Report: Canucks’ playoff run could begin as soon as Sunday after teams complained

The Vancouver Canucks could host Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal playoff series as soon as this Sunday, according to multiple reports.

Although Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman originally reported earlier this week that the Canucks likely wouldn’t be able to kick off their playoff run until Tuesday, April 23, it now appears that Game 1 will take place two days earlier at Rogers Arena.

Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston reported Wednesday that an April 21 start to the series is “now more likely” than the wait dragging on all the way to Tuesday. The Canucks taking on the Nashville Predators in that series is by far the most likely outcome.

As Vancouver hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal reported on Wednesday’s edition of Donnie & Dhali – The Team, the start of the series appears to have been moved up in response to protests by both the Canucks and Predators.

“I heard the Canucks and the Predators both complained,” Dhaliwal told co-host Don Taylor during today’s show. “It looks like it could start this Sunday as opposed to next Tuesday.”

There’s still a chance the Canucks move out of Nashville’s path as the playoff picture becomes clearer. A Canucks win and a Dallas Stars regulation loss in their respective season finales would give the Canucks the No. 1 seed in the West and put them on a collision course with the second wild card team in the first round.

The Los Angeles Kings currently occupy that spot, but they still have a chance to push the Vegas Golden Knights down into it. In any event, the Canucks are guaranteed to face the Predators in Round 1 if they fail to catch Dallas in the overall standings.

As Daily Hive noted on Wednesday, both Rogers Arena in Vancouver and Bridgestone Arena in Nashville are slated to host multiple concerts during the playoffs. Justin Timberlake (April 29), 21 Savage (May 1), and Pearl Jam (May 4 & 6) will all play Rogers; Tim McGraw (April 25), The Postal Service with Death Cab for Cutie (April 29), and Gloria Trevi (May 4) are all on the schedule at Bridgestone.

The Canucks’ playoff opponent could be officially decided on Wednesday night if the Stars pick up at least a single point in their game against the Blues. If they do, it’ll be Vancouver vs. Nashville; if they don’t, it’ll come down to Thursday’s results.