2011–12 KHL season

The 2011–12 KHL season was the fourth season of the Kontinental Hockey League. The regular season began with the Opening Cup game on 7 September 2011, but because of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash, which occurred during the first period of the Cup game and killed all but one member of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team, further play was delayed until 12 September 2011.[1] The tragedy forced Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to cancel their participation in the KHL season.[2] The Opening Cup was renamed the Lokomotiv Cup in honor of those lost in the tragedy. The regular season ended on 26 February 2012 and the following playoffs ended on 25 April.[3]

2011–12 KHL season
LeagueKontinental Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration12 September 2011 – 25 April 2012
Number of teams23
Regular season
Continental Cup winner Traktor Chelyabinsk
Season MVP Alexander Radulov
Top scorer Alexander Radulov
Playoffs
Western champions Dynamo Moscow
  Western runners-up SKA Saint Petersburg
Eastern champions Avangard Omsk
  Eastern runners-up Traktor Chelyabinsk
Gagarin Cup
Champions Dynamo Moscow
  Runners-up Avangard Omsk
Finals MVP Alexander Eremenko
Dynamo Mosocw

The Gagarin Cup was won by Dynamo Moscow, defeating Avangard Omsk in a seven-game final series. Dynamo Moscow is the first champion from the Western Conference of the KHL.

League changes

Team changes

Expansion to Slovakia

With the admission of Lev Poprad from Poprad, Slovakia the league expanded beyond the borders of the former Soviet Union.[4] This brought the number of teams to 24. However, following a plane crash that claimed the lives of the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl squad (with the exceptions of forward Maxim Zyuzyakin and goaltending coach Jorma Valtonen), Lokomotiv withdrew from the season, leaving only 23 teams as in the previous season.

Regular season

The regular season was supposed to start on 7 September 2011 with the Opening Cup and end on 26 February 2012 with short breaks in November, December and February for international matches and for the all-star game.[5] However, after the Yaroslavl plane tragedy the schedule had to be modified: the start of the season was postponed to 12 September and the number of games for each team was reduced to 54 as in the previous season, when also only 23 teams participated.[3]

Yaroslavl plane tragedy

On 7 September 2011, the day of the season opening, a tragic airplane accident occurred in Yaroslavl in which the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team was killed. After the news broke in Ufa, where the Opening Cup game between Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Atlant Moscow Oblast was already underway, the match was abandoned.[1] Later, the KHL announced that the start of the season would be postponed to 12 September, and that pre-game ceremonies would be held to honour the Lokomotiv team, while arena entertainment would be cancelled.[6] On 10 September, at Lokomotiv's public memorial service team president Yuri Yakovlev announced that they would not participate in the 2011–12 KHL season.[7]

All-star game

The All-star weekend took place on 20–21 January 2012 in Riga, Latvia.[5] Team Fedorov defeated Team Ozoliņš with 15–11.

League standings

Source: KHL.ru[8]

Points are awarded as follows:

  • 3 Points for a win in regulation ("W")
  • 2 Points for a win in overtime ("OTW") or a penalty shootout ("SOW")
  • 1 Point for a loss in overtime ("OTL") or a penalty shootout ("SOL")
  • 0 Points for a loss in regulation ("L")

The conference standings determined the seedings for the play-offs. The first two places in each conference are reserved for the division winners.

Note: Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference

R Div GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1z – SKA Saint Petersburg BOB5432153211205130113
2y – Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod TAR542406521715713291
3Dynamo Moscow BOB5431133115144116105
4Atlant Moscow Oblast TAR542047401913013486
5Severstal Cherepovets TAR542305422014213385
6Dinamo Minsk TAR5421073 32015814883
7Dinamo Riga BOB542024702112913679
8CSKA Moscow BOB541930702511912970
9Spartak Moscow BOB541525322712416364
10Lev Poprad BOB541303542912516254
11Vityaz Chekhov TAR541015113610819344
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Withdrew due to the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash

y – Won division; z – Won conference (and division);
BOB - Bobrov Division, TAR - Tarasov Division

Source: khl.ru[9]

