On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) will witness a significant matchup as Astana's Barys takes on Novosibirsk's Sibir at the Barys Arena. Scheduled to begin at 19:30 local time, this clash highlights the contrasting fortunes of both teams this season.
Barys finds itself languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, having accumulated only 31 points from 61 matches. Their performances have been disappointing, and they entered this game on the heels of severe beatings, including an astounding 0:8 loss to Traktor and another defeat against Metallurg with 1:4 last week. The team has struggled for form, recording just two victories against eight defeats during their last ten outings.
“Barys is finishing the regular season as the main outsider of the league,” remarked analyst Ivan Petrov from Sports.kz. “Their scoring has been abysmal, averaging only 1.39 goals per game.” Notably, no Barys player has made it onto the list of the league's top 200 scorers this season, highlighting the dire state of their offensive capabilities. Star forward Anton Burdasov has managed to score 17 points, making him the standout athlete for the struggling team.
Meanwhile, Sibir stands at eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 61 points after 60 matches. They have faced their own difficulties, losing six out of their last seven games, which has put their playoff hopes at risk. Despite recent struggles, Sibir secured their spot with a win over Vityaz, but followed it with losses to Admiral and Ak Bars, both of which were concerning defeats.
“Sibir must not lose points against lower-ranked teams like Barys if they want to secure their playoff position,” stated sports expert Alexei Kolesnikov. “Their inconsistent form lately raises questions about their chances against teams they are expected to beat.”
When analyzing their previous head-to-head matchups, Barys has managed to win two of the last four encounters against Sibir, one of them being overtime, signaling their capability to perform under pressure. Conversely, Sibir has also won two matches against Barys without conceding, showcasing their defense's strength.
Heading to the match, injuries plague Barys: goalie Nikita Boyarkin, Maxim Mukhametov, and Kirill Savitsky are all sidelined, exacerbated by Boyarkin’s absence who had previously started all three of their shutouts this season. “The loss of key players severely limits our rotation and overall strategy,” admitted head coach Galym Mambetaliev after the last defeat.
On the other hand, Sibir will miss Fedor Gordeev for the Astana game. Despite their challenges, Sibir's power play has been impressive, leading the KHL with 27.7%, but they struggle defensively. They have the highest number of goals conceded during third periods, with 60 goals against at this stage.
The upcoming match is rife with opportunities for bettors, as statistics indicate several trends. Barys has been involved in matches averaging more than five goals lately, with 12 out of their last 13 games tallying five or more. Sibir, having performed similarly, often sees highly competitive scores. Analysts suggest “a forecast for Sibir to win with a handicap of -1” seems likely at odds of 1.74.
For those betting on individual performances, observers also note Barys' average scoring troubles this season. “Sibir’s defense provides them with the upper hand,” said betting analyst Maria Ivanova, emphasizing Barys’ struggle to score more than one goal per game against stronger opponents.
With both teams having much to play for, fans can anticipate intense action on the ice as they navigate what is shaping up to be another thrilling KHL bout. The stage is set for Barys to show signs of life or for Sibir to reclaim focus and solidify their playoff contention.
Overall, with Sibir fighting to command their place and Barys seeking merely to finish the season on a high note, this match presents intriguing narratives for players, coaches, and fans alike.
For live updates, tune in to the match streaming on LiveResult.Ru, with coverage also provided by QazSport from 17:30 Moscow time.