Barys started their KHL campaign with a 7:1 victory over Novosibirsk at home on Sunday afternoon. The hosts have now taken their first points of the season, while the visitors remain winless after their opening match.
Novosibirsk were already down on points after losing their first game. Barys, who had not played a league match yet, opened their account with a commanding performance. The result means the visitors cannot afford another slip as early-season points matter.
Recent form offered little comfort for the away side. They had lost 3:4 against Kazan on Friday and were beaten 5:2 by Omsk on their previous outing. Novosibirsk have nothing to lose now, but they need to find answers quickly.
Barys came into this match with mixed results in their pre-season. They had lost 1:2 to St Petersburg twice and 1:5 to Khabarovsk, but also picked up wins against Lada and Vladivostok. This performance suggests a new direction for the home side.
With both teams sitting on zero points after one or zero games, the table is still wide open. Novosibirsk move further behind after this defeat, while Barys begin their campaign with momentum. The gap between them will only grow if the visitors continue like this.