Eastern Conference

R Div GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1c – Traktor Chelyabinsk KHA54322540 11163116114
2y – Avangard Omsk CHE542605411813311593
3Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHA54291 1122015013794
4Ak Bars Kazan KHA542712411916713692
5Salavat Yulaev Ufa CHE542334511817315289
6Barys Astana CHE542521312216016085
7Amur Khabarovsk CHE542314322116613984
8Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk KHA541919331913913483
9Metallurg Novokuznetsk CHE541824902110813075
10Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk KHA542023312514216574
11Sibir Novosibirsk CHE541224722713215457
12Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHA54934533010516549

y – Won division; c – Won Continental Cup (best record in KHL);
CHE - Chernyshev Division, KHA - Kharlamov Division

Source: khl.ru[9]

Scoring leaders

Updated as of the end of the regular season. Source: khl.ru[10]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Alexander RadulovSalavat Yulaev Ufa 50253863+164
Tony MårtenssonSKA Saint Petersburg 54223759+3510
Vadim SchipachevSeverstal Cherepovets 54223759+1626
Brandon BochenskiBarys Astana 49273158+426
Kevin DallmanBarys Astana 53183654+1533
Jakub PetružálekAmur Khabarovsk 54222951+1416
Aleksey MorozovAk Bars Kazan 53212950+1024
Sergei ShirokovCSKA Moscow 53183048+726
Vladimir TarasenkoSKA Saint Petersburg 54232447+1815
Petr VránaAmur Khabarovsk 46202545+1812

Leading goaltenders

Updated as of the end of the regular season. Source: khl.ru[11]

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L SOP GA SO SV% GAA
Vitali KovalTorpedo Nizhny Novgorod301612:041596474.9301.75
Alexander EremenkoDynamo Moscow351975:201895636.9201.91
Karri RämöAvangard Omsk452666:4819179875.9251.96
Michael GarnettTraktor Chelyabinsk452674:3729106883.9221.97
Rastislav StaňaCSKA Moscow462646:4220194912.9262.06

Playoffs


The playoffs started on 29 February 2012 with the top eight teams from both conferences and ended on 25 April with the seventh game of the Gagarin Cup final.

  Conference Quarter-Finals
Conference Semi-Finals
Conference Finals
Gagarin Cup Finals
                                     
1 Traktor 4     1 Traktor 4  
8 Yugra 1     4 Ak Bars 2  
2 Avangard 4 Eastern Conference
7 Amur 0  
    1 Traktor 1  
  2 Avangard 4  
3 Metallurg Mg 4  
6 Barys 3  
4 Ak Bars 4   2 Avangard 4
5 Salavat Yulaev 2     3 Metallurg Mg 1  
  2 Avangard 3
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  3 Dynamo Msk 4
1 SKA 4     1 SKA 4
8 CSKA 1     4 Atlant 2  
2 Torpedo 4
7 Dinamo Rg 3  
  1 SKA 0
  3 Dynamo Msk 4  
3 Dynamo Msk 4  
6 Dinamo Mn 0   Western Conference
4 Atlant 4   2 Torpedo 2
5 Severstal 2     3 Dynamo Msk 4  
  • During the first three rounds home ice is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. In the Finals the team with the better regular season record has home ice.

Playoff scoring leaders

The following players lead the league in points at the conclusion of the playoffs. Source: khl.ru[12]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Roman ČervenkaAvangard Omsk 20111021+64
Konstantin GorovikovDynamo Moscow 2161420+716
Mikhail AnisinDynamo Moscow 2114519+72
Vladimir TarasenkoSKA Saint Petersburg 1510616+106
Marek KvapilDynamo Moscow 218412+84
Alexander PerezhoginAvangard Omsk 218412+68

Playoff leading goaltenders

The following players lead the league in points at the conclusion of the playoffs. Source: khl.ru[13]

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L SOP GA SO SV% GAA
Vasiliy KoshechkinSeverstal Cherepovets6364:4024081.9581.32
Edgars MasaļskisYugra Khanty-Mansiysk388:2302020.9581.36
Karri RämöAvangard Omsk211209:081460313.9401.54
Alexander EremenkoDynamo Moscow211304:231650343.9431.56
Michael GarnettTraktor Chelyabinsk16988:48870291.9351.76
Jakub ŠtěpánekSKA Saint Petersburg13750:33760223.9241.76

Final standings

RankTeam
1 Dynamo Moscow
2 Avangard Omsk
3 Traktor Chelyabinsk
4 SKA Saint Petersburg
5 Metallurg Magnitogorsk
6 Ak Bars Kazan
7 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
8 Atlant Moscow Oblast
9 Salavat Yulaev Ufa
10 Barys Astana
11 Severstal Cherepovets
12 Amur Khabarovsk
13 Dinamo Minsk
14 Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk
15 Dinamo Riga
16 CSKA Moscow
17 Metallurg Novokuznetsk
18 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
19 Spartak Moscow
20 Sibir Novosibirsk
21 Lev Poprad
22 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
23 Vityaz Chekhov

Awards

Players of the Month

Best KHL players of each month.

