Since Mitch Love took over as head coach, there has been some improvement in their defensive play, but they still struggle against top-table teams like Torpedo. On Wednesday, Labanc and his team could not overcome the Nizhny Novgorod side, losing a point in overtime (3-4 OT). The North American players continue to rack up penalties, which opponents exploit. Injuries to Rybar, Harpur, and Kareyev persist, limiting the squad's depth during this crucial part of the season.
Match Results: Shanghai Dragons
🏒 Probable Lineups
Barys: Boyarkin - Massi, Daniyar - Savitsky, Morelli, Vecchione
Shanghai Dragons: Tikhomirov - Bischoff, Rielly - Labanc, Josephs, Sukeze
🥅 Goalkeepers
The Astana team's goaltending squad features Adam Shil and Nikita Boyarkin. We anticipate that Boyarkin, who has been more effective recently, will start in goal on Friday. The Kazakhstan national team goaltender currently holds a goals-against average of 2.65, closely matching his performance from last season.
With Andrei Kareev and Patrik Rybar on the injured list, the focus shifts to the Tikhomirov-Shikin goaltending duo. The 30-year-old Tikhomirov has played 16 games for the Dragons, posting a rather average goals-against average of 2.87. These aren't stellar numbers, but there's little criticism of him since his defensive teammates frequently take penalties.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Historically, clashes between these teams rarely see high scores: the under 5.5 goals bet has won in the last five encounters between the teams from Astana and Shanghai. Considering both teams still have theoretical chances to make the playoffs, we don't expect reckless puck handling or aggressive charges towards the goal. Mitch Love has established a solid defense that performs reliably against teams like Barys, although questions remain about their forwards.No comments
Betting Tips: Barys Astana - Shanghai Dragons
in 16 of last 18 home games (KHL).in last 6 games against Shanghai Dragons (KHL).in 10 of last 11 away games (KHL).in last 6 games (KHL).in 10 of last 11 away games (KHL).
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