2011–12 KHL season

2011–12 KHL season
LeagueKontinental Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration12 September 2011 – 25 April 2012
Number of teams23
Regular season
Continental Cup winnerRussia Traktor Chelyabinsk
Season MVPRussia Alexander Radulov
Top scorerRussia Alexander Radulov
Playoffs
Western championsRussia Dynamo Moscow
  Western runners-upRussia SKA Saint Petersburg
Eastern championsRussia Avangard Omsk
  Eastern runners-upRussia Traktor Chelyabinsk
Gagarin Cup
ChampionsRussia Dynamo Moscow
  Runners-upRussia Avangard Omsk
Finals MVPRussia Alexander Eremenko
Dynamo Moscow
KHL seasons

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 2011 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][3] 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.[4]

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.[5] This brought the number of teams to 24. However, following the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 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.[6] 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.[4]

Notable events

Yaroslavl plane tragedy

Main articles: 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash and 2011–12 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl season

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.[7] 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.[8]

All-star game

The All-star weekend took place on 20–21 January 2012 in Riga, Latvia.[6] Team Fedorov defeated Team Ozoliņš with 15–11.

League standings

Source: KHL.ru[9]

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
1 z – SKA Saint Petersburg BOB 54 32 1 5 3 2 11 205 130 113
2 y – Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod TAR 54 24 0 6 5 2 17 157 132 91
3 Dynamo Moscow BOB 54 31 1 3 3 1 15 144 116 105
4 Atlant Moscow Oblast TAR 54 20 4 7 4 0 19 130 134 86
5 Severstal Cherepovets TAR 54 23 0 5 4 2 20 142 133 85
6 Dinamo Minsk TAR 54 21 0 7 3 3 20 158 148 83
7 Dinamo Riga BOB 54 20 2 4 7 0 21 129 136 79
8 CSKA Moscow BOB 54 19 3 0 7 0 25 119 129 70
9 Spartak Moscow BOB 54 15 2 5 3 2 27 124 163 64
10 Lev Poprad BOB 54 13 0 3 5 4 29 125 162 54
11 Vityaz Chekhov TAR 54 10 1 5 1 1 36 108 193 44
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Withdrew due to the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash

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

Source: khl.ru[10]

Eastern Conference

R Div GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1 c – Traktor Chelyabinsk KHA 54 32 2 5 4 0 11 163 116 114
2 y – Avangard Omsk CHE 54 26 0 5 4 1 18 133 115 93
3 Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHA 54 29 1 1 1 2 20 150 137 94
4 Ak Bars Kazan KHA 54 27 1 2 4 1 19 167 136 92
5 Salavat Yulaev Ufa CHE 54 23 3 4 5 1 18 173 152 89
6 Barys Astana CHE 54 25 2 1 3 1 22 160 160 85
7 Amur Khabarovsk CHE 54 23 1 4 3 2 21 166 139 84
8 Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk KHA 54 19 1 9 3 3 19 139 134 83
9 Metallurg Novokuznetsk CHE 54 18 2 4 9 0 21 108 130 75
10 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk KHA 54 20 2 3 3 1 25 142 165 74
11 Sibir Novosibirsk CHE 54 12 2 4 7 2 27 132 154 57
12 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHA 54 9 3 4 5 3 30 105 165 49

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

Source: khl.ru[10]

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

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

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

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Alexander Radulov Salavat Yulaev Ufa 50 25 38 63 +1 64
Tony Mårtensson SKA Saint Petersburg 54 22 37 59 +35 10
Vadim Schipachev Severstal Cherepovets 54 22 37 59 +16 26
Brandon Bochenski Barys Astana 49 27 31 58 +4 26
Kevin Dallman Barys Astana 53 18 36 54 +15 33
Jakub Petružálek Amur Khabarovsk 54 22 29 51 +14 16
Aleksey Morozov Ak Bars Kazan 53 21 29 50 +10 24
Sergei Shirokov CSKA Moscow 53 18 30 48 +7 26
Vladimir Tarasenko SKA Saint Petersburg 54 23 24 47 +18 15
Petr Vrána Amur Khabarovsk 46 20 25 45 +18 12

Leading goaltenders

Updated as of the end of the regular season. Source: khl.ru[12]

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 Koval Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 30 1612:04 15 9 6 47 4 .930 1.75
Alexander Eremenko Dynamo Moscow 35 1975:20 18 9 5 63 6 .920 1.91
Karri Rämö Avangard Omsk 45 2666:48 19 17 9 87 5 .925 1.96
Michael Garnett Traktor Chelyabinsk 45 2674:37 29 10 6 88 3 .922 1.97
Rastislav Staňa CSKA Moscow 46 2646:42 20 19 4 91 2 .926 2.06

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 Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Gagarin Cup Finals
            
1 Russia Traktor 4
8 Russia Yugra 1
1 Russia Traktor 4
4 Russia Ak Bars 2
2 Russia Avangard 4
7 Russia Amur 0
1 Russia Traktor 1
Eastern Conference
2 Russia Avangard 4
3 Russia Metallurg Mg 4
6 Kazakhstan Barys 3
2 Russia Avangard 4
3 Russia Metallurg Mg 1
4 Russia Ak Bars 4
5 Russia Salavat Yulaev 2
2 Russia Avangard 3
3 Russia Dynamo Msk 4
1 Russia SKA 4
8 Russia CSKA 1
1 Russia SKA 4
4 Russia Atlant 2
2 Russia Torpedo 4
7 Latvia Dinamo Rg 3
1 Russia SKA 0
Western Conference
3 Russia Dynamo Msk 4
3 Russia Dynamo Msk 4
6 Belarus Dinamo Mn 0
2 Russia Torpedo 2
3 Russia Dynamo Msk 4
4 Russia Atlant 4
5 Russia Severstal 2

