# 2010–11 KHL season

The 2010–11 KHL season was the third season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 8 September 2010 and ended on 16 April 2011.
The season started with the Opening Cup game between the last season's finalists, Ak Bars Kazan and UHC Dynamo, the new team that was created by merging last season's Western conference winner HC MVD with Dynamo Moscow.
Salavat Yulaev Ufa won the Gagarin Cup and the Russian Championship after beating Atlant Moscow Oblast 4–1 in the play-off final series.

## League changes
### Team changes

Folding of Lada Togliatti
Lada Togliatti dropped out of the league and joined the Russian Major League instead, after failing to meet the league's financial requirements.
Merger of HC MVD and Dynamo Moscow
On 30 April 2010, it was announced that HC MVD would merge with Dynamo Moscow to form UHC Dynamo, which for the time being will play the majority of their games at Megasport Arena in Moscow, while also attempting to play some games in Balashikha. The current plan is to have a new, large and modernized arena constructed in Balashikha by 2012.
Expansion teams
By the deadline of 1 April 2010, six new teams from four different countries applied for KHL membership for this season: HC Yugra, Krylya Sovetov Moscow and Gazovik Tyumen from Russia; HC Budivelnyk from Kyiv, Ukraine; HC Lev from Hradec Králové, Czech Republic; and Vėtra Vilnius from Lithuania. Of these teams, Budivelnyk and Yugra were initially accepted into the KHL, but on 24 June 2010 Budivelnyk announced it is unable to participate in the KHL in the 2010–11 season because their stadium is not ready. On 16 July 2010, HC Lev, which in the meantime has been moved to Poprad in Slovakia, was accepted into the KHL, but after the Slovak Hockey Federation's delay to give permit to the team, the KHL excluded Lev from the 2010–11 season.

### Other changes

Play-off format
Unlike in the previous seasons, all play-off series were played in a best-of-seven format.
Vuvuzelas ban
The KHL administration has explicitly banned the sale and use of vuvuzelas, infamous since the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in ice hockey arenas.

## Regular season

The regular season started on 8 September 2010 with the Opening Cup and ended on 20 February 2011. There were short breaks in November, December and February for international matches and for the all-star game. Each team played 54 games during the regular season.

### Notable events

Opening Cup
The first game of the season is traditionally the "Opening Cup" and is played between the two Gagarin Cup finalists from the previous season. Because previous season's runner-up HC MVD merged with Dynamo Moscow, the Opening Cup was played between defending champion Ak Bars Kazan and the newly formed UHC Dynamo. The game took place on 8 September 2010 at the TatNeft Arena in Kazan where UHC Dynamo beat Ak Bars Kazan 3–1.
KHL versus NHL exhibition games
The Carolina Hurricanes played SKA Saint Petersburg at the Ice Palace Saint Petersburg in Saint Petersburg, Russia on October 4 (SKA won 5–3), and the Phoenix Coyotes played Dinamo Riga at Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia on October 6 (Riga lost 1–3).
Game in Switzerland
On 23 December 2010, before the Spengler Cup started, the two participants from the KHL, SKA Saint Petersburg and Spartak Moscow, played an official regular-season game in the Vaillant Arena in Davos, Switzerland. It was the first KHL game played in central Europe.
All-Star Game
The All-Star weekend took place on 5 and 6 February 2011 in Saint Petersburg.

### League standings

Source: KHL.ru
Points were awarded as follows:
* 3 Points for a win in regulation ("W")
* 2 Points for a win in overtime ("OTW") or penalty shootout ("SOW")
* 1 Point for a loss in a penalty shootout ("SOL") or overtime ("OTL")
* 0 Points for a loss in regulation ("L")
* Division winner
* Qualified for playoffs

