Improved Dragons push Dynamo all the way

1 March 2025

Dynamo Moscow 6 Kunlun Red Star 3

This could hardly have been more different from our previous trip to Moscow. Leave aside the superficial similarities, and it’s clear that this was a more competitive performance from start to finish.

Yes, we allowed six goals again. Yes, a game that was tight after 40 minutes got away in the third. But there was no repeat of the late collapse at CSKA that left us on the wrong end of a heavy loss. Instead, this was a case of meeting a strong opponent that proved good enough to take the result after being made to fight all the way.

The fall-out from Thursday’s loss at CSKA continued. Joey Duszak and Jan Drozg were handed one-game bans after they were ejected from the previous fixture, while Yury Pautov was rested. That brought Stepan Zvyagin, Alexei Kozhevnikov, Kyle Wood and Ziyat Paigin back into the team, with Patrik Rybar taking over the goaltending duties.

There was no messing around from our guys at the start. Within two minutes, the Dragons had the lead thanks to a fine effort from Yaroslav Likhachyov. Taking the puck from Tyler Graovac, Yaroslav surged into the Dynamo zone, swerving past two opponents before beating Maxim Motorygin in style.

After that, it was time for our defense to shine. Dynamo set up to regain the initiative, but the home team’s offense boiled down to an on-going duel between Rybar and Dylan Sikura. Twice in the opening frame, our Slovak goalie shut the door on the home forward, preserving our lead to the intermission.

However, right at the start of the second period Sikura found a way through to tie the game. Not that the scores were level for long: within a minute Red Star was back in front. Adam Clendening’s point shot caused confusion in front of Motorygin, Kyle Rau went close and Luke Lockhart banged home the loose puck for 2-1.

The action was unrelenting. Dynamo tied the scores again on the power play, then Sikura got his second of the night to give the home team its first lead of the game. Almost immediately, Likhachyov had a one-on-one chance but failed to beat Motorygin. However, Kunlun’s first power play came up trumps as Spencer Foo made it 3-3 in the 35^th minute. Our captain tidied up the rebound after Lockhart and Likhachyov tested the home goalie.

Unfortunately, at a time when we needed to consolidate, our guys allowed a quick goal as Pavel Kudryavstev restored the Blue-and-White lead.

Early in the third, Graovac had a good look for another tying goal. However, Motorygin got behind his shot and Dynamo was not inclined to offer another chance. Moments later, Anton Slepyshev made it 5-3, opening a two-goal advantage for the first time in the game. That proved decisive. There was no lack of effort from our guys in the closing stages, but the Blue-and-Whites were able to defend that lead and finished the job with a breakaway goal late on.