Wikipedia

2020–21 KHL season

The 2020–21 KHL season was the 13th season of the Kontinental Hockey League. There were 23 teams that competed in 60 regular season games, beginning on 2 September 2020 and finishing on 27 February 2021.[1] The playoffs were held from 2 March, culminating in Game 6 of the Gagarin Cup Finals on 28 April. Avangard Omsk won their first Gagarin Cup title, avenging their sweep in the finals of the 2019 Gagarin Cup playoffs, defeating CSKA Moscow by 4 games to 2.[2]

2020–21 KHL season
LeagueKontinental Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration
  • 2 September 2020 – 27 February 2021 (regular season)
  • 2 March – 28 April 2021 (playoffs)
Number of games60
Number of teams23
Regular season
Continental Cup winnerCSKA Moscow
(91 points)
Top scorer
Playoffs
Western championsCSKA Moscow
  Western runners-upSKA Saint Petersburg
Eastern championsAvangard Omsk
  Eastern runners-upAk Bars Kazan
Finals championsAvangard Omsk
  Runners-upCSKA Moscow
KHL seasons

Season changes

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For the 2020–21 season, the competition was reduced to 23 teams after Admiral Vladivostok took a hiatus for the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia affecting their financial status.[3]

With pre-season events returning to the schedule in August as a part of preparations to start the season, Jokerit, whose ability to stage games was governed by Finland's restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic, announced that it expected to play before a reduced audience at the Hartwall Arena during the first month of the campaign.[4]

Due to the on-going travel restrictions against the COVID-19 pandemic, Kunlun Red Star determined that they would be unable to play in Wukesong Arena situated in Beijing, China for this season. In August, the club signed a contract to play out of Mytishchi Arena, the second venue for the 2007 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships located on the outskirts of Moscow.[5]

Teams

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The 23 teams were split into four divisions: the Bobrov Division and the Tarasov Division as part of the Western Conference, with the Kharlamov Division and the Chernyshev Division as part of the Eastern Conference.

Following Admiral Vladivostok's hiatus from the league, and to alleviate any potential issues with teams transiting during the COVID-19 pandemic, several conference and divisional changes were announced.[1]

Western Conference Eastern Conference
Bobrov Division Tarasov Division Kharlamov Division Chernyshev Division
  Jokerit   CSKA Moscow   Ak Bars Kazan   Amur Khabarovsk
  Severstal Cherepovets   Dinamo Minsk   Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg   Avangard Omsk
  SKA Saint Petersburg   Dinamo Riga   Metallurg Magnitogorsk   Barys Nur-Sultan
  HC Sochi   Dynamo Moscow   Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk   Kunlun Red Star
  Spartak Moscow   Lokomotiv Yaroslavl   Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod   Salavat Yulaev Ufa
  Vityaz Podolsk   Traktor Chelyabinsk   Sibir Novosibirsk

League standings

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Each team played 60 games: playing every other team home-and-away (44 games), 8–10 games against division rivals and 6–8 games against teams in the other division in their respective conference.[1]

Points were awarded for each game, where two points were awarded for all victories, regardless of whether it is 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. At the end of the regular season, the team that finished with the most points was crowned the Continental Cup winner.

Western Conference

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Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 CSKA Moscow (Z) 60 34 9 5 12 182 121 +61 91 Advance to Gagarin Cup Playoffs[a]
2 SKA Saint Petersburg (X) 60 33 4 8 15 178 126 +52 82
3 Dynamo Moscow 60 34 5 6 15 195 137 +58 84 Advance to Gagarin Cup Playoffs
4 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 60 30 8 7 15 181 126 +55 83
5 Jokerit 60 26 6 9 19 174 153 +21 73
6 Severstal Cherepovets 60 23 9 4 24 149 159 −10 68
7 Dinamo Minsk 60 17 15 3 25 167 174 −7 67
8 Spartak Moscow 60 20 8 7 25 157 173 −16 63
9 Vityaz Podolsk 60 21 6 5 28 155 175 −20 59
10 HC Sochi 60 12 2 9 37 121 202 −81 37
11 Dinamo Riga 60 5 4 10 41 126 211 −85 28
Source: KHL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 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.
(X) Won division; (Z) Won Continental Cup
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams leading a division hold one of the first two places of their conference.