### Conference standings

The conference standings determined the seedings for the play-offs. The first two places in each conference were reserved for the division winners.
| Western Conference | GP | W | OTW | SOW | SOL | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | 54 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 203 | 143 | 108 |
| UHC Dynamo | 54 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 149 | 131 | 96 |
| SKA Saint Petersburg | 54 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 171 | 144 | 96 |
| Atlant Moscow Oblast | 54 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 138 | 115 | 91 |
| Severstal Cherepovets | 54 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 145 | 142 | 89 |
| Spartak Moscow | 54 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 129 | 142 | 82 |
| Dinamo Riga | 54 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 160 | 149 | 81 |
| Dinamo Minsk | 54 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 150 | 155 | 74 |
| Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 54 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 144 | 151 | 73 |
| CSKA Moscow | 54 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 136 | 169 | 59 |
| Vityaz Chekhov | 54 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 119 | 178 | 52 |
Source: khl.ru
| Eastern Conference | GP | W | OTW | SOW | SOL | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Avangard Omsk | 54 | 31 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 176 | 120 | 118 |
| Ak Bars Kazan | 54 | 29 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 181 | 133 | 105 |
| Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 54 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 210 | 144 | 109 |
| Metallurg Magnitogorsk | 54 | 27 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 167 | 141 | 100 |
| Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk | 54 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 145 | 151 | 87 |
| HC Sibir Novosibirsk | 54 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 133 | 131 | 83 |
| Barys Astana | 54 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 155 | 152 | 77 |
| Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk | 54 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 159 | 162 | 75 |
| Traktor Chelyabinsk | 54 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 142 | 166 | 64 |
| Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg | 54 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 134 | 184 | 53 |
| Amur Khabarovsk | 54 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 112 | 173 | 50 |
| Metallurg Novokuznetsk | 54 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 105 | 186 | 41 |
Source: khl.ru

### Divisional standings

Western Conference
| Bobrov Division | GP | W | OTW | SOW | SOL | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| UHC Dynamo | 54 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 149 | 131 | 96 |
| SKA Saint Petersburg | 54 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 171 | 144 | 96 |
| Spartak Moscow | 54 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 129 | 142 | 82 |
| Dinamo Riga | 54 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 160 | 149 | 81 |
| CSKA Moscow | 54 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 136 | 169 | 59 |
| Tarasov Division | GP | W | OTW | SOW | SOL | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | 54 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 203 | 143 | 108 |
| Atlant Moscow Oblast | 54 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 138 | 115 | 91 |
| Severstal Cherepovets | 54 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 145 | 142 | 89 |
| Dinamo Minsk | 54 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 150 | 155 | 74 |
| Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 54 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 144 | 151 | 73 |
| Vityaz Chekhov | 54 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 119 | 178 | 52 |
Eastern Conference
| Kharlamov Division | GP | W | OTW | SOW | SOL | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Ak Bars Kazan | 54 | 29 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 181 | 133 | 105 |
| Metallurg Magnitogorsk | 54 | 27 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 167 | 141 | 100 |
| Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk | 54 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 145 | 151 | 87 |
| Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk | 54 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 159 | 162 | 75 |
| Traktor Chelyabinsk | 54 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 142 | 166 | 64 |
| Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg | 54 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 134 | 184 | 53 |
| Chernyshev Division | GP | W | OTW | SOW | SOL | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Avangard Omsk | 54 | 31 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 176 | 120 | 118 |
| Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 54 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 210 | 144 | 109 |
| Sibir Novosibirsk | 54 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 133 | 131 | 83 |
| Barys Astana | 54 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 155 | 152 | 77 |
| Amur Khabarovsk | 54 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 112 | 173 | 50 |
| Metallurg Novokuznetsk | 54 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 105 | 186 | 41 |

### League leaders

Source: khl.ru
| Goals | Roman Červenka (Omsk) | 31 |
| Assists | Alexander Radulov (Ufa) | 60 |
| Points | Alexander Radulov (Ufa) | 80 |
| Shots | Kevin Dallman (Astana) | 225 |
| Plus–minus | Alexei Morozov (Kazan) | +27 |
| Penalty minutes | Darcy Verot (Chekhov) | 182 |
| Wins (Goaltenders) | Karri Rämö (Omsk) | 33 |
| Goals against average | Konstantin Barulin (Mytischi) | 1.91 |
| Save percentage | Vitali Yeremeyev (Astana) | 92.7 |
| Shutouts | Dominik Hašek (Moscow) | 7 |
Goaltenders: minimum 15 games played

