NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia (Interstat) — In a tightly contested defensive struggle, Sibir Novosibirsk edged Barys Astana 1-0 in a shootout Sunday in a Kontinental Hockey League matchup at Ice Sports Palace Sibir.

The game, which extended beyond the standard 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, was ultimately decided in the penalty-shot tiebreaker after neither team could break the deadlock through three periods and a five-minute overtime session. The victory pushed both teams to identical 5-6 records on the young season.

The contest was a stark contrast to the teams’ previous meeting just over a week prior, a 6-4 victory for Barys on home ice. This time, goaltending and defensive discipline took center stage.

Sibir netminder Louis Domingue was the cornerstone of the victory, turning aside all shots he faced in regulation, overtime and the shootout to record the shutout. His performance anchored a collective defensive effort that stifled the Barys attack throughout the night.

The game’s defensive nature was evident in the limited number of notable plays. A key moment came in the first period when Sibir’s Vladimir Tkachyov was sent to the penalty box, but Barys was unable to capitalize on the ensuing power play. The contest then settled into a grinding, physical affair with few clear-cut scoring chances for either side.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 3-2 victory for Sibir and whose ELO system gave the home team a 68 percent probability of winning in regulation.

For Sibir, the win provides a measure of redemption after a recent three-game road trip that saw them lose to Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Barys and Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Their defensive corps, including Yegor Alanov, Timur Akhiyarov, Fyodor Gordeyev, Artyom Zhukov, Roman Kalinichenko and Alexander Lukin, formed an effective barrier in front of Domingue, limiting second-chance opportunities.

The loss extends a difficult stretch for Barys, which has now dropped two consecutive games, including a 5-1 defeat to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in its previous outing. The team’s offense, which had been productive in its last meeting with Sibir, was completely neutralized.

Both teams now look ahead to a quick rematch. Sibir will embark on a two-game road trip, first visiting Lada Togliatti on Oct. 10, followed by a game at Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk on Oct. 12. They will then travel to Astana to face Barys again on Oct. 14.

Barys, meanwhile, begins a challenging road trip of its own, heading to Kazan to face Ak Bars on Oct. 7 before a matchup with Traktor Chelyabinsk on Oct. 9. The team will then return home for a five-game homestand, which will feature the return visit from Sibir on Oct. 14.