MYTISHCHI, Russia (Interstat) — In a tightly contested Kontinental Hockey League match on Thursday, Dynamo Moscow edged the Shanghai Dragons 3-2 in a shootout at Municipal‘nyj Stadion Stroitel‘.

The game was a defensive struggle that required extra time and a shootout to decide, with Nikita Gusev netting the decisive goal for the visitors. The victory improved Dynamo’s record to nine wins and five losses, while Shanghai moved to eight wins and six losses.

The contest defied pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Shanghai 4, Dynamo 3, and its ELO system gave Dynamo a 73.40 percent probability to win.

Shanghai struck first, capitalizing on an early power play. With Max Ellis in the penalty box for the Dragons, Borna Rendulic opened the scoring at 9:03 of the first period, netting his seventh goal of the season with assists from Gage Quinney and Joseph Duszak.

Dynamo responded in the second period. Dylan Sikura cut the deficit to 3-1 at the 23:37 mark, assisted by Jordan Weal. The Dragons answered back before the period ended, with Vladislav Valentsov scoring his first goal of the season at 36:15, assisted by Nikita A. Popugayev, to make the score 3-2.

The one-goal margin held deep into the third period. With their net empty for an extra attacker, Dynamo found the equalizer with just 1:58 remaining in regulation. Anton Slepyshev scored his first of the season, with Daniil Pylenkov and Jordan Weal, who recorded his second assist of the afternoon, setting up the dramatic goal that forced overtime.

After a scoreless five-minute overtime period, the game proceeded to a shootout where Nikita Gusev secured the extra point for Dynamo.

The game featured a strong defensive effort from the Shanghai Dragons, with key performances from defensemen Jake Bischoff, Alexander Bryntsev, Vladislav Valentsov, Joseph Duszak, Adam Clendening and Will Reilly in front of goaltender Patrik Rybar. Forwards Alexander Burmistrov and Austin Wagner were also noted for their contributions in the narrow loss.

The matchup was a quick rematch of a game from Sept. 24, which Dynamo also won 3-2 in overtime.

Dynamo, which has now won three of its last four games, will face the Shanghai Dragons again in their next contest on Saturday. Shanghai will look to rebound in the same game.