A better effort than the last time they played the Leafs, but once again an unsatisfying one as the Canucks win just one of eight home games on that stretch. Now, it's off to Utah and Vegas to wrap things up before the Olympic break.

Vancouver Canucks (18-31-6) vs. Utah Mammoth (28-23-4)

Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT

6:30 pm PST; 9:30 pm EST

TV: Sportsnet Pacific

Radio: Sportsnet 650

Another one of those games where they play almost well enough to win, but dumb luck and margin of error do them in. I suppose there's the positive of a better defensive effort for two consecutive games, but it's absolutely stunning how bad they've been at home this season. And here's the good part: It's not translating into a massive drop in attendance. So, what does that mean? It means that those of us who have been pleading for a true and proper rebuild were correct: the fan base wants this, and will support the team if they feel like genuine change is coming.

And so, with a little confidence knowing that awful losing streak is behind them, they head down to the southwestern states for games against Utah and Vegas. And while yes, the guys might have some confidence, they have their work cut out for them tonight. Utah is in sixth in the NHL in GA/GP at 2.8, while the Canucks, as the worst team in the league, are the worst in this category at 3.58. Utah is starting to not be the perpetual joke that the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes were, and another solid defensive effort tonight might not even be enough.

LINEUPS

From the ol' nhl dot com, this is what they think we'll see tonight:

Canucks projected lineup

Evander Kane -- Elias Pettersson -- Conor Garland

Filip Chytil -- David Kampf -- Linus Karlsson

Liam Ohgren -- Teddy Blueger -- Jonathan Lekkerimaki

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

Elias Nils Pettersson -- Filip Hronek

P.O Joseph -- Tyler Myers

Marcus Pettersson -- Tom Willander

Kevin Lankinen

Nikita Tolopilo

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)

Mammoth projected lineup

Clayton Keller -- Nick Schmaltz -- Lawson Crouse

JJ Peterka -- Barrett Hayton -- Kailer Yamamoto

Michael Carcone -- Jack McBain -- Dylan Guenther

Brandon Tanev -- Kevin Stenlund -- Liam O’Brien

Mikhail Sergachev -- Sean Durzi

Nate Schmidt -- John Marino

Ian Cole -- Nick DeSimone

Karel Vejmelka

Vitek Vanecek

Scratched: Olli Maatta, Daniil But

Injured: Logan Cooley (lower body), Alexander Kerfoot (upper body)

No changes for the Canucks from Saturday, it would appear. So, we should probably talk about how Conor Garland has essentially made himself un-tradeable with his goalless drought, right?

GAME DAY CHATTER

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

Obscure 80's metal time, kids! ATTACKER hailed from New Jersey, and are still active today after forming in 1983. Their debut album came out on Metal Blade Records in 1985, and while I know this is unusual, it's steeped in LOTR mythology. Here's the title track to 'Battle At Helm's Deep'.

Enjoy the game, everyone. Fuck the fascists! Go Canucks Tank!