Lehner update: Will be at game tonight; won't start

The situation surrounding Robin Lehner and the Vegas Golden Nights just took another strange turn. After denying the goaltender needed surgery earlier this week and saying the plan was to start him on Sunday, Vegas coach Peter DeBoer now says Lehner will be at Sunday's game against the San Jose Sharks, but he won't be starting.

Vegas practiced on Sunday with the services of an emergency backup goalie.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Lehner has been playing hurt. After criticism from DeBoer, and being pulled after the first period of a recent game despite letting in just one goal, Lehner went to the team and said he was shutting his season down because he wanted to have surgery. Apparently, the team would prefer he wait until Vegas finds out for sure whether or not the club will make the postseason.

This could get very sticky for the Golden Knights. Lehner was very outspoken regarding the situation with Jack Eichel, who is now his teammate, and the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres essentially blocked Eichel from getting the surgical procedure he wanted to have due to a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that states team doctors have the final say. It wouldn't be at all surprising for Lehner to file a grievance over the summer if the team is stopping him from getting a medical procedure done.

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