Player statistics

Playoff scoring leaders

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

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

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Roman Červenka Avangard Omsk 20 11 10 21 +6 4
Konstantin Gorovikov Dynamo Moscow 21 6 14 20 +7 16
Mikhail Anisin Dynamo Moscow 21 14 5 19 +7 2
Vladimir Tarasenko SKA Saint Petersburg 15 10 6 16 +10 6
Marek Kvapil Dynamo Moscow 21 8 4 12 +8 4
Alexander Perezhogin Avangard Omsk 21 8 4 12 +6 8

Playoff leading goaltenders

The following players lead the league in points at the conclusion of the playoffs. Source: khl.ru[14]

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 Koshechkin Severstal Cherepovets 6 364:40 2 4 0 8 1 .958 1.32
Edgars Masaļskis Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk 3 88:23 0 2 0 2 0 .958 1.36
Karri Rämö Avangard Omsk 21 1209:08 14 6 0 31 3 .940 1.54
Alexander Eremenko Dynamo Moscow 21 1304:23 16 5 0 34 3 .943 1.56
Michael Garnett Traktor Chelyabinsk 16 988:48 8 7 0 29 1 .935 1.76
Jakub Štěpánek SKA Saint Petersburg 13 750:33 7 6 0 22 3 .924 1.76

Final standings

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

Awards

Players of the Month

Best KHL players of each month.

Month Goaltender Defense Forward Rookie
September[15] Czech Republic Jakub Štěpánek (SKA) Russia Aleksandr Osipov (Amur) Russia Vadim Schipachev (Severstal) Russia Andrei Sergeev (CSKA)
October[16] Canada Michael Garnett (Traktor) Russia Vitaly Shulakov (Amur) Russia Vladimir Tarasenko (Sibir) Russia Nikita Tochitsky (Vityaz)
November[17] Canada Michael Garnett (Traktor) Russia Alex Riazantsev (Traktor) Russia Vadim Schipachev (Severstal) Russia Sergei Barbashev (CSKA)
December[18] Finland Ari Ahonen (Metallurg Mg) Russia Yevgeny Medvedev (Ak Bars) Russia Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulaev) Russia Dmitry Lugin (Amur)
January[19] Finland Teemu Lassila (Metallurg Nk) Canada Kevin Dallman (Barys) Russia Evgeny Kuznetsov (Traktor) Russia Stanislav Bocharov (Yugra)
February[20] Russia Alexander Eremenko (Dynamo Msc) Latvia Guntis Galviņš (Riga) Sweden Robert Nilsson (Torpedo) Russia Roman Tatalin (Vityaz)
March[21] Canada Michael Garnett (Traktor) Russia Ilya Gorokhov (Dyn. Moscow) Russia Vladimir Tarasenko (SKA) not awarded
April[22] Russia Alexander Eremenko (Dynamo Msc) Czech Republic Martin Škoula (Omsk) Russia 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.[23]

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

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

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

References

  1. ^ a b "Yaroslavl plane tragedy". khl.ru. 2011-09-07. Archived from the original on 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  2. ^ Earle, Jonathan (2011-10-13). "Lokomotiv Survivor: 'We Knew We Would Crash'". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  3. ^ McCurdy, Bruce (September 10, 2011). "Lokomotiv will not play 2011-12 KHL season". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Kontinental Hockey League Championship – Russian Ice Hockey Championship Season 2011/2012 Calendar" (PDF). khl.ru. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Back to 24". khl.ru. 2011-05-09.
  6. ^ a b "Going West". Kontinental Hockey League. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Lysenkov, Pavel. "@plysenkov". sports writer and NHL editor for Sovietsky Sport. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  9. ^ "KHL Regular season standings". KHL.ru. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29.
  10. ^ a b "2011-12 KHL Standings". KHL.ru. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29.
  11. ^ "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Regular season: All Skaters – Total Points". Kontinental Hockey League.
  12. ^ "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Regular season: Goalie – Goals Against Average". Kontinental Hockey League.
  13. ^ "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Playoffs: All Skaters – Total Points". Kontinental Hockey League.
  14. ^ "Player Stats: 2011–2012 Playoffs: Goalie – Goals Against Average". Kontinental Hockey League.
  15. ^ "September's finest". KHL.ru. 2011-10-04. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  16. ^ "October's finest". KHL.ru. 2011-11-04. Archived from the original on 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  17. ^ "November's finest". KHL.ru. 2011-12-02.
  18. ^ "December's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-01-05.
  19. ^ "January's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-02-02.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ "February's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-03-03.[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ "March's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-04-05. Archived from the original on 2012-04-08. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  22. ^ "Aprils's finest". KHL.ru. 2012-04-28.
  23. ^ "The League's Finest". KHL.ru. 2012-05-23.[permanent dead link‍]