The new year is upon  us, and though the Canucks surely want little to change in the big picture after climbing to the top of the Northeast Division and within one point of the conference lead (behind, who else, those pesky Blackhawks), it is time for resolutions. Here are three the team — and its followers — would benefit from.

Roberto Luongo should resolve to … block out the often-cruel critics and keep his head up high — that way he can keep an eye on his stats, which have risen dramatically after a six-game hiatus in late November. On Dec. 1, Luongo’s goals-against average was an ugly 3.05 and his save percentage even worse at .892. Those marks now remarkably sit at 2.48 and .914, resulting in a 9-3-2 record in that stretch and a strangle hold back on the No. 1 job.

Canucks fans should resolve to … have a little patience. The sky was falling when the team faltered out of the gate (6-7-1 on Nov. 5). Vancouver faithful wanted Luongo traded and Alain Vigneault fired. Since then they’re 18-6-2 and all is right with the world, with both the offence (No. 1 in overall goals, power-play goals and power-play percentage — by a huge margin) and the defence (No. 7 in penalty killing, goals against and shots against). Save the hand-wringing for the playoffs.

Jannik Hansen should resolve to … SHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! No Canucks regular has a better shooting percentage, but 10 have more shots. The super-speedy 25-year-old is third in goals with 12, but could have a bunch more.

“I think Alex has been playing real well,” Vigneault said. “He’s been getting some unreal chances and just falling a bit short.”

And tell Henrik to shoot more while you’re at it.

WJC wonder: The Canucks have only one player at the world juniors, but he’s one to watch. Denmark’s Nicklas Jensen, a power forward who has 18 goals and 35 points in 30 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals, continued his scoring ways at the tournament with a pair of goals and five points in five outings. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has plenty of skill and is the only CHL player on the Danes’ roster. His father, Dan, was born in Toronto and was an OHLer himself. The Canucks picked Jensen 29th overall in 2011.