Why Barry Trotz thought it was finally time to pull Robin Lehner

Robin Lehner has been a revelation on the ice, helping to pen a compelling tale for himself and the Islanders.

But Lehner was pulled from the net for the first time this season after allowing three goals on 13 shots by the 3:18 mark of the second period in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Flyers at the Coliseum.

While Islanders coach Barry Trotz has come to expect big saves from the free-agent signee, he contended the move to insert Thomas Greiss with his team trailing 3-0 was more an attempt to kick-start the club, which went on to lose for the third time in four games.

“The first two goals, I think when Robin is really sharp, maybe he comes up with them,” Trotz said. “It was a little bit of [needing] a spark, a little bit that maybe we could change something. He’s been so great for us all year. So yeah, it was more to generate something. We needed a spark somewhere so just tried it.”

Lehner, was signed by team president Lou Lamoriello in July to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million, revealed during training camp that he’s been undergoing treatment for alcoholism and bipolar disorder. The 27-year-old Swede is 20-11-5 this season with a 2.13 goals-against average.

Matt Martin missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury, and fellow fourth-line winger Cal Clutterbuck departed in the third period, also with an upper-body injury after being hit in the side of the head by a puck while seated on the bench, and did not return. Linemate Casey Cizikas left the game briefly in the third, but Trotz said the center has been battling the flu. Defenseman Thomas Hickey and winger Tom Kuhnhackl were healthy scratches.

see also

Islanders arent in rush for serious contract talks with top-line star

Call the Islanders’ top line The Money Line. Or, really,…

After the Islanders scored only just goal for a second straight game, Trotz was asked if the team might consider recalling young forwards Josh Ho-Sang or Michael Dal Colle from AHL Bridgeport.

“My first instinct is I think these guys deserve to grind that out a little bit,” he said. “It’s a thought. Some of the young guys have done a really good job. … We’ll just see where we’re at [Monday].”

Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech ended Flyers goalie Brian Elliott’s shutout bid from just outside the crease with 4:45 remaining in the third period.