Our long regional nightmare is over! It wasn't pretty (was that even an option?), but the Canucks found a way to hang on and get a win over the Caps after 11 straight losses. So, we're all fine if they don't make it two in a row tonight? That first overall pick isn't gonna manifest itself, y'know.

Vancouver Canucks (17-28-5) vs. Washington Capitals (26-22-2)

Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC

7:00 pm PST; 10:00 pm EST

TV: Sportsnet Pacific

Radio: Sportsnet 650

While it was hardly a dominant win by any stretch, it was deserved, as the Canucks put in the work, and got rewarded for a change, as they snapped that horrendous 11 game losing skid, garnering just their 5th home ice win of the season. I think what was the most impressive part of that game, was the way they just decided that even after giving up two goals on that terrible 5 on 3 for Washington early in the game, that they were not going to roll over and die. If you had told me that they'd end the first back at evens, I would have a hard time seeing how that was possible.

Hard work, a great performance from their top players, and actually giving some support to Kevin Lankinen, who had a solid performance in the crease helped them hang on for the victory, but there's no time to rest on those laurels as they face another team battling for one of those Eastern Conference wild card slots: the New Jersey Devils.

There was a time when this was one of the highlights of the season, the visit from other Hughes boys, and now, it's just another game. One of the things we need to get used to in the post-Quinn era, I suppose. The Devils have been playing well, winners of 2 straight and 4 of their last 5, having bested Minnesota, Seattle, Calgary and Edmonton in that time.

LINEUPS

From the mothership (aka nhl dot com) this is the purported alignments of these teams this evening:

Devils projected lineup

Timo Meier -- Jack Hughes -- Jesper Bratt

Ondrej Palat -- Nico Hischier -- Dawson Mercer

Evgenii Dadonov -- Paul Cotter -- Conner Brown

Arseny Gritsyuk -- Cody Glass -- Lenni Hameenaho

Jonas Siegenthaler -- Brett Pesce

Brenden Dillon -- Dougie Hamilton

Simon Nemec -- Johnathan Kovacevic

Jacob Markstrom

Jake Allen

Scratched: Luke Glendening, Juho Lammikko, Colton White

Injured: Luke Hughes (shoulder), Zack MacEwen (ACL), Stefan Noesen (knee)

Canucks projected lineup

Evander Kane -- Elias Pettersson -- Jake DeBrusk

Drew O’Connor -- Filip Chytil -- Brock Boeser

Liam Ohgren -- Teddy Blueger -- Conor Garland

Nils Hoglander -- David Kampf -- Linus Karlsson

Elias Pettersson -- Filip Hronek

Zeev Buium -- Tyler Myers

Marcus Pettersson -- Tom Willander

Kevin Lankinen

Jiri Patera

Scratched: P.O Joseph, Aatu Raty, Max Sasson

Injured: Thatcher Demko (lower body), Marco Rossi (lower body), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)

Yes, you read that correctly. After 44 games, Filip Chytil is returning to the Canucks lineup tonight, and that's great, because I am sure we all want to watch this game whilst holding our collective breaths every time someone bumps him. In all seriousness, it's good that he's back, and let's hope he can stay healthy for a while. That does mean an odd man out situation, and tonight it's Max Sasson. With Teddy Blueger returning on Wednesday against Washington, and David Kampf really starting to gel on that fourth line, it's gonna be tough for Sasson to get back into the lineup. Lankinen gets the start again tonight against former Canuck Jacob Markstrom, who doesn't wanna talk about that game, probably.

GAME DAY CHATTER

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

'Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!' In solidarity with the people of Minnesota as they battle the fascist invasion of their state, some Minneapolis metal for you today. The title track from their debut album, this is 'Absolute Power' by POWERMAD.

Enjoy the game. Fuck fascists, every last one of them. Go Canucks Go!