MYTISHCHI, Russia (Interstat) — The Shanghai Dragons erupted for three second-period goals to overcome an early deficit and defeat HC Sochi 5-2 in a Kontinental Hockey League game Friday afternoon at Municipal‘nyj Stadion Stroitel‘.

Forward Borna Rendulic led the offensive surge for the Dragons, scoring twice and adding an assist as Shanghai improved its season record across all competitions to 20 wins and 29 losses. Sochi, which has now lost three straight, fell to 14 wins and 33 losses.

The game began with a physical edge, and Sochi’s Rafael Bikmullin was sent off for boarding at the 5:17 mark of the first period. The Dragons capitalized on the ensuing power play when defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk fired a shot past Sochi goaltender Alexei Shchetilin at 9:14, with assists from Rendulic and Will Reilly.

Shanghai doubled its lead less than two minutes later. At 11:03, Vladimir Kuznetsov netted his first goal of the afternoon, converting a setup from Ilya Kablukov and Reilly, who notched his second assist of the period.

Sochi cut into the lead before the intermission. Dmitry Kagarlitsky scored at 15:35, assisted by Matvei Guskov and William Bitten, making it 2-1. A penalty to Shanghai’s Kalynuk for handling the puck with his hands at 16:19 gave Sochi a late power play, but they could not convert.

The middle frame belonged entirely to the Dragons. Rendulic scored his first of the game at 1:37 of the second period, an unassisted effort that restored Shanghai’s two-goal cushion. After a tripping penalty to Sochi’s Ilya V. Nikolayev at 2:40, Rendulic struck again on the power play just 48 seconds later. He deflected a shot from the point by Riley Sutter, with Spencer Foo also earning an assist.

Kuznetsov completed his two-goal afternoon at 12:09 of the second, taking a feed from Vladislav Leontyev and beating Shchetilin to extend the Shanghai lead to 5-1. Shchetilin was pulled after the period, having stopped 18 of 23 shots.

Andrei Kareyev was solid in net for Shanghai, turning aside 25 of 27 shots for the victory. His shutout bid was broken early by Kagarlitsky and late in the third period. With Shanghai’s Adam Clendening in the box for hooking, Sochi’s Timur Khafizov scored a power-play goal at 6:26 of the third, assisted by Daniil Seroukh and Kagarlitsky, to provide the final margin of 5-2.

The game concluded with a hooking penalty to Sochi’s Fyodor Avramov with just 20 seconds remaining.

The result continued a difficult stretch for Sochi, which has been outscored 13-5 in its last three contests. The Dragons, meanwhile, secured a measure of revenge after falling to Sochi 6-2 just four days prior on Monday. Shanghai’s top line of Rendulic and Kuznetsov, who combined for four goals, proved to be the difference.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a closer final score of Shanghai 3, Sochi 2, with its ELO system giving the Dragons a 62.40 percent probability to win.

Sochi continues its road trip Sunday at Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. The Shanghai Dragons’ next action is Feb. 5 at home against CSKA Moscow.