Leafs Nation conflicted after Rasmus Sandin makes questionable decision in win over Columbus
The Leafs started their post-break run on a winning note on Friday with a thrilling 3-0 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Okay, okay, it's Columbus, so we shouldn't be planning any parades just yet, but there were plenty of positives in the game, including the play of goaltender Ilya Samsonov, captain John Tavares, All-Star winger Mitch Marner and young blueliner Rasmus Sandin, who landed one of the hits of the year on Jackets rookie Kent Johnson.
Following the hit, which was as nice a hit as you're going to see - and completely clean - Sandin was pursued by Jackets forward Cole Sillinger, who tried to bait Sandin into dropping his gloves in response to the hit. Naturally, Sandin just went about his business and tried to ignore Sillinger, who was buzzing around his ear like a mosquito, but some in Leafs Nation weren't too pleased with the fact that Sandin turned down the challenge and clung to the notion that Sandin simply didn't show the type of intensity needed for the playoffs.
First, Rasmus Sandin is not a noted fighter in the NHL. Second, the hit was clean - why should Sandin have to drop his gloves after a completely legal play? It's not like he stood over Johnson or taunted him in any way. It was just a hit followed by Sandin carrying on and resuming play.
Honestly, I understand the theory that every guy on the team should be prepared to drop the gloves under the right circumstances, but this one was anything but the right circumstance. I have absolutely no problem with Sandin just skating away from Sillinger here and I'm certainly not going to take issue with anything from a game which the Leafs won 3-0.
| POLL | ||
11 FEVRIER | 616 ANSWERS Leafs Nation conflicted after Rasmus Sandin makes questionable decision in win over Columbus Should Sandin have dropped the gloves and fought Sillinger? | ||
| Yes | 51 | 8.3 % |
| No | 565 | 91.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
