New York Islanders Robin Lehner Easy NHL First Star of Week

New York Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner was named the NHL’s first star of the week. With three wins and with the numbers he put up that was an easy decision for the NHL.

Naming New York Islanders goalie Robin Lehner the first star of the week was probably the NHL’s easiest decision to make in a while. With the numbers he put up during the week of January 13th to January 20th you can see why.

In three games played he posted a 3-0-0 record with a 0.67 goals-against average and a 0.970 save percentage. Less than a goal per game and letting in only three percent of the shots he faced.

Those are incredible numbers even if your last name is Hasek, Roy, or Brodeur. What Robin Lehner has done this season is nothing shy of remarkable.

Those Numbers

Three games is an admittedly a small sample size, but widen the scope and its clear that Robin Lehner is having one heck of a season. In 26 games played, Robin Lehner has a 2.02 GAA and a 0.930SV%. That’s good for first for goals against average and second in save percentage*.

*for goalies who’ve played at least 15 games.

This was a goalie who just last season had terrible numbers with a 3.01GAA and a 0.908SV% with the Buffalo Sabres. Sure, the Sabres were bad last season, but then again so were the New York Islanders.

In fact, the Islanders were worse with 296 goals against in the 2017-18 season.

Of course, Barry Trotz deserves a ton of credit for turning that terrible defense around. And Mitch Korn and Pierro Greco deserve credit for helping Lehner with his game. But coaching ends at the bench. It’s all up to Robin Lehner to put in a shift and get it done out there on the ice.

Lehner still needs to stay sharp, whether he faces 40 shots a night like he did against the Buffalo Sabres on December 31st. Or when he’s facing less than 20 shots a night like over the last three games where he face 17-19-19.

Even with this new look defense, the New York Islanders are still going to give up chances. Robin Lehner has to be there to stop them. He’s doing just that.

After a 3-0 shutout against the Anaheim Ducks, the fans at the Nassau Coliseum let Robin Lehner know just how they felt when he was given the first star of the night.

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Again, giving Robin Lehner the first start of the week was an easy (and right) call from the NHL. He’s been absolutely lights out since he put on an Islanders jersey. If he keeps going like this he’s going to play himself into contention for the Vezina trophy.