Initially, the ten teams played a common main round, in which each team played 18 games. The six best-placed teams qualified for the final round, whose participants all qualified for the playoffs in which the champions were played off. The other four teams played a qualifying round together with the best second division team, the two first-placed teams also qualified for the playoffs. The results from the main round were carried over to the final round. The three last placed in the qualifying round then had to compete in the playoffs of the second division to stay relegated. Each team received three points for a win after regular time, two points for a win after overtime, one point for a loss after overtime and zero points for a defeat after regular time.