Shanghai Dragons vs Spartak Moscow Prediction 22 December 2025
📣 A brief game day wraps up with a showdown between the Shanghai Dragons and Spartak. Both teams have struggled in December, failing to solidify their positions in the Western standings. Who will secure a crucial victory on Monday? We'll find out soon enough.
Head-to-Head
In last season's regular games, Spartak and the former Kunlun faced off in four matches, exchanging two victories each. The most high-scoring encounter took place in November in Mytishchi: Pavel Poryadin racked up three points on the Moscow Region ice, while Lucas Lockhart, who now plays for the opposing side, scored the lone goal for the "Dragons." It's hard to believe, but since the start of this season, the teams have already played three head-to-head matches. All three ice battles took place on Moscow ice, with the "Red-Whites" holding the edge with two wins. The October clash left a lasting impression on fans: the Shanghai and Moscow teams combined to score 12 goals in regulation, and it was Lucas Lockhart again who made his mark in the shootout, sending a message to his former team.
Head-to-head statistics Shanghai Dragons - Spartak Moscow
Shanghai Dragons Team Overview
The Shanghai team continues their extended home stretch. Following a successful match against Salavat Yulaev (3-2), they have suffered three consecutive defeats, dropping out of the top eight in the Western Conference. The "Dragons" are gradually mirroring Kunlun's fate: it's hard to believe that by the end of the regular season, the Chinese team will keep Moscow or St. Petersburg's "Army men," or even Spartak, out of the playoffs. Gerard Gallant's squad tried to redeem themselves in front of their fans at the end of the week, firing 46 shots on goal against Togliatti's Lada. However, this offensive fireworks display did not lead to success-they faltered in the third period, played undisciplined as usual, and suffered another defeat (2-4). Recently, fans were stunned by the departure of center Ryan Spooner from the team. Another center, Gage Quinney, is also doubtful for the upcoming game against Spartak.
Match Results: Shanghai Dragons
Spartak Moscow Team Overview
The Moscow team currently holds a spot among the top eight in the Western Conference and has one game in hand over their closest pursuers, CSKA. Alexei Zhamnov's squad has just two games remaining before the end of the calendar year, both against direct competitors on the table. Since the start of December, Spartak have displayed inconsistent form, struggling to secure regulation-time wins even against Eastern underdogs. In their most recent clash with St. Petersburg's SKA, the "red-and-whites" clinched victory thanks to the individual brilliance of former Vityaz forward Ivan Vorobyov. The team also capitalized on a five-minute power play, making the most of their advantage. Complicating matters for Spartak is the loss of forwards Pavel Poryadin and Nikita Korostelev. According to the head coach, these key attackers are expected to return only after the New Year.
Match Results: Spartak Moscow
🏒 Projected Lineups
Spartak: Georgiev - Kinn, Mironov - Ruzicka, Morozov, Belyaev
Shanghai Dragons: Rybar - Harpur, Reilly - Merkley, Josephs, Labanc
🥅 Goalies
Since arriving from the NHL, Spartak's goaltender Alexander Georgiev has played in 4 games, posting a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.20. Interestingly, Georgiev struggled against weaker teams, suggesting he needed some time to adjust.
Former Spartak and Dinamo Minsk goalie Patrik Rybar has recently been sharing starting duties with his teammate Andrei Kareev. Given that games against former teams are often significant for goalies, we expect to see Patrik in the net on Monday. Currently, the Slovakian has a GAA of 2.85 over the course of 23 games.
Editorial Prediction
"The Red and Whites" are not accustomed to sitting back in defense - as seen in their December fixtures, Spartak's young defenders sometimes struggle to keep up with opposing forwards. Let's consider a bet on the Shanghai Dragons' individual total over 2.5 goals. This bet has hit in 8 of the last 9 head-to-head games between the Chinese and Russian teams on the Dragons' ice. Without Spooner and Quinney, Gallant's squad will face challenges, yet Labanc and company must adapt to the fast pace of the Muscovites to avoid falling behind both on the ice and in the standings.No comments
Betting Tips: Shanghai Dragons - Spartak Moscow
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