Month Goaltender Defense Forward Rookie
September[14] Jakub Štěpánek (SKA) Aleksandr Osipov (Amur) Vadim Schipachev (Severstal) Andrei Sergeev (CSKA)
October[15] Michael Garnett (Traktor) Vitaly Shulakov (Amur) Vladimir Tarasenko (Sibir) Nikita Tochitsky (Vityaz)
November[16] Michael Garnett (Traktor) Alex Riazantsev (Traktor) Vadim Schipachev (Severstal) Sergei Barbashev (CSKA)
December[17] Ari Ahonen (Metallurg Mg) Yevgeny Medvedev (Ak Bars) Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulaev) Dmitry Lugin (Amur)
January[18] Teemu Lassila (Metallurg Nk) Kevin Dallman (Barys) Evgeny Kuznetsov (Traktor) Stanislav Bocharov (Yugra)
February[19] Alexander Eremenko (Dynamo Msc) Guntis Galviņš (Riga) Robert Nilsson (Torpedo) Roman Tatalin (Vityaz)
March[20] Michael Garnett (Traktor) Ilya Gorokhov (Dyn. Moscow) Vladimir Tarasenko (SKA) not awarded
April[21] Alexander Eremenko (Dynamo Msc) Martin Škoula (Omsk) Mikhail Anisin (Dynamo Msc) not awarded

KHL Awards

On 23 May 2012, the KHL held their annual award ceremony. A total of 20 different awards were handed out to teams, players, officials and media. The most important trophies are listed in the table below.[22]

Golden Stick Award (regular season MVP) Alexander Radulov (Ufa)
Best coach Oļegs Znaroks (Dynamo Msc)
Alexei Cherepanov Award (best rookie) Dmitry Lugin (Khabarovsk)

The league also awarded six "Golden Helmets" for the members of the all-star team:

Forwards Alexander Radulov
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Roman Červenka
Avangard Omsk
Mikhail Anisin
Dynamo Moscow
Defense Dmitri Kalinin
SKA Saint Petersburg
Kevin Dallman
Barys Astana
Goalie Alexander Eremenko
Dynamo Moscow

References

  1. "Yaroslavl plane tragedy". khl.ru. 2011-09-07.
  2. Grigory Sysoey (2011-09-10). "Russia's Lokomotiv ice hockey team to miss season after air disaster". Ria Novotsi. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  3. "Kontinental Hockey League Championship – Russian Ice Hockey Championship Season 2011/2012 Calendar" (PDF). khl.ru. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  4. "Back to 24". khl.ru. 2011-05-09.
  5. "Going West". Kontinental Hockey League. 1 June 2011.
  6. "KHL delays games, but season will go on for Lokomotiv | Posted Sports | National Post". Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  7. Lysenkov, Pavel. "@plysenkov". sports writer and NHL editor for Sovietsky Sport. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  8. "KHL Regular season standings". KHL.ru. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29.
  9. "2011-12 KHL Standings". KHL.ru. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29.
  10. "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Regular season: All Skaters – Total Points". Kontinental Hockey League.
  11. "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Regular season: Goalie – Goals Against Average". Kontinental Hockey League.
  12. "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Playoffs: All Skaters – Total Points". Kontinental Hockey League.
  13. "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Playoffs: Goalie – Goals Against Average". Kontinental Hockey League.
  14. "September's finest". KHL.ru. 2011-10-04.
  15. "October's finest". KHL.ru. 2011-11-04.
  16. "November's finest". KHL.ru. 2011-12-02.
  17. "December's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-01-05.
  18. "January's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-02-02.
  19. "February's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-03-03.
  20. "March's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-04-05.
  21. "Aprils's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-04-28.
  22. "The League's Finest". KHL.ru. 2012-05-23.
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