Arena Availability For Potential First Round Hosts

Since it was noted that playoff scheduling is about arena availability and TV requests, here’s some of the nights NHL arenas will be unavailable from April 13-27.

NOTE: For teams that will be starting on the road, I used events that were happening from April 17th on, as that’s the earliest playoff series would be holding Game 3’s. Also, for those teams, it will be unlikely they host a game on April 26th or 27th (when a Game 7 would take place) but it’s there anyway.

* – indicates the team plays in the same arena as an NBA team that will make their post-season.

Anaheim (Honda Center) – April 23rd (Lil Wayne)

Boston (TD Garden)* – April 13th (Celtics game), April 15th (Bob Seger)

Buffalo (HSBC Arena) – April 23rd (Lacrosse)

Chicago (United Center)* – Nothing

Dallas (American Airlines Center)* – April 27th (Charlie Sheen)

Detroit (Joe Louis Arena) – Nothing

Los Angeles (Staples Center)* – April 21st (Lil Wayne)

Montreal (Bell Centre) – April 20th (Rush), April 25th (Lady Gaga)

Nashville (Bridgestone Arena) – April 19th (Lady Gaga), April 21st (Bob Seger)

NY Rangers (Madison Square Garden)* – Nothing

Philadelphia (Wells Fargo Center)* – April 13th (76ers game), April 15th (Arena Football)

Phoenix (Jobing.com Arena) – Nothing

Pittsburgh (Consol Energy Center) – April 16th (Arena Football – though it can be moved if needed), April 22nd (Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy)

San Jose (HP Pavilion at San Jose) – April 15th (Joel Osteen), April 23rd (Arena Football)

Tampa Bay (St. Petersburg Times Forum) – April 17th (Iron Maiden), April 22nd (Charlie Sheen)

Vancouver (Rogers Arena) – April 22 (Rod Stewart), April 27 (Lil Wayne)

Washington (Verizon Center) – Nothing