The dispute between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and goalie Robin Lehner has finally reached a conclusion. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Lehner informed the Knights he would be going through with season-ending surgery to repair an injured shoulder that has been bothering him since February.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1518704159914086401
The Knights had been opposed to Lehner undergoing the operation and missing the remainder of the season, causing a bit of a rift between the two sides. The Golden Knights released a statement in which they stated they were hopeful that rest would be sufficient for Lehner to make a full recovery. The injury has persisted, however, and after reviewing with doctors, Lehner opted to undergo season-ending surgery.
In a corresponding roster move, the Knights have recalled goalie Jiri Patera from their minor-league affiliate in Henderson, NV. Patera will serve as the backup to starter Logan Thompson as the Knights look to clinch a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth.
Lehner was active for Sunday night's game against the San Jose Sharks despite informing the team of his intention to undergo surgery. With Thompson as the only active goalie available for the Knights, the team convinced Lehner to delay his decision by one more day, in order to serve as an emergency backup on Sunday.
The Knights lost 5-4 via shootout after squandering a 4-2 lead in the third period, including a last-second equalizer courtesy of Sharks star Timo Meier which forced overtime.
This season, Lehner has started 44 games for Las Vegas, recording a 23-17-4 record with a .907 save percentage and surrendering an average of 2.83 goals per game. The 30-year-old is in his second season with the Knights, having previously played for the Senators, Sabres, Islanders, and Blackhawks.
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