Eastern Conference

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Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ak Bars Kazan (Y) 60 33 8 8 11 185 131 +54 90 Advance to Gagarin Cup Playoffs[a]
2 Avangard Omsk (X) 60 33 3 12 12 180 134 +46 84
3 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 60 31 6 7 16 165 138 +27 81 Advance to Gagarin Cup Playoffs
4 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 60 28 10 5 17 181 151 +30 81
5 Traktor Chelyabinsk 60 27 7 6 20 157 143 +14 74
6 Barys Nur-Sultan 60 20 11 7 22 147 157 −10 69
7 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 60 24 6 8 22 152 154 −2 68
8 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 60 22 7 9 22 170 168 +2 67
9 Sibir Novosibirsk 60 20 7 4 29 146 155 −9 58
10 Amur Khabarovsk 60 17 7 7 29 146 171 −25 55
11 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 60 13 6 2 39 133 214 −81 40
12 Kunlun Red Star 60 11 2 8 39 139 213 −74 34
Source: KHL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 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.
(X) Won division; (Y) Won conference
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams leading a division hold one of the first two places of their conference.

Gagarin Cup playoffs

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Ak Bars Kazan were the Eastern Conference regular season winners with 90 points. It was determined despite a 2–3 overtime loss at home to Spartak Moscow.[6] CSKA Moscow were the Western Conference regular season winners with 91 points. It was determined following a 1–3 defeat suffered by closest challengers SKA Saint Petersburg, at home to Dynamo Moscow, leaving CSKA Moscow with an unassailable points lead.[7] CSKA Moscow won the Continental Cup for the third season in succession and sixth time overall, defeating Ak Bars Kazan 1–0 on the final day of the regular season.[8]

The 2021 Gagarin Cup playoffs started on 2 March 2021, and finished on 28 April 2021.[9] The top eight teams from each of the conferences qualified for the playoffs.

Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Gagarin Cup Finals
            
1   Ak Bars 4
8   Torpedo 0
1   Ak Bars 4
4   Salavat Yulaev 0
2   Avangard 4
7   Avtomobilist 1
1   Ak Bars 3
Eastern Conference
2   Avangard 4
3   Metallurg 4
6   Barys 2
2   Avangard 4
3   Metallurg 2
4   Salavat Yulaev 4
5   Traktor 1
E2   Avangard 4
W1   CSKA 2
1   CSKA 4
8   Spartak 0
1   CSKA 4
4   Lokomotiv 3
2   SKA 4
7   Dinamo 1
1   CSKA 4
Western Conference
2   SKA 2
3   Dynamo 4
6   Severstal 1
2   SKA 4
3   Dynamo 1
4   Lokomotiv 4
5   Jokerit 0

Statistics

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Scoring leaders

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The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of the regular season.[10] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
  Vadim Shipachyov Dynamo Moscow 57 20 46 66 +28 22
  Teemu Hartikainen Salavat Yulaev Ufa 53 28 36 64 +17 18
  Damir Zhafyarov Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 58 21 40 61 +6 26
  Dmitrij Jaškin Dynamo Moscow 59 38 22 60 +25 52
  Stéphane Da Costa Ak Bars Kazan 52 27 30 57 +12 24
  Justin Danforth Vityaz Podolsk 58 23 32 55 +3 50
  Brian O'Neill Jokerit 53 12 42 54 +30 12
  Markus Granlund Salavat Yulaev Ufa 50 23 30 53 +22 26
  Sakari Manninen Salavat Yulaev Ufa 55 19 33 52 +18 10
  Shane Prince Dinamo Minsk 52 25 24 49 +14 45

Leading goaltenders

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The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average, at the conclusion of the regular season.[11]

Player Team GP TOI W L GA SO SV% GAA
  Lars Johansson CSKA Moscow 24 1394:56 19 3 37 4 93.24% 1.59
  Alexander Yeryomenko Dynamo Moscow 26 1371:21 16 6 40 4 93.58% 1.75
  Adam Reideborn Ak Bars Kazan 29 1712:59 16 9 52 3 93.11% 1.82
  Magnus Hellberg SKA Saint Petersburg 21 1171:57 14 4 37 2 93.05% 1.89
  Juho Olkinuora Metallurg Magnitogorsk 30 1702:18 17 7 54 2 93.49% 1.90
  Edward Pasquale Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 41 2393:26 25 11 76 5 92.46% 1.91
  Igor Bobkov Avangard Omsk 30 1669:18 18 7 56 1 92.79% 2.01
  Alexander Samonov SKA Saint Petersburg 22 1160:07 10 8 39 2 92.46% 2.02
  Alexander Sharychenkov CSKA Moscow 36 2020:42 18 10 70 2 91.53% 2.08
  Ivan Fedotov Traktor Chelyabinsk 26 1496:07 14 7 55 1 92.52% 2.21

Awards

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Players of the Month

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The following players were recognised as the best KHL players of each month.

