Golden Knights announce Robin Lehner will have season ending surgery
Anthony Scultore
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The Vegas Golden Knights, who initially refuted reports that goaltender Robin Lehner would have season-ending surgery just confirmed the news.
Robin Lehner will undergo shoulder surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Robin has done his best to battle through this injury he sustained February 9, and we were hopeful that rest and rehab would allow him to complete the season.
He initially rehabbed and was able to return to play March 1. At times rest and rehab were effective, but ultimately Robin, in consultation with team medical staff, determined that this is the best course of action.
There was some early confusion that the surgery may have been related to his knee.
Golden Knights make Lehner surgery official
It’s been a weird few days in Vegas that started on Friday when ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Lehner would undergo surgery thus ending his season.
According to Kaplan, he sustained the injury on March 8 at Philadelphia and was placed on injured reserve six days later.
He returned to action on April 3 and started last Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals. He was pulled after stopping 12 of 13 shots in the first period.
Golden Knights and coach Pete DeBoer disputed the report when asked by beat reporters why Lehner was not at practice.
“It was a maintenance day today,” DeBoer said. “I expect him at practice tomorrow. I expect him dressed on Sunday.”
Lehner did indeed dress as the backup against the San Jose Sharks.
Vegas collapsed late in the third period and eventually lost in a shootout 5-4. They are now hanging on for dear life in their playoff chase. A regulation loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday will eliminate the Golden Knights.
On Saturday night, Elliotte Friedman relayed that Lehner was hurt by criticism of his play and decided he wanted to shut it down for the season. The Knights were able to smooth things over for Sunday’s game.
Lehner, 30, finishes with a 23-17-2 record with one shutout, a 2.83 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage in 44 starts.
The Golden Knights have recalled Jiri Patera from Henderson to replace Lehner.