#### Scoring leaders

Source: khl.ru
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 | 54 | 20 | 60 | 80 | +27 | 83 |
| Patrick Thoresen | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 54 | 29 | 36 | 65 | +21 | 30 |
| Roman Červenka | Avangard Omsk | 51 | 31 | 30 | 61 | +15 | 56 |
| Sergei Mozyakin | Atlant Moscow Oblast | 54 | 27 | 34 | 61 | +10 | 12 |
| Pavol Demitra | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | 54 | 18 | 43 | 61 | +12 | 29 |
| Aleksey Morozov | Ak Bars Kazan | 53 | 21 | 35 | 56 | +27 | 24 |
| Josef Vašíček | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | 54 | 24 | 31 | 55 | +16 | 34 |
| Jaromír Jágr | Avangard Omsk | 49 | 19 | 32 | 51 | +6 | 48 |
| Matt Ellison | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 53 | 21 | 29 | 50 | –6 | 28 |
| Mattias Weinhandl | SKA Saint Petersburg | 54 | 21 | 28 | 49 | +14 | 42 |

#### Leading goaltenders

Source: khl.ru
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 | SOL | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Konstantin Barulin | Atlant Moscow Oblast | 28 | 1504:47 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 48 | 6 | .925 | 1.91 |
| Karri Rämö | Avangard Omsk | 44 | 2592:49 | 33 | 6 | 4 | 85 | 5 | .925 | 1.97 |
| Jakub Štěpánek | SKA Saint Petersburg | 32 | 1844:06 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 63 | 3 | .923 | 2.05 |
| Vitali Koval | Atlant Moscow Oblast | 34 | 1766:55 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 61 | 2 | .921 | 2.07 |
| Petri Vehanen | Ak Bars Kazan | 43 | 2538:01 | 25 | 12 | 6 | 89 | 2 | .926 | 2.10 |

## Playoffs

The playoffs started on 23 February 2011. The fifth and final game of the final series for the Gagarin Cup was played on 16 April 2011.
| Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Quarterfinals | | | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | | Gagarin Cup Finals | Gagarin Cup Finals | Gagarin Cup Finals |
| 1 | Avangard | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Neftekhimik | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Neftekhimik | 3 | | | 2 | Ak Bars | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Salavat Yulaev | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Ak Bars | 4 | | | 3 | Salavat Yulaev | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Barys | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Barys | 0 | | | | | | 3 | Salavat Yulaev | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | 3 | Salavat Yulaev | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | 4 | Metallurg Mg | 3 | | | | |
| 3 | Salavat Yulaev | 4 | | | | | | | | | 4 | Metallurg Mg | 3 | | | | |
| 6 | Sibir | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Sibir | 0 | | | 1 | Avangard | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Metallurg Mg | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Metallurg Mg | 4 | | | 4 | Metallurg Mg | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Yugra | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Yugra | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Salavat Yulaev | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Atlant | 1 |
| 1 | Lokomotiv | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Atlant | 1 |
| 8 | Dinamo Mn | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Dinamo Mn | 3 | | | 1 | Lokomotiv | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Dinamo Rg | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | UHC Dynamo | 2 | | | 7 | Dinamo Rg | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Dinamo Rg | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Dinamo Rg | 4 | | | | | | 1 | Lokomotiv | 2 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | 1 | Lokomotiv | 2 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | 4 | Atlant | 4 | | | | |
| 3 | SKA | 4 | | | | | | | | | 4 | Atlant | 4 | | | | |
| 6 | Spartak | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Spartak | 0 | | | 3 | SKA | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Atlant | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Atlant | 4 | | | 4 | Atlant | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Severstal | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Playoff leaders

Source: khl.ru
| Goals | Gleb Klimenko (Magnitogorsk) | 10 |
| Assists | Josef Vašíček (Yaroslavl) Pavol Demitra (Yaroslavl) Patrick Thoresen (Ufa) Alexander Radulov (Ufa) | 15 |
| Points | Josef Vašíček (Yaroslavl) | 22 |
| Shots | Sergey Mozyakin (Mytishchi) | 77 |
| Plus–minus | Patrick Thoresen (Ufa) Ilya Gorokhov (Mytishchi) | +11 |
| Penalty minutes | Fedor Fedorov (Mytishchi) | 65 |
| Wins (Goaltenders) | Erik Ersberg (Ufa) | 15 |
| Goals against average | Petri Vehanen (Kazan) | 1.32 |
| Save percentage | Petri Vehanen (Kazan) | 95.7 |
| Shutouts | Petri Vehanen (Kazan) Erik Ersberg (Ufa) | 3 |
Goaltenders: minimum 5 games played

