KHL approves schedule of 2011-12 season

The Kontinental Hockey League has approved the schedule of the KHL – Russian Open Hockey Championship for the 2011-12 season.

In the forthcoming season KHL will return to the format of 24 teams divided into two conferences. The regular championship stage will see 672 matches – 56 for each team. The regular championship will start on September 7, 2011 with the Opening Cup game between the finalists of the previous Gagarin Cup, Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Atlant Mytishchi.

The first part of the will come to its end on February 26, 2012, after 130 matchdays. As well as it happened last season, there will be only 9 days days without any games, according to the KHL official site.

The play-off games for the Gagarin Cup will be held on the following days.

Conferences’ quaterfinals (best-of-seven):

Western Conference: February 29, March 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10, 2012

Eastern Conference: March 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11, 2012

Conferences’ semifinals (best-of-seven):

Western Conference: March 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, 2012

Eastern Conference: March 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26, 2012

Conferences’ finals (best-of-seven):

Western Conference: March 28, 30, April 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, 2012

Eastern Conference: March 29, 31, April 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, 2012

Gagarin Cup finals (best-of-seven):

April 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, 2012