Robin Lehner has calmed down considerably since we last saw him react negatively to getting benched after allowing three goals on nine shots to blow a 2-0 second period lead in Toronto on Tuesday night.
Lehner is known for his combustible personality on the ice. He reacted poorly to being hooked after forefeiting three goals. It happens. We all have crappy days at work. We learn from it and move on.
The Sabres had a mandatory day off on Wednesday. On Thursday, Lehner cleared the air about his emotions, the way he reacted towards his coach and teammates and how he acknowledged a fan who was face-timing him with her smart phone.
“I understand how it looks,” Lehner confided. “People that know me...I go up, I’m going to have a drink (of water). It’s a mom with a five year-old kid waving in his pajamas. You know what? I’m going to wave back. I don’t care what anyone thinks".
Lehner continued:
“I have this thing around me and I accept that fact. I accept that fact that it looks bad but it doesn’t affect my game. People that know me know that I’m a calm, relaxed goalie. That’s why I have a bad goal and bounce back. That’s why I can play through these things better mentally than that.”
Lehner took full responsibility for his actions. He said to accept him for who he is. The big Swede won't apologize for his waving to the child on the smart phone.
"I take responsibility. I don’t want to do the whole sequence of things that they built up to the little half-Hollywood movie that they clipped together. I understand where it’s coming from. It’s all entertainment to them but it’s a real-life reaction for me and I accept the responsibility of it."
If Lehner would have melted down in Arizona or Carolina it would have been a non story. Small splash, no ripples, zero buzz.
However, Toronto is the center of the hockey media universe, not the epicenter of the hockey universe. Inquiring minds want to sensationalize such situations as Lehner's with the goal of converting the matter into web page views, radio and TV content and oodles of buzz.
Let's not forget for one moment which two ginormous multi-platform media companies own the Maple Leafs.
“I understand what it (the social media outrage) is coming from. It's all entertainment to them, but it’s a real-life reaction from me, and I accept the responsibility of it,” Lehner said.
“I got mad. I let in three goals in 10 minutes.”
Next time, Lehner will have to take that and the ensuing backlash into consideration before blowing a gasket during a game. Who will ever forget how the Toronto media continually dumped petrol all over the John Scott vs. Phil Kessel fiasco from a few years ago?
Regarding Lehner, the thing I took issