That shootouts are a ridiculous gimmick designed by a basketball man to sell hockey in deserts and the tropics?

Shootouts have no place in the playoffs. Just sayin'.
- Leeman4Gilmour

It's a goalies job to better himself to stop the puck in any situation. i don't care if peewee herman invented the shootout he still needs to find a way to make some stops to help his team win.

He has identifiable weaknesses in 1 on 1 situations. It's not an excuse it's just the reality. If not for him, they don't even make it that far.
- Two_For_Truth

Like so many before him... who was the last Leafs goalie who actually looked good on 1 on 1s? Cujo?

Agreed! He kept us in and he's the reason that we took 3 out of 4 points. People are ragging Gardiner, over the second goal, but it was Phaneuf that didn't get out at Bergeron and get in his way.
- PrinceLH

to blame gardiner on that play is just typical leaf fan scape-goating. gardiner didn't do to bad covering a much bigger stronger player along the boards, but it's a battle he loses all day every day.

if phaneuf is playing his position as he should be, no one says a thign about gardiner.

i think the schenns are a force as they grow. that combo will win championships. don't see phaneuf captaining any championship teams.
- joel878

You`ll give up on Reimer next eh??

Reimers biggest problem is his Athleticism... I think he may be the least athletic goalie in the NHL... It doesnt help he reminds me of Cochrane from Survivor....

But he battles, puts up decent numbers and looked better today than the past few games....
- jribout

He's an angles goalie. He's allot like Belfour. He relies on positioning and not having to do the Mike Palmateer snow angel. It does make him vulnerable in a shootout. You can't have everything.

It's a goalies job to better himself to stop the puck in any situation. i don't care if peewee herman invented the shootout he still needs to find a way to make some stops to help his team win.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

In fairness, he did stop a lot of shots in the last two prior to this one; we just couldn't score. Tonight he looked rough, but again, we're sucking at scoring as much as he is at stopping the puck. Bozak's the only consistent one.

no, i like lupul.. but not for a second does he strike me as the kind of player that's either going tie a game, or end it all by himself the second he hits the ice like sundin used to, even roberts.

the ability to change the game in a heartbeat. don't see it from anyone on this roster. hopefully kadri develops into that kind of player.

that's how i see it anyways..
- joel878

I'm going to have to think about that, I'd say Kadri is the best at it but every time Lupul touches the puck I get that feeling too.

Agreed! He kept us in and he's the reason that we took 3 out of 4 points. People are ragging Gardiner, over the second goal, but it was Phaneuf that didn't get out at Bergeron and get in his way.
- PrinceLH

Gardiner can't get beat like that. It's was a lot like Franson on Lucic; both players just get shaken off.

Gardiner at least has to keep him to the outside and make him carry the puck to the corner.

Agreed! He kept us in and he's the reason that we took 3 out of 4 points. People are ragging Gardiner, over the second goal, but it was Phaneuf that didn't get out at Bergeron and get in his way.
- PrinceLH

Gardiner saved a goal by himself later on. Phaneuf thinks he's Medusa when he's playing defense. He thinks that if he looks at the guy he's suppose to stop, he'll turn to stone.

I just don't see an alternative right now. He may be a dud in the media scrums, but you don't hear a lot of griping from his teammates. What else is there to go on? Wins? Lot more to it than that. Looks the part? Yeah, could shave a little off the brow...
- gravyface

hard to read the lack of complaints from teammates. that could just be 22 other professional players doing their jobs as they should be, and not publically knocking their captain.

i don't him him as a team leader. that's my personal opinion, and i have little to support it.. but i just don't like it, and i never really have really.

That shootouts are a ridiculous gimmick designed by a basketball man to sell hockey in deserts and the tropics?

Shootouts have no place in the playoffs. Just sayin'.
- Leeman4Gilmour

I would love to see the 3 point game... win in reg score 3 points.. win in OT or shootout 2, Tie only gets you one point.

This would convince players to go for the 3 in Reg because they want to compete... no freezing the game in the 3rd to tie and sit and hope for the best...

