NHL playoffs 2019: Vezina finalist Robin Lehner benched after two quick second period goals

Thomas Lott

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NHL playoffs 2019: Vezina finalist Robin Lehner benched after two quick second period goals image

Barry Trotz has made the move many Islanders fans were calling for before Game 4.

After electing to start Robin Lehner in net in Game 4 despite going 0-3 in the first three games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Lehner gave up three goals in the span of 25 minutes and found himself on the bench.

Trotz called a timeout some five minutes into the second period and put in Thomas Greiss to take over in net for Lehner who is one of three Vezina Trophy finalists this season.

Lehner had some tough luck to start the series allowing a total of three goals in the first two games, but he allowed five in Game 3, and with the team on the brink of elimination, many were stumping for Greiss to start in net.

But it was Lehner who was between the pipes to start Game 4 and he wasn't all that bad in the first period.

He allowed a goal some five minutes into the game, but that came off the stick of his own teammate in Adam Pelech.

To start the second period Lehner gave up another one, and again, this one wasn't entirely his fault. Pelech turned it over behind the net and the Hurricanes worked the puck around nicely before Warren Foegele found Teuvo Teravainen wide open on the other side of the net for Carolina's second goal of the game.

Just a minute later, the Canes got a shot on goal and Lehner looked like he had corralled it, but it slipped out of his grasp and fell to the ice and right to the feet of Greg McKegg. He would put the puck in the back of the net and ended Lehner's night.

At that point Trotz simply may have come to the conclusion that this is just not Lehner's series and went to Greiss who has been more than respectable this season posting a .927 save percentage and 2.28 goals against average.

But no matter how good Greiss is the Islanders still have to score. They have a total of six goals in four games so far and they need someone to get going.

And in all honesty, this might be the Hurricanes' series anyway. Greiss gave up a goal barely five minutes in to let Carolina go up 4-1.

Thomas Lott