MYTISHCHI, Russia (Interstat) — The Shanghai Dragons will host Traktor Chelyabinsk on Wednesday in a Kontinental Hockey League game at Municipal’nyj Stadion Stroitel’ in Mytishchi. Shanghai enters the matchup with an 8-4 record, while Traktor is 5-8.

Traktor will look to rebound after a recent loss, a 2-1 home defeat against Sibir Novosibirsk. In that game, Grigory Dronov scored and recorded four shots on goal. Andrei Svetlakov also had four shots, and Nikita Soshnikov added one assist and two shots.

Dronov, a defenseman, is the player to watch for Traktor. In his recent performances, Dronov scored against Sibir Novosibirsk and Avangard Omsk. He also recorded two assists in a win at Spartak Moscow and two assists in a home loss to SKA Saint Petersburg. Dronov has posted multiple shots on goal in several games, including six shots against Amur Khabarovsk and seven against Avangard Omsk. He also has contributed hits and penalty minutes in recent outings.

Shanghai will counter with Dmitrij Jaskin. Jaskin scored and had three shots on goal in the Dragons’ most recent game, a 3-2 home loss to Dinamo Minsk. David Chen also scored, and Riley Sutter had one assist and two shots. Jaskin also had two penalty minutes and two hits in that game. Jaskin scored in a win at Dynamo Moscow and in home wins against Dinamo Minsk and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jaskin has recorded at least one shot on goal in each of the listed games, with a high of five shots at Dynamo Moscow. He also has been physical, recording multiple hits in several contests, including six hits against Dinamo Minsk and five against Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Avtomobilist.

Shanghai’s recent results include a win at Dynamo Moscow, a win at Lada Togliatti, an overtime loss at Severstal Cherepovets, and home wins over Metallurg Magnitogorsk, HC Sochi, Dinamo Minsk and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. The Dragons also have road losses at SKA Saint Petersburg and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and a road overtime win at Dinamo Minsk.

Traktor’s other results this season include wins at Ak Bars Kazan, Spartak Moscow and Dynamo Moscow. The team has home wins over Avangard Omsk and home losses to Amur Khabarovsk, SKA Saint Petersburg, Spartak Moscow and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Traktor also lost at Ak Bars Kazan.

Traktor’s next game is at Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Traktor will then visit Avangard Omsk. Shanghai’s next game is at home against Ak Bars Kazan. After that, Shanghai will visit HC Sochi, Severstal Cherepovets, Lada Togliatti and Spartak Moscow.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Shanghai 3, Traktor 2.