Lehner says Sunday's return to Long Island will be an emotional day: 'That fan base saved my life'

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner has been very open over the years with his struggles with mental health as well as addiction. After leaving the Buffalo Sabres after the 2017-18 season, Lehner was at a low point in his career. He decided to enter rehab for alcohol and drug use, got himself clean, and was given a chance at redemption by the New York Islanders. He had a spectacular bounce back year, going 25-13-5, with a save percentage of .930 and a 2.13 goals against average. He and goaltending partner Thomas Greiss won the William M. Jennings that season. Lehner will return to Long Island for the first time on Sunday, and he said it will be emotional.

"I will say it again, they saved my life," said Lehner, referring to fans on Long Island. "They have a special place in my heart, in my family's heart. My wife is flying in for the game."

"I think about it all the time. I've been waiting for it for a couple of years...that fan base saved my life," he added.

If you haven't noticed before, Lehner has a tattoo of Long Island on his neck, despite spending just one season with the team. That's how much he appreciated his time there.

"I'm not trying to make a big deal out of it. I was there one year...It's going to be emotional. As I've said before, that fan base saved my life," Lehner reiterated following Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils.

After leaving the Islanders, Lehner signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks before ending up in Vegas at the trade deadline, where he's been ever since. While he has acknowledged his love of the Islanders fan base, he has expressed disappointment with the team's management in the past, saying he was told a new deal would get done with the team but things kept getting pushed aside. The Islanders ended up snagging free agent Semyon Varlamov in the offseason, seemingly leaving no room for Lehner.

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