The 2021–22 KHL season was the 14th season of the Kontinental Hockey League. There were 24 teams that competed in 56 regular season games, beginning on 1 September 2021 and was scheduled to finish on 1 March 2022.[2] However, the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia resulted in more than 50 games being postponed prior to the break for the 2022 Winter Olympics, and in February, it was announced that no further regular season games would be played following the break.[3][4] In the finals, CSKA beat Metallurg in seven games.
Following Admiral Vladivostok's return to the league, Torpedo moved back to the Western Conference and joined the Bobrov Division, with Severstal moving into the Tarasov. Admiral was inserted back into the Chernyshev Division, with Kunlun Red Star moving into the Kharlamov Division.[2]
Each team was scheduled to play 56 games: playing every other team home-and-away (46 games), plus additional home-and-away games against five intra-conference teams (10 games).[2][6] Points were awarded for each game, where two points were awarded for all victories, regardless of whether it was in regulation time, in overtime or after game-winning shots. One point was awarded for losing in overtime or game-winning shots, and zero points for losing in regulation time. In the 2021–22 season, the second seed in each conference would not be guaranteed to a divisional winner.[7]
With the discontinuation of the regular season, it was proposed that teams were to be ranked by points percentage, with the top eight from each conference scheduled to qualify for the Gagarin Cup playoffs. This was subject to approval by the KHL Board of Directors and the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia.[4] This was confirmed on 16 February.[1]
Source: KHL Rules for classification: 1) points percentage; 2) games won in regulation time; 3) games won in overtime; 4) games won in shootouts; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) drawing of lots. (Y) Won conference
Source: KHL Rules for classification: 1) points percentage; 2) games won in regulation time; 3) games won in overtime; 4) games won in shootouts; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) drawing of lots. (Y) Won conference
Gagarin Cup playoffs
Following the curtailment of the regular season, the playoffs were brought forward to start from 1 March.[1]
On 25 February 2022, Jokerit announced their withdrawal from the league for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[8] Their first round opponents Spartak Moscow were given four forfeit victories and progressed to the second round of the playoffs.[9] Dinamo Riga subsequently also withdrew from the league for the same reason.[10]
The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of the regular season.[11] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.
