Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner, 30, set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, team says, amid playoff push

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, the team announced on Monday.

Vegas, battling with the Dallas Stars for the second and final wild-card berth in the Western Conference, has three games remaining, and will play out the schedule with 25-year-old Logan Thompson in net. The Golden Knights will play the Stars on Tuesday night.

Lehner, 30, informed the Golden Knights last Thursday night he was going to have the shoulder surgery, sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan on Monday. On Saturday, the team doctor confirmed that option was the best course of evaluating Lehner, sources said. However, the Golden Knights asked Lehner to delay his surgery because they said they needed him to serve as the backup on Sunday, citing salary-cap implications.

«Robin has done his best to battle through this injury he sustained February 9, and we were hopeful that rest and rehab would allow him to complete the season,» the team said in a statement. «He initially rehabbed and was able to return to play March 1. At times, rest and rehab were effective, but ultimately Robin, in consultation with team medical staff, determined that this is the best course of action.»

Lehner sat on the bench and served as backup Sunday night as the Golden Knights lost to the San Jose Sharks, 5-4, in a shootout, which seriously damaged their playoff hopes.

It indeed has been a long season for Lehner, who also suffered a knee injury March 8, as well as the team overall. Hampered by injuries at forward and defense, as well, the Golden Knights — among the early favorites to win the Stanley Cup — have struggled down the stretch, particularly at home this month. In addition to the damaging loss to San Jose, a team that is