The Vancouver Canucks have been taking care of business all season, taking a firm hold of first in the Pacific Division and flirting with first in the NHL for most of the season.
“Go into Buffalo, go have some fun,” said Tocchet on Monday. “You’ve got a couple of fun linemates: just go do your thing. I think that’s when he’s at his best, when he has his mind clear.” The winning certainly helps. The Canucks have won 42 of their 68 games so far, which ties the 2009-10 Canucks for the most wins in franchise history at this point in the season behind only the 2010-11 Canucks. It’s also more wins than they’ve had in any of their previous eight seasons.
"You've got to keep a good attitude. Otherwise, I think it can spiral a little bit." While some of that enjoyment comes from winning another big part of it is the mix of personalities in the room. Every hockey team needs players who keep things light when the atmosphere starts to get too serious.