(VIDEO) Is This Why Lehner Got Pulled?

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Stef
April 21, 2022 (2:30 PM)

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Goalie rotation is nothing new. Sometimes it's done when a team has the talent to switch every game (see FlowerBot (TM) tandem in Minnesota), usually it's done if your starter has had a rough game, or couple of games. So, according to all logic and hockey sense, most everyone expected to see Logan Thompson in net for the VGK's must-win game against the Washington Capitals, last night. Well, we did see Logan Thompson - just not right away.
Robin Lehner, coming off a disappointing loss to New Jersey was given the start, because according to Pete DeBoer, «we pay him to start games like this.» Sure. Fine. That makes sense. You're paying him to be your starter, so start him. In that start, the 30 year old net minder faced 14 shots, with 2 getting through (one was taken back because the play was offside). So, 12 out of 14 saves. Not great, but not the worst. At any rate, Vegas only had 8 shots on goal and the game was still tied at the end of the 1st.
Then the second period started, and out onto the ice comesLogan Thompson? What? Why? Where's Lehner? Did something happen? Did he get hurt? Did an old injury flare up? Wait - he's on the bench. He seems fine. What is going on?! Twitter was going nuts over this totally random switch. I mean, it couldn't have been because of the goal(s), right? Who gets pulled for 12/14? Apparently, Robin Lehner does.

When asked about the game of musical goalies, DeBoer basically said the team was rattled after the first goal, and needed a fresh start. His full statement on that decision can be read here:

Let's go back to that one particular statement, though - «we pay him to start games like this.» START. So is Pete DeBoer just treating his goalies like face-off takers? Put him in for few minutes, and as soon as one gets by you, you're out? Even the analysts were joking about who we were going to see in net in the third, since Logan Thompson was scored on once in only 8 shots.

Following the DeBoer reasoning, he should have been pulled, as well. But he wasn't. He faced 7 more shots in the third, the Caps' tying goal coming from Ovechkin, of course (who, incidentally, was the only Washington player to score on Thompson). And off to OT we went. Vegas ended up winning with their 1 shot on goal by Shea Theodore, and Thompson didn't have to face any.
So what does this mean, if anything, for the future of the VGK goaltenders? Thompson's response to last night's swithceroo, «As a goalie partner, you don't like to be in that situation.» Well buddy, buckle up. Coach DeBoer and the VGK front office made a mess of a lot of positions in that organization, and yours got the worst of it. Best of luck to you in the off-season.