This article deals with the 2001/02 season of the highest Swedish ice hockey division, for the 2001/02 season of the highest Norwegian ice hockey division see Eliteserien (Norway) 2001/02 , for the 2001/02 season of the Elitserien in chess see Elitserien (chess) 2001/02 .
The 2001/02 Elitserien season was the 27th season of the Swedish Elitserien . The preliminary round was played from September 18, 2001 to March 5, 2002, the play-offs began on March 8 and ended with the final game on April 6. Swedish champion 2001/02 was Färjestad BK , while in the Kvalserien , a relegation round between the best four teams of the second-rate HockeyAllsvenskan and the last two of the Elitserien, Timrå IK and Leksands IF occupied the first two places. These two clubs were thus allowed to play in the top division in the following season , the penultimate of the Elitserien 2001/02, AIK Ishockey , however, rose to the Allsvenskan.
The twelve teams of the Elitserien initially played against each other in 50 season games. The clubs were divided into three regional groups during the preliminary round, with the teams from the respective “derby groups” playing more games against each other than against teams from the other groups. The first eight teams of the preliminary round competed against each other in the play-offs, the season was over for the teams in places 9 and 10, the last two teams had to compete in the Kvalserien .
A win in regular time earned a team three points. In the event of a tie after regular time, extra time was played in which the winner received two points and the loser received one point. If it was still a draw after extra time, a penalty shoot-out was played with the same points as in extra time.