Month Goaltender Defence Forward Rookie
September[12]   Emil Garipov (Avangard Omsk)   Chay Genoway (Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg)   Alexei Makeyev (Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg)   Yegor Chinakhov (Avangard Omsk)
October[13]   Edward Pasquale (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl)   Daniil Miromanov (HC Sochi)   Justin Danforth (Vityaz Podolsk)   Yegor Chinakhov (Avangard Omsk)
November[14]   Dominik Furch (Dinamo Minsk)   Alexei Emelin (Avangard Omsk)   Dmitrij Jaškin (Dynamo Moscow)   Ivan Chekhovich (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod)
December[15]   Alexander Yeryomenko (Dynamo Moscow)   Stepan Falkovsky (Dinamo Minsk)   Stéphane Da Costa (Ak Bars Kazan)   Ivan Chekhovich (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod)
January[16]   Edward Pasquale (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl)   Philip Holm (Metallurg Magnitogorsk)   Shane Prince (Dinamo Minsk)   Alexander Alexeyev (Salavat Yulaev Ufa)
February[17]   Lars Johansson (CSKA Moscow)   Nick Bailen (Traktor Chelyabinsk)   Dmitrij Jaškin (Dynamo Moscow)   Klim Kostin (Avangard Omsk)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Potts, Andy (7 August 2020). "The KHL schedule for 2020-2021 – we start on Sep. 2!". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. ^ Potts, Andy (28 April 2021). "Avangard wins Gagarin Cup, Tolchinsky sinks former colleagues. April 28". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. ^ Ellis, Steven (1 April 2020). "Admiral Vladivostok announces withdrawal from KHL's 2020-21 season due to coronavirus". TheHockeyNews. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Pre-season plans". Kontinental Hockey League. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. ^ Potts, Andy (22 July 2020). "Kovalev to coach Kunlun Red Star". IIHF. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. ^ ""Ак Барс – «Спартак" – 2:3 ОТ" [Ak Bars - Spartak - 2:3 OT]. Ak Bars Kazan (in Russian). OOO SKP Tatneft - Ak Bars. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021. «Ак Барс» по итогам 57 игр регулярки имеет 87 очков и досрочно обеспечил себе первое место в Восточной конференции. [Ak Bars has 87 points in 57 regular season games and secured first place in the Eastern Conference ahead of schedule.]
  7. ^ Potts, Andy (18 February 2021). "Jokerit books playoff spot, Spartak back in top 8. February 18 round-up". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 23 February 2021. CSKA clinched top place in the Conference due to SKA's loss at home to Dynamo Moscow [...]
  8. ^ Potts, Andy (27 February 2021). "CSKA tops the table. February 27 round-up". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  9. ^ Potts, Andy (7 August 2020). "The KHL schedule for 2020-2021 – we start on Sep. 2! : News : Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 23 February 2021. The playoffs are due to start on March 2, 2021, with a potential Gagarin Cup Final game seven pencilled in for April 30, if required.
  10. ^ "Leaders: Points (G+A)". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Leaders: Goaltenders (GAA)". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  12. ^ Seren Rosso, Alessandro (1 October 2020). "Players of the Month: Garipov, Genoway, Makeyev, and Chinakhov". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  13. ^ Seren Rosso, Alessandro (31 October 2020). "Players of the Month: Pasquale, Miromanov, Danforth, and Chinakhov". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. ^ Seren Rosso, Alessandro (1 December 2020). "Players of the Month: Furch, Emelin, Jaskin, and Chekhovich". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  15. ^ Seren Rosso, Alessandro (2 January 2021). "Players of the Month: Yeryomenko, Falkovsky, Da Costa, and Chekhovich". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  16. ^ Seren Rosso, Alessandro (2 February 2021). "Players of the Month: Pasquale, Holm, Prince, and Alexeyev". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. ^ Seren Rosso, Alessandro (1 March 2021). "Players of the Month: Johansson, Bailen, Jaskin, and Kostin". KHL.ru. Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
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