Goalie Robin Lehner has confidence in Islanders, his new team
New York Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner looks for the puck as Philadelphia Flyers' Dale Weise plays a rebound a hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Credit: AP/Derik Hamilton
PHILADELPHIA — Goalie Robin Lehner is encouraged by what he sees from his new team.
“I think we have a very tight team here,” Lehner said after making 16 saves in Saturday’s 6-1 win over the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. “I like the chemistry here, it’s been good so far. We’ve got to build off of this window. We’ve lost some games we probably could have won and it’s time to get on a roll.”
Lehner’s streak of four straight starts is likely to end on Sunday at Carolina after he improved to 3-2-1 with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.
Not that Lehner, who signed a one-year, $1.5-milliond deal after spending the past three seasons with the Sabres, was overworked on Saturday as his teammates kept the Flyers mainly to the outside and away from his crease. The Islanders blocked 20 shots and their penalty kill was 3-for-3 while holding the Flyers without a shot on the man advantage.
“There was a lot of neutral-zone play, we didn’t trade a lot of shots,” said Lehner, adding of his four straight starts, “it’s nice they show confidence in me.”
Clutterbuck hurt
Right wing Cal Clutterbuck exited with an upper-body injury at 6:16 of the second period after trading checks with Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas. Coach Barry Trotz did not have an immediate update on his gritty fourth-liner.
“He’ll be evaluated and we’ll see where he is in the morning, then we’ll make a decision on that,” Trotz said.
Isles Files
Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey each had two assists…Defensemen Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield each blocked four shots…The Islanders continue to struggle in the faceoff circle, losing 36 of 57 draws. They have won more faceoffs than their opponent just twice this season…Center Valtteri Filppula, 34, who left the Flyers to sign a one-year, $2.75-million deal with the Islanders, went without a shot in 13:54 in his first game back in Philadelphia…Forwards Ross Johnston and Tom Kuhnhackl and defenseman Luca Sbisa remained the healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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