The terrible home stand is interrupted with a dismal road trip down the I-5 to play another team above the Canucks in the division, conference, league standings.

CANUCKS (15-19-3) at KRAKEN (16-14-6)

Climate Emergency Arena, Seattle, WA

10 p.m. ET; KHN/Prime, KONG, SNP

Radio: Sportsnet 650

The most recent ROG game on Saturday confirmed our expectations. Canucks are not a good home team. Although they are good to their visitors, so there's that.

So much Nucks drama and disappointment this season, we barely have had time to mention hockey.

That's probably for the best. Other than the new kids bump on the road, the Canucks haven't been too fun to watch. Although it does bring back those 2017 nostalgic feelings. Or nausea.

Anyhow now featuring a JR/PA hybrid-rebuild for the worst team in the league, the only direction is up... or sideways. Since Huggie is gone, media rumour mill has been quick to fill the vast rumour void with refreshed/re-tooled EP40 trade click-bait. Either going to Carolina in the morning or the Habs in the afternoon.

Back to the on-ice hockey part. Tonight's game features a changeup in goal. Lanky is in and Demmers is getting a rest. As is DeBrusk. Healthy scratch move from Footsey. Something he'd never do to equally ineffective Kane.

The Nucks are facing possible future rival and almost as bad team, the still newbie franchise scrambling below the playoff bar in the expansion team doldrums. We know what that's like.

LINEUPS

Canucks projected lineup

Evander Kane -- Elias Pettersson -- Brock Boeser

Liam Ohgren -- Marco Rossi -- Conor Garland

Drew O'Connor -- Aatu Raty -- Kiefer Sherwood

Nils Hoglander -- Max Sasson -- Linus Karlsson

Marcus Pettersson -- Filip Hronek

Zeev Buium -- Tyler Myers

Elias Nils Pettersson -- Tom Willander

Kevin Lankinen

Thatcher Demko

Scratched: P.O. Joseph, Jake DeBrusk, David Kampf

Injured: Filip Chytil (concussion protocol), Teddy Blueger (lower body), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)

Kraken projected lineup

Kaapo Kakko -- Matty Beniers -- Jordan Eberle

Eeli Tolvanen -- Chandler Stephenson -- Frederick Gaudreau

Berkly Catton -- Shane Wright -- Jared McCann

Ryan Winterton -- Ben Meyers -- Jacob Melanson

Vince Dunn -- Adam Larsson

Ryan Lindgren -- Cale Fleury

Ryker Evans -- Jamie Oleksiak

Joey Daccord

Philipp Grubauer

Scratched: Josh Mahura, Jani Nyman

Injured: Matt Murray (lower body), Jaden Schwartz (lower body), Brandon Montour (upper body)

Status report

DeBrusk, a forward, will be a healthy scratch for the first time since signing a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Canucks on July 1, 2024. … The Kraken held an optional morning skate after a 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.

GAME DAY CHATTER

32 Thoughts (Dec 29): On Jake DeBrusk getting benched tonight, Elliotte says people may think this is trade related with Vancouver wanting to move players but it’s way too early to go there. “I don’t know if you’re jumping to that conclusion yet”. #Canucks #NHL

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— NHL Trade Alert (@nhltradealert.bsky.social) December 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM

🆚 Tune in tonight when the Seattle Kraken take on the Vancouver Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena. Matchup Notes 👇 Season Series (last season): 1-2-1 Last 5 VAN: 3-2-0 Last 5 SEA: 4-1-0 🕖 07:00 PM 📺 SNP • KHN/Prime • KONG #️⃣ #Canucks | #VANvsSEA

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— Vancouver Canucks Game Bot (@van.hockeygamebot.com) December 29, 2025 at 5:59 AM

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

As Kent is having his usual Monday battling a bomb cyclone, we must make musical choices looking for the 1st overall of the summer.

Fuck fascists! Fuck Trump! Go Canucks Go!