OK, so NHL may be on hold due to media-fueled fear of the coronavirus, but ironically hockey continues to be played over in Asia’s (and Europe’s) premier professional ice hockey league – the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In fact, the KHL is in the thick of its Conference Semifinals which makes for the perfect time to get invested in this exciting league. Up first, is the highly anticipated game between HC Barys (Kazakhstan) and HC Sibir Novosibirsk (Siberia). This is some serious hockey folks, so don’t sleep on what may overtake hockey betting in 2020 as you know it. Read on for a preview of this Tuesday’s game.
HC Barys sits atop the Chernyshev Division with a respectable 38-24 record – a stat that means something in this tough as nails hockey league. En route to their KHL Conference Semifinals berth Barys took out Metallurg MG (great name) 4 games to 1 in a best of seven Conference Quarterfinals series. Defense was their primary weapon as they shut out their opponent in two of those four games, but they also put together an impressive offensive performance in the final game, winning 5-2. Forward Anton Sagadeyev scored 2 goals on 4 shots on goal (SOG) and added an assist, while Canadian-born team captain Darren Dietz scored on one of two shots. Pavel Akolzin chipped in with one of his own. Meanwhile, Canadian goalie Edward Pasquale had 17 saves on 19 attempts for a 89.5 SV%.
HC Barys has a chip on it’s shoulder coming into their first KHL Conference Seminal game, after losing in the 2019 Conference Semis by 1–4 against Avangard Omsk. HC Barys is 3-2 straight up (SU) in their last five games at home.
Betting on HC Sibir Novosibirsk (34-28 Record)
HC Sibir Novosibirsk has a more modest record than their Semifinal opponent, with 34 wins and 28 losses on the regular season. They are entering the Semis after being third in the Kharlamov Division, but the past is the past. Like HC Barys they took out their Quarterfinals opponent Avtomobilist in four games, claiming two shutouts in the process. In the final game, center Dmitri Sayustov scored a single goal on 2 SOG while leftwing Evgeny Chesalin added one of his own, also through 2 SOG.
Sibir has not made the KHL playoffs in the last three seasons, so they are coming in with far less post-regular-season experience than their Semifinals adversary. There is no denying their underdog status in the series, but they will take it one game at a time, as should bettors. HC Sibir is 3-2 SU in their last five games away from home.
Writer’s Prediction
HC Barys takes a one game lead in the KHL Conference Semifinals, defeating Sibir 4-1.
