Erik Gudbranson is returning to the Blue Jackets lineup right when they need him

Erik Gudbranson will finally return to the Blue Jackets lineup and play his first game since October 25 after being placed on injured reserve and missing 42 games with a hip injury.

The Blue Jackets will take on the Vancouver Canucks in a couple of hours, and Gudbranson will play just his 21st game in the past two seasons after only playing in 16 last year due to the same lingering hip issue.

His return comes just at the right time for the Blue Jackets. After Columbus moved on from former head coach Dean Evason in favor of veteran coach Rick Bowness, the team is looking to fix its long-standing defensive issues.

This became especially evident in Bowness' first game with Columbus, as all three goals allowed in the win against Calgary came on the Jackets' penalty kill, an area in which the team has generally struggled this season and several others before.

Gudbranson's return provides Columbus with a physical net front presence. Killing penalties isn't exactly easy when you have Zach Werenski or Denton Mateychuk trying to box out big forwards in front of the goalie.

The veteran also brings relief to a lineup that has suddenly become short on defensemen with veteran Brendan Smith suffering what appeared to be a major leg injury and youngster Denton Mateychuk out with an upper-body injury, although his injury is presumed to be minor.

With the Blue Jackets looking to re-establish a defensive identity, adding a veteran of over 800 NHL games to the lineup definitely helps.

Damon Severson will also make his return after missing the last game due to illness, which gives the Jackets almost 1700 games of experience entering the lineup on the blue line tonight.

Columbus will look to continue recent positive momentum with Gudbranson back in the lineup while taking on a struggling Vancouver team that has dealt with many injuries to key players themselves.

With an added physical presence on defense, here's hoping the Blue Jackets can keep the Canucks off the board as much as possible to continue to fight back in what can still be a playoff season for Columbus.