Novosibirsk made light work of Sochi on Sunday, running out 5-1 winners in a KHL clash at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. The hosts had looked dangerous in their previous game with a 3-2 victory over Bar Kazan, but this time they never got going. Sochi's poor run continued, and by then it was clear they were still searching for consistency after six games.
Both sides sit near the bottom of the table, and the gap between them is negligible. Sochi occupy eleventh with just six points from a win and five losses, while Novosibirsk trail in tenth after seven matches. Neither team has found a way to string wins together, and to be fair, neither has been unlucky either.
The visitors came in with mixed recent form, including a 2-0 win over Khabarovsk and a heavy 1-7 defeat to Baris. Sochi had shown signs of life against Kazan, but the momentum did not last. This time they were out of sight by half-time, and the visitors camped in the final third without letting up.
We had backed the away side to win, and the confidence level sat at 51%. That call proved correct, as Novosibirsk took control early and never looked back. The result meant they extended their own modest run while Sochi's difficulties deepened.
What this means in practice is straightforward. Sochi remain seventh from bottom with zero points, and the pressure will only grow. Novosibirsk sit one place above them but also on zero points, so the standings tell only half the story. The real picture is in the results: a team that can spring a surprise against weaker opposition.
