Preview: Shanghai Dragons at Dinamo Minsk

MINSK, Belarus (Interstat) — The Dinamo Minsk hockey club will look to halt a five-game skid when it hosts the Shanghai Dragons in a Kontinental Hockey League matchup Saturday at Minsk-Arena.

Dinamo Minsk (26-17-0) has lost five straight in regulation since a 4-3 road win over SKA Saint Petersburg on Jan. 19. The club’s most recent outing was a 2-1 loss at Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on Wednesday. Goaltender Vasily Demchenko, a key player for Minsk, has been in the net for each defeat during the slump, including a 25-save performance in the loss to Lokomotiv.

The Shanghai Dragons (18-28-0), who represent the KHL’s Chinese expansion, arrive having lost eight of their last nine games. Their lone victory in that stretch was a 2-0 win over Amur Khabarovsk on Jan. 7. Shanghai is coming off a 7-2 home loss to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Thursday.

A player to watch for Shanghai is forward Borna Rendulic, who recorded a goal and an assist in the loss to Torpedo. He has three points (one goal, two assists) in his last five games.

For Dinamo Minsk, Demchenko remains a focal point. The netminder will be tasked with steadying a team that has allowed 19 goals over its losing streak.

The teams have met once this season, with Shanghai securing a 2-1 shootout victory in Minsk on Oct. 24. In their previous encounter last season, then branded as Red Star Kunlun, the Chinese-based club won 3-2 on Oct. 9, 2025.

Following Saturday’s contest, Dinamo Minsk will remain at home to face Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Monday. The Shanghai Dragons continue a road trip with a game at HC Sochi on Monday.