Late Sunday, when most of us were dreading going to work in the morning, two things happened.

First, the Dallas Stars clinched a playoff berth. For those of us who remember an era when Mike Modano and the Stars lived rent-free in the collective consciousness of the Canucks fanbase, that minor declaration might mean a bit more.

And ironically, tragically, it does. Because the end result of that minor inevitability was a second, albeit greater inevitability: The Vancouver Canucks are now officially eliminated from playoff contention.

With 13 games to go, no less. The first team to be eliminated.

Now all that's left in the season is watching the Canucks lose the draft lottery. And then pick someone other than a sure-fire prospect.

But given the flustercluck that is this franchise, re-signing Evander Kane is probably on the table.

When does the Lions season start, again?