Preseason - Leafs @ Sabres - Sept. 29th, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[GhostofPotvin29]

Rob Longley
‏@longleysunsport
Brutal Gardiner giveaway led to that beauty Eichel goal. Five points already in the pre-season and this is his 3rd game. #Leafs #Sabres

Eichel pretty clearly tripped Gardiner along the boards, Lupul then got the puck and a very weak passing attempt by him was picked off by Eichel who scored on a breakaway. But yeah, Gardiner's fault.

That seemed to be a constant theme last year.  Blame Gardiner while the forwards get away with murder on a play.

Haha just saw this.  How anyone could single out Gardiner while not mentioning Lupul at all on that goal is hilarious.  Lupul is the one who literally weakly passed the puck right onto Eichel's stick for the breakaway.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Well, Gardiner did pull a boner pinch in the 3rd that led to a goal.

The score was 3-0 and he had a chance to pick up a pass along the boards that just bounced off his skate in a flukey way.

 

[Frank E]

Well, Gardiner did pull a boner pinch in the 3rd that led to a goal.

The score was 3-0 and he had a chance to pick up a pass along the boards that just bounced off his skate in a flukey way.

I'm with the people that don't blame Gardiner for being tripped up on the one goal, but that pinch on the last (?) goal was ill-advised given the player behind him, no matter what the score was.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm with the people that don't blame Gardiner for being tripped up on the one goal, but that pinch on the last (?) goal was ill-advised given the player behind him, no matter what the score was.

10 minutes left in a 3-0 game to take a chance like that, absolutely you do. If I have a fault with Gardiner on that play it's that he couldn't contain Rodriguez in front of the net on the scramble play (after a pass deflection off Harrington's stick bounced off Reimer's glove and caused the puck drop in front of the crease, hockey's a funny game).

 

[Frank E]

I'm with the people that don't blame Gardiner for being tripped up on the one goal, but that pinch on the last (?) goal was ill-advised given the player behind him, no matter what the score was.

10 minutes left in a 3-0 game to take a chance like that, absolutely you do. If I have a fault with Gardiner on that play it's that he couldn't contain Rodriguez in front of the net on the scramble play (after a pass deflection off Harrington's stick bounced off Reimer's glove and caused the puck drop in front of the crease, hockey's a funny game).

We will agree to disagree on the decision to pinch in that situation, however, I agree with you in that I was also disappointed that Gardiner didn't at least tie-up Rodrigues in front of the net after he got pack from the failed pinch.

 

[bustaheims]

10 minutes left in a 3-0 game to take a chance like that, absolutely you do. If I have a fault with Gardiner on that play it's that he couldn't contain Rodriguez in front of the net on the scramble play (after a pass deflection off Harrington's stick bounced off Reimer's glove and caused the puck drop in front of the crease, hockey's a funny game).

Agreed. Late in a game when you're trailing, you have to take risks to try to get back in it. A number of them won't work out, and some will end up costing goals, but I'd rather have a team that fights to get back into games over one that sits back and accepts their fate.