Robin Lehner's chaotic season appeared to be coming to an end after reports surfaced the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender would have season-ending surgery. Bench boss Peter DeBoer apparently didn't get that memo.
Less than an hour after ESPN reported Lehner would have season-ending surgery to repair a lower-body injury he sustained on March 8, DeBoer told the Las Vegas press he hadn't heard anything of the sort.
"I expect him to practice tomorrow, and I expect him dressed on Sunday," DeBoer said on Friday.
Pete DeBoer on if @espn’s report that Robin Lehner will have season-ending surgery is accurate: “Not to my knowledge. It was a maintenance day today. I expect him at practice tomorrow. I expect him dressed on Sunday.”
— Ben Gotz (@BenSGotz) April 22, 2022
Lehner's 2021-22 campaign has been peppered with injuries. He was in and out of the lineup with a shoulder injury earlier in the season. The 30-year-old netminder has had a solid year by many goaltending standards but a down year personally on the stats sheet, posting a 23-17-2 record with a 2.83 goals-against average and .907 save percentage through 44 games.
The Golden Knights as a whole are fighting for their lives as they currently sit outside the playoff bubble and are in danger of not making the postseason for the first time since the team was formed. Vegas currently trails the Dallas Stars for the second wild-card spot by two points, and with injuries to big players continuing to plague the lineup, the final week of the regular season will be crucial for the Knights — whether Lehner has season-ending surgery or not.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!