Sibir Edges Barys in Vyacheslav Butsaev’s First Game

Match Overview

Sibir 1 – 0 Barys (SO)

Soshnikov Delivers Shootout Victory Over Barys

Sibir`s first game following the dismissal of Vadim Epanchintsev saw them face a familiar opponent: the former team of their newly appointed head coach, Vyacheslav Butsaev. Last season, Butsaev’s tenure with the Astana team lasted a mere 23 days before he was replaced by Galym Mambetaliyev. The recent encounter against Barys also featured Mikhail Kravets on the opposing bench, a coach with whom Butsaev previously collaborated at HC Sochi.

Compared to the pivotal Ufa match that led to Epanchintsev`s departure, Sibir’s new coach implemented minimal roster changes. Mikhail Reshetko, Vladimir Mikhalёv, and Dmitry Lozebnikov were recalled from the VHL team, but only Lozebnikov, a goaltender, made it onto the active roster. He served as Louis Domingue`s backup due to Anton Krasotkin`s absence.

On the Barys side, American goaltender Adam Shcheel, unlike Domingue, was replaced by Andrei Shutov after conceding four goals against Lokomotiv. However, the most notable roster adjustments for Barys were the returns of Ivan Nikolishin and Roman Starchenko from injuries. Starchenko, a veteran who missed the season`s start, marked a significant milestone, becoming the sixth player to participate in 18 out of 18 KHL championships. This exclusive group also includes Dmitry Vishnevsky, Grigory Panin, Vadim Shipachyov, Andrei Stas, and Petr Khokhryakov. Despite these key returns, Kirill Savitsky retained the captaincy for Barys.

The first period, despite a scoreless tally, was packed with scoring opportunities. Sibir`s captain Sergei Shirokov nearly opened the scoring, while Nikita Soshnikov hit the post. Barys, in turn, frequently challenged Sibir`s defense, and a penalty by Roman Kalinichenko left the home team shorthanded. Alikhan Omirbekov and the returning 39-year-old Starchenko were particularly dangerous, creating significant pressure on Domingue.

The Novosibirsk team showcased commendable movement and intensity, a noticeable improvement compared to their recent away game in Ufa. Yet, this effort didn`t translate into goals, as the hosts lacked composure in critical moments. As the second period drew to a close, Barys effectively pinned Novosibirsk in their defensive zone for an extended duration. Butsaev’s squad entered the third period tied, largely due to the outstanding performance of Louis Domingue. The Canadian netminder was fortunate in one sequence, narrowly avoiding a bizarre goal deflected off the boards.

At the start of the final period, Sibir rallied, finding the energy to press their opponents and generating several scoring chances near Barys’ net, mounting a sustained offensive push. This momentum was abruptly halted when the hosts were whistled for a bench minor penalty for too many men on the ice. Novosibirsk successfully killed off the penalty but, ironically, did not receive a single power play opportunity themselves throughout the entire match. In the frantic final seconds, Emil Galimov had a clear breakaway chance but couldn`t get a shot off. Ultimately, the game was decided in a shootout, where clutch goals from Nikita Soshnikov and birthday celebrant Vladimir Tkachyov secured Butsaev’s inaugural victory as Sibir’s head coach.