The KHL Championship with the Gagarin Cup is rightfully one of the strongest club tournaments held in Russia. Russian hockey fans, as well as fans from neighboring countries, whose clubs are represented in the KHL, have special expectations for the playoff stage.
According to the regulations for the 2015-2016 KHL season, 26 clubs take part in the league, divided into two conferences: West and East. As well as overseas, the KHL includes two stages: the first is the regular championship, the second is the time of the “elimination” cup matches (playoffs), during which the owner of the most honorable Gagarin Cup trophy is determined.
Traditionally, hockey clubs set themselves the task of reaching the decisive stage of the tournament, and the playoffs themselves are more stubborn and tense. The eight best hockey teams from each conference will win the right to play in the decisive matches.
The 2015-2016 KHL regular season ends on February 18th. After that, the teams that managed to make it to the playoff round will be given a few days to rest. The championship calendar provides for the start of the elimination matches on February 21st. The last day of the Gagarin Cup (taking into account the possible seventh match in the final series) falls on April 19th.
The first matches of the 2015-2016 KHL playoffs will be held in the Western Conference. These games start on February 21st. In the East, the decisive battles begin the next day - the 22nd of the last winter month.
This season there are no paired matches in the first cup stages. Clubs will not play two games in two days. A daily break is scheduled between the meetings. Thus, the first stage of the 2015-2016 KHL playoffs in the West will take place on February 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, as well as on March 2, 4. In the East, the first round will meet the following dates: 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th February, 1st, 3rd and 5th March.
