A pretty strong season came to an unceremonious ending on Friday night, as the New York Islanders were swept out of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes.
While it wasn’t the ending that the Isles would’ve wanted, goalie Robin Lehner made sure to let fans know that their support was appreciated. It has been an especially emotional journey for Lehner, after he had to battle bipolar disorder, depression and an alcohol dependency before latching on with the Islanders on a one-year “prove it deal.” And, here he is now, a Vezina finalist thriving on and off the ice.
Lehner acknowledges this too in his message to fans, saying that this year was unforgettable for him.
Lehner won just about everyone over with his comeback story, and it’s nice to see that he shares such a special relationship with Isles fans. He’ll be a free agent in the summer, but no doubt about it, Long Island wants him back.
Despite the season-ending loss, and even though Lehner didn’t have a great game with two goals allowed on 10 shots before being pulled, fans made sure to show their love back to their goaltender.