Teams that aim for loser points like the Habs excel.. where really the teams trying to in in in Reg should be rewarded.

to blame gardiner on that play is just typical leaf fan scape-goating. gardiner didn't do to bad covering a much bigger stronger player along the boards, but it's a battle he loses all day every day.

if phaneuf is playing his position as he should be, no one says a thign about gardiner.
- joel878

Your a hypocrite, accuse everyone yet week after week push your changing opinions

Gardiner saved a goal by himself later on. Phaneuf thinks he's Medusa when he's playing defense. He thinks that if he looks at the guy he's suppose to stop, he'll turn to stone.
- Two_For_Truth

medusa is far better looking

It's a goalies job to better himself to stop the puck in any situation. i don't care if peewee herman invented the shootout he still needs to find a way to make some stops to help his team win.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I'd argue that he did that for the first 125 minutes of this home and home series.

Seriously? Ragging the best home grown goalie we've had in two decades because he's not great at Bettman's silly gimmick?

to blame gardiner on that play is just typical leaf fan scape-goating. gardiner didn't do to bad covering a much bigger stronger player along the boards, but it's a battle he loses all day every day.

if phaneuf is playing his position as he should be, no one says a thign about gardiner.
- joel878

Phaneuf looked like he was going to jump in because Gardiner was so soft on the play, didn't want to commit to covering Bergeron. But c'mon, Gardiner was so soft on that play: went in for a limp stick check like that? Hamilton didn't even have to work hard to make that play, Gardiner just handed it to him.

You`ll give up on Reimer next eh??
- cdjaakkola

i don't see that as giving up on phaneuf, i would see it as making a big move for the future, without losing from the group of young talent that's already in place.

but, if we're being dramatic about it. no, i've been defending reimer. do i think reimer is the next patrick roy? no.. but not every goaltender has to be patrick roy to make a difference in this league.

Gardiner saved a goal by himself later on. Phaneuf thinks he's Medusa when he's playing defense. He thinks that if he looks at the guy he's suppose to stop, he'll turn to stone.
- Two_For_Truth

Excellent analogy

He's an angles goalie. He's allot like Belfour. He relies on positioning and not having to do the Mike Palmateer snow angel. It does make him vulnerable in a shootout. You can't have everything.
- PrinceLH

Belfour sucked in the shootout, too, now that you mention it.

He was one of the best Leaf goaltenders of the modern era.

Phaneuf looked like he was going to jump in because Gardiner was so soft on the play, didn't want to commit to covering Bergeron. But c'mon, Gardiner was so soft on that play: went in for a limp stick check like that? Hamilton didn't even have to work hard to make that play, Gardiner just handed it to him.
- gravyface

But Hamilton was behind the net and made the pass from there. He wasn't in a scoring zone. Sure, Hamilton beat him, but the puck doesn't go in, if Phaneuf isn't standing there texting Elishia!

Phaneuf looked like he was going to jump in because Gardiner was so soft on the play, didn't want to commit to covering Bergeron. But c'mon, Gardiner was so soft on that play: went in for a limp stick check like that? Hamilton didn't even have to work hard to make that play, Gardiner just handed it to him.
- gravyface

really? i saw a flat footed phaneuf, watching gardiner panic to make a play he loses every time.. but that's just perspective. to each his own..

hard to read the lack of complaints from teammates. that could just be 22 other professional players doing their jobs as they should be, and not publically knocking their captain.

i don't him him as a team leader. that's my personal opinion, and i have little to support it.. but i just don't like it, and i never really have really.
- joel878

I'm pretty indifferent, particularly because there's not a lot of options around, even less so when he was made Captain. And unless we're signing a Morrow or Iginla in the off-season, I don't see anyone else capable of assuming the role.

it's cool when we get them, it's lame when other teams do, nothing strange about it
- Zezel

touche

hate the loser point myself.

Your a hypocrite, accuse everyone yet week after week push your changing opinions
- cdjaakkola

what the (frank) are you talking about?

you made more sense when you were irrelevant.

I would love to see the 3 point game... win in reg score 3 points.. win in OT or shootout 2, Tie only gets you one point.

This would convince players to go for the 3 in Reg because they want to compete... no freezing the game in the 3rd to tie and sit and hope for the best...

Teams that aim for loser points like the Habs excel.. where really the teams trying to in in in Reg should be rewarded.
- DoctorNHL

Should try that with the draft, best teams pick 1st. That would screw up the Oilers 12 year plan

really? i saw a flat footed phaneuf, watching gardiner panic to make a play he loses every time.. but that's just perspective. to each his own..
- joel878

Right and that's why I think Phaneuf wanted to jump in and assist; if Gardiner had his man, Phaneuf sticks to Bergeron. It was the wrong play, I'm saying both are at fault, but if Gardiner has his man or at least ties him up, Phaneuf doesn't hesitate...