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Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 10 Meaningful Goals of the Decade

By Alex Hobson

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 12: Playing in his NHL debut, Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his first career NHL hat trick against the Ottawa Senators with teammates at the players"u2019 bench at Canadian Tire Centre during the season opener on October 12, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 12: Playing in his NHL debut, Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his first career NHL hat trick against the Ottawa Senators with teammates at the players"u2019 bench at Canadian Tire Centre during the season opener on October 12, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 6: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a second period goal in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs May 6, 2013 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 6: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a second period goal in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs May 6, 2013 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#5 – Jake Gardiner Scores First Home Playoff Goal Since 2004 – May 6th, 2013

Jake Gardiner was one of the most polarizing topics during his tenure in Toronto.

You either loved him or hated him. And oftentimes, the hate seemed to outweigh the love.

But regardless of what your feelings on Gardiner were during his time here, you can’t deny that this goal was one to remember.

The goal didn’t mean too much for the game itself, as the Leafs would go on to lose by a score of 5-2, but when you consider the fact that Gardiner’s goal was the first playoff goal scored at home since Travis Green did it on April 21st, 2004, the goal carries some emotional baggage.

Gardiner missed the net on his first shot before intercepting a Bruins clearing attempt and putting it home to cut the Toronto Maple Leafs deficit in half.

This series against the Bruins was and still is a touchy subject for Leaf fans, for reasons that I’m not going to get into.

But this goal snapped a nine year playoff goal drought and gave the fans something to cheer for.

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