Lehner feels love from Islanders fans after shutting out Sharks

NEW YORK -- The messages of congratulations from fans on Twitter came pouring in moments after Robin Lehner made 35 saves in his New York Islanders debut, a 4-0 win against the San Jose Sharks at Barclays Center on Monday.

Lehner, who signed a one-year contract with the Islanders on July 3, is being embraced by their fan base, his teammates and everyone else in the organization after he came clean last month about his struggles with mental health that led to suicidal thoughts, drug and alcohol addictions and eventually rehab.
"I'm just trying to move forward here, but obviously it's a little bit special," said Lehner, who became the first goalie in Islanders history to get a shutout in his debut with the team. "It felt real good to get back in a game again."
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Lehner's mental health issues led to a diagnosis of bipolar 1 with manic phases. It was made five weeks into his rehab treatments after he had a panic attack on the ice while playing for the Buffalo Sabres against the Detroit Red Wings on March 29. He played the first two periods of that 6-3 loss and allowed three goals on 20 shots one night after he admitted to having suicidal thoughts.
Lehner wrote he began to experience chest pains and had difficulty breathing shortly after the game began. It was the last game he played for the Sabres.
Given his ability when healthy, the Islanders were willing to give Lehner an opportunity. He backed up Thomas Greiss for the first two games, but he certainly passed his first test Monday when he preserved the shutout by making 16 saves in the third period.

"When you're with a team, everybody in that room is supporting everybody else," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "We don't know exactly what he has to go through every day, but he's got a great support system from management all the way down to his teammates and the coaching staff and the trainers and everybody. We're there for him all the time, and he's there for us.
"Today he stood tall when he needed to and he was calm. I just liked that he was tight, he was moving, he wasn't like reaching for stuff. He looked big and he was tight. I know those shooters were seeing a wall. Any goaltender, a guy that's 6-foot-6 or a guy that's 6-foot, when they're tight and they're confident and they look that way, it always looks like a wall for the shooters."
Inside the Islanders locker room, the reviews about Lehner have been positive.
"He's been so great," captain Anders Lee said. "Seeing his article at the beginning of camp and seeing what he'd been through … but then getting to know him from then until now, it's been pretty awesome to see him battle through a lot of things. I know how hard he's worked out there on the ice. I know he wanted to be in net probably the first two games, but I think he showed himself extremely well tonight, shutting out one of the best teams in the League. I'm really proud of him."

Lehner signed with the Islanders the same day they reacquired forward Matt Martin from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Lehner wanted a head start on life in New York, where he and Martin began working out together shortly after landing with the Islanders.
"He was working hard all summer," Martin said. "He pretty well told me about his story right away. I think everybody's pulling for him. He's put the work in all summer. We're all happy to see him have the success that he had tonight. He's been great through it all."
Lehner was on top of his game Monday from the drop of the puck. He made 11 saves in the first period and made arguably his best of the game when he closed his pads on Timo Meier's shot from point-blank range at 3:56 of the second when the score was still 0-0. The Islanders finally broke through on Lee's power-play goal at 14:34.
"Goalies are always in their own type of world, but he's just a very nice, social guy," Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck said. "Obviously he's gone through some things and he's not scared to talk about it or not talk about it. He's fit in really well. This has traditionally been a pretty welcoming group, and I think it's a credit to both sides that he came in just all-in. The group's obviously very accepting, so far a good marriage.

"It's really great to be able to see him come in here and do that the way he did. Obviously he's been through some things a lot of us don't understand and hopefully never will, but I think you put those things out there, you live your life the right way and you do the right thing and these kind of moments seem to come to you. Hopefully this gives him all the confidence in the world."
After the game, Lehner reaffirmed his sobriety and his overall health. He remains thankful for the opportunity the Islanders have given him and hopes to continue to repay them with more performances like the one he provided Monday.
"I'm doing what I love," Lehner said. "I'm perfectly healthy. I feel better than I ever [have]. This is the start of a new chapter with a new team in a new city. I'm looking forward to it."