Thomas Bordeleau scored the lone goal in a shootout as the Sharks beat the Golden Knights. (0:51)
The Golden Knights announced on Monday that Robin Lehner will have season-ending shoulder surgery.
The Vegas Golden Knights will play out the schedule with 25-year-old net minder LOGAN THOMPSON in net as they battle the Dallas Stars for the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights will play the Stars.
Sources told Emily Kaplan that Lehner informed the Golden Knights last Thursday night that he was going to have shoulder surgery. The team doctor confirmed that option was the best course of action after evaluating Lehner, sources said. The Golden Knights asked Lehner to delay his surgery because they needed him to be the backup on Sunday.
The team said in a statement that they were hopeful that rest and rehab would allow Robin to complete the season, but he was able to return to play on March 1. Rest and rehab were effective at times, but ultimately Robin decided that this was the best course of action.
The Golden Knights lost to the San Jose Sharks in a shootout on Sunday night, which seriously damaged their playoff hopes.
It has been a long season for Lehner, who also suffered a knee injury in March. The Golden Knights, who were among the early favorites to win the Stanley Cup, have struggled down the stretch, particularly at home. Vegas lost to San Jose, a team that is not going to the playoffs, as well as to New Jersey, a team that is out of the playoffs.
Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said it was difficult to lose a point after putting in the work. It could cost us a playoff spot. That is a difficult one to sleep on during the summer.
In a road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Lehner suffered a knee injury. He missed several games after leaving the road trip to get more testing. He returned on April 3 and had a 2-2-1 record with a 3.21 goals-against average and.891 save percentage.
After a Friday practice, DeBoer denied that Lehner was done for the season.
He said that it was a maintenance day. He is expected at practice tomorrow. I expect him to be dressed on Sunday.
After allowing one goal on 13 shots, Lehner was pulled from the game against Washington. The Golden Knights defeated Washington 4-3 in overtime.
Thompson is 9-5-1 with a 2.64 goals-against average this season, but was in net on Sunday for the debacle against the Sharks. The game was tied at 2-2 with three minutes left. Jiri Patera was recalled from the American Hockey League to be Thompson's backup.
Since joining the NHL, Vegas has never missed the playoffs and reached the Stanley Cup Final in its first year.
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