#### Scoring leaders

Source: khl.ru
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
| Josef Vašíček | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | 18 | 7 | 15 | 22 | +6 | 16 |
| Sergei Mozyakin | Atlant Moscow Oblast | 23 | 8 | 13 | 21 | –2 | 2 |
| Pavol Demitra | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | 18 | 6 | 15 | 21 | +10 | 4 |
| Patrick Thoresen | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 21 | 3 | 15 | 18 | +11 | 16 |
| Alexander Radulov | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 21 | 3 | 15 | 18 | +10 | 42 |

#### Leading goaltenders

Source: khl.ru
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 | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Petri Vehanen | Ak Bars Kazan | 9 | 543:49 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 3 | .957 | 1.32 |
| Erik Ersberg | Salavat Yulaev Ufa | 20 | 1118:23 | 15 | 3 | 36 | 3 | .933 | 1.93 |
| Robert Esche | Dinamo Minsk | 4 | 215:38 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .942 | 1.95 |
| Konstantin Barulin | Atlant Moscow Oblast | 22 | 1286:09 | 11 | 10 | 44 | 2 | .928 | 2.05 |
| Jakub Štěpánek | SKA Saint Petersburg | 11 | 698:22 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 1 | .920 | 2.15 |

## Final standings

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

## Awards
### Players of the Month

Best KHL players of each month.
| Month | Goaltender | Defense | Forward | Rookie |
| September | Bernd Brückler (Torpedo) | Sandis Ozoliņš (Riga) | Denis Platonov (Magnitogorsk) | Yaroslav Khabarov (Magnitogorsk) |
| October | Mikhail Biryukov (Khanty-Mansiysk) | Maxim Soloviev (Dynamo M) | Roman Červenka (Omsk) | Aleksandr Osipov (Khabarovsk) |
| November | Karri Rämö (Omsk) | Johan Fransson (St. Petersburg) | Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant) | Dinar Khafizullin (Chekhov) |
| December | Petri Vehanen (Kazan) | Alexander Guskov (Yaroslavl) | Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant) | Alexander Pankov (Ufa) |
| January | Dominik Hašek (Spartak) | Kevin Dallman (Astana) | Pavol Demitra (Yaroslavl) | Grigory Zheldakov (Spartak) |
| February | Petri Vehanen (Kazan) | Karel Rachůnek (Yaroslavl) | Alexander Radulov (Ufa) | Mikhail Stefanovich (Minsk) |
| March | Erik Ersberg (Ufa) | Marat Kalimulin (Yaroslavl) | Gleb Klimenko (Magnitogorsk) | Pavel Zdunov (Magnitogorsk) |

### KHL Awards

On 20 May 2011, 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.
| Golden Stick Award (regular season MVP) | Alexander Radulov (Ufa) |
| Best coach | Miloš Říha (Atlant) |
| Alexei Cherepanov Award (best rookie) | Pavel Zdunov (Magnitogorsk) |
The league also awarded six "Golden Helmets" for the members of the all-star team:
| Forwards | Alexander Radulov Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Alexander Radulov Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Igor Grigorenko Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Igor Grigorenko Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Sergei Mozyakin Atlant Moscow Oblast | Sergei Mozyakin Atlant Moscow Oblast |
| Defense | Sandis Ozoliņš Dinamo Riga | Sandis Ozoliņš Dinamo Riga | Sandis Ozoliņš Dinamo Riga | Kirill Koltsov Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Kirill Koltsov Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Kirill Koltsov Salavat Yulaev Ufa |
| Goalie | Erik Ersberg Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Erik Ersberg Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Erik Ersberg Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Erik Ersberg Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Erik Ersberg Salavat Yulaev Ufa | Erik Ersberg Salavat Yulaev Ufa |