Shanghai Dragons vs Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk Prediction 26 December 2025
📣 Friday's action wraps up with the clash between the Shanghai Dragons and Neftekhimik. Can the "Wolves" break their five-game losing streak? We'll find out soon enough, but for now, let's take a closer look at the teams' recent performances.
Head-to-Head
Last season, Neftekhimik and the former Kunlun clashed twice, exchanging away victories. In Nizhnekamsk, the Chinese team faced frequent penalties but managed to hold their ground in penalty kills, securing a 3-1 win with a solid performance in the third period. In Mytishchi, the "Wolves" dominated the hosts with a 5-2 victory. Notably, forward German Tochilkin, a former Kunlun player, scored twice. In the current regular season, the teams met less than a month ago, delivering a goal-fest with a total of 12 goals. Over recent years, it's tough to pinpoint a clear favorite in this matchup. It's also worth noting that these teams often struggle to determine a winner in regulation time.
Head-to-head statistics Shanghai Dragons - Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Shanghai Dragons Team Overview
The Shanghai Dragons have managed just one win in their last five games. They finally edged out Moscow's Spartak in a shootout, securing a 4-3 victory. The winning shootout goal came from Kirill Rasskazov, who recently signed a tryout contract with the team. Canadian defenseman Ben Harpur also made his mark on Wednesday, scoring his first KHL goal. On average, the Dragons score 2.65 goals per game but concede around 3.32 goals, highlighting their defensive struggles. Gerard Gallant's men continue to rack up penalties, and over the past two months, it seems they're following in Kunlun's footsteps, unlikely to break into the top eight of the Western Conference. Defenders Bischoff and Groleau remain sidelined, and forward Parker Foo has also been absent for some time.
Match Results: Shanghai Dragons
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk Team Overview
In their last ten games, Igor Grishin's squad have managed just three wins, averaging 2.7 goals scored per game while conceding 3.6. This week, the "Wolves" faced off against league leaders, Omsk's Avangard and Magnitogorsk's Metallurg. Despite losing both matches, they managed to snatch a point in each encounter. The team showed resilience, standing their ground in the final 30 minutes. Daniil Yurtaikin and Joe Duszak often find themselves rotated, yet we anticipate Duszak's participation in the upcoming clash against the "Dragons." The offensive defenseman recently played for the opposition, and he likely has something to prove to his former team. Overall, Neftekhimik's situation isn't as dire as it seems. We believe the team will retain their playoff spot and will be a formidable contender against the Eastern Conference leaders come spring.
Match Results: Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
🏒 Projected Lineups
Neftekhimik: Dolganov - Khafizullin, Profaka - Artamonov, Khoruzhev, Tochilkin
Shanghai Dragons: Kareev - Reilly, Harpur - Merkley, Quinney, Labanc
🥅 Goalkeepers
The Nizhnekamsk club boasts a goaltending duo of Dolganov-Ozolin. This season, 27-year-old Dolganov holds the status of the first-choice goalkeeper. Filipp ranks among the league's top netminders in save percentage. After 33 games, Dolganov has a goals-against average of 2.64.
In our view, Andrei Kareev remains the coaching staff's top pick for the Dragons in the near future. The Russian has managed to edge out Patrik Rybar, who performed well in September. Over 11 games, Andrei's goals-against average stands at 2.88; however, in the last five matches, he consistently saved more than 90% of opponents' shots.
Editorial Prediction
In the upcoming match, we consider a bet on Neftekhimik's double chance (X2). Given the recent struggles of the Shanghai team, along with the fact that the "Wolves" have avoided defeat in four of their last five head-to-head encounters with the Chinese side, this bet appears well-founded. Keep an eye on German Tochilkin - the young forward, who previously played for the "Dragons," recorded a hat-trick of assists in their last meeting.No comments
Betting Tips: Shanghai Dragons - Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
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