KHL: Can Barys step up their game in playoffs?

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - It seems HC Barys Astana cannot catch up after the two-week Olympic break. According to Sports.ru, Barys are not the only team who did not meet their fans expectations ahead of the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs in the East.

HC Avtomobilist were at the top of their game in January and were enjoying their best season so far. But after the Sochi Olympics, Avtomobilist suffered four consecutive devastating defeats and at the last press conferences their head coach Anatoly Emelin said the team were 'extremely undisciplined'.

The Astana squad are going through the same stage. Barys are on the losing streak and their comfortable second place in the Eastern conference does not calm the passions. As reported earlier, they lost their third straight game on Sunday (March 2).

This being said, Avtomobilist players are likely to face Barys in the first round of the KHL playoffs. This is the only chance for the both teams to reach the semifinals of the conference. Can Barys beat Avtomobilist or any other KHL team after scoring only four goals after the Olympic break? Time will show.