Coming off what was likely their worst defensive effort of the season, the Canucks found a way to put together easily their best. And in true Canuck fashion, something happened that kept Nikita Tolopilo from being credited with his first NHL shutout, because of course it did.

Vancouver Canucks (18-31-5) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (24-21-9)

Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC

7:00 pm PST; 10:00 pm EST

TV: Sportsnet Pacific

Radio: Sportsnet 650

It was definitely one of the more entertaining games of the year, and that had a lot to do with a total team effort and some solid defensive play.

Look, tank or no tank, the Canucks, and the fans, really needed that win Thursday night. And it goes without saying that a win over the Leafs, especially after how that game went down a few weeks ago, would be awesome. But should we actually be concerned about the Leafs losing too many games? I think if you can't picture a scenario where the Canucks lose the first overall pick to the Leafs, you haven't been a Canucks fan for very long.

With a couple road games coming up before the Olympic break, getting a win on Hockey Night In Canada and contributing to the outright panic in Leafs Nation (I mean, what the hell did you think was going to happen hiring Brad Treliving?) is definitely appealing. I mean, much like anything that franchise, their media and their fan base freak out about, so much of it is also overblown. If they could win in OT a little more often, they'd probably be fine, honestly. If they can get healthy, they can still scrap for a playoff spot, but you'd never know it by watching/listening/reading any hockey media right now.

This whole wasted season has to have some meaning at the end of the day. The changes have to start happening, to build a new core that these kids can develop with, figuring out which pieces to keep and which ones can help the Canucks draft a ton of potential for the future. There is nothing in the present but misery and losses, but if they do things right, there is hope down the road.

LINEUPS

From the nhl dot com place, this is what they think is gonna shake down this afternoon...

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Bobby McMann -- Auston Matthews -- Max Domi

Matias Maccelli -- John Tavares -- William Nylander

Matthew Knies -- Nicolas Roy -- Nicholas Robertson

Steven Lorentz -- Scott Laughton -- Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo

Jake McCabe -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Marshall Rifai -- Troy Stecher

Joseph Woll

Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: Jacob Quillan, Philippe Myers, Simon Benoit, Easton Cowan

Injured: Chris Tanev (groin), Dakota Mermis (lower body), Dakota Joshua (kidney)

Canucks projected lineup

Evander Kane -- Elias Pettersson -- Conor Garland

Filip Chytil -- David Kampf -- Linus Karlsson

Drew O’Connor -- Aatu Raty -- Jake DeBrusk

Liam Ohgren -- Teddy Blueger -- Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Marcus Pettersson -- Tyler Myers

Elias Pettersson -- Filip Hronek

P.O Joseph -- Tom Willander

Nikita Tolopilo

Kevin Lankinen

Scratched: Max Sasson, Victor Mancini

Injured: Nils Hoglander (lower body), Brock Boeser (concussion protocol), Zeev Buium (facial fracture), Thatcher Demko (hip surgery), Marco Rossi (lower body), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)

Looks like the Canucks will reward Tolopilo with another start, and with Kevin Lankinen the likely starter for Finland at the Olympics, I am sure they'll be happy to see him getting some rest. There was a little concern with Teddy Blueger and Filip Hronek missing practice yesterday, but they both should be good to go today, but Boeser is not expected to join the team for their trip to Utah and Vegas before the Olympics start.

GAME DAY CHATTER

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

Finnish anarcho-thrashers NECRO WEASEL are back with a kickass new track, and I am pretty sure you can tell what this one's about without reading the lyrics.

Enjoy the game, folks. Fuck fascism! Go Canucks Go!