DeBoer throws Lehner under the bus for the second game in a row

It seems evident that there's a rift between Vegas Golden Knights' head coach Peter DeBoer and starting goaltender Robin Lehner, and it appears to be getting worse. Vegas got a much needed two points against the Washington Capitals Wednesday night with a 4-3 win in overtime, but it was what happened between DeBoer and Lehner that everyone was talking about.

Following a 3-2 loss to New Jersey Monday, DeBoer blamed Lehner, saying he needed his goaltender to be better than the one at the other end of the ice at this time of the year, and also calling all three goals he let in soft. Many assumed Logan Thompson would get the start against the Caps given that statement, but it was Lehner in the net in the first period. However, he wouldn't last long.

With just over six minutes left in the first, Lehner let in a goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov. Lehner finished out the period, but was replaced by Thomson at the start of the second. That was despite stopping 12 of 13 shots for a .923 save percentage.

Following the game, DeBoer explained Lehner was not injured, and that he put Thompson in to start the second because he felt the team was rattled after the first goal.

"It was just to try and switch some momentum and reset ourselves and get ready for the rest of the game," said DeBoer

Asked why he started Lehner to begin with, DeBoer had this response.

"We pay him to start games like this. It's the most important time of the year."

Vegas definitely increased its chances of making the playoffs with Wednesday night's win, although it's still far from a guarantee. That said, if this rift between DeBoer and Lehner continues, it likely won't bode well for the rest of the locker room. This will be an interesting situation to watch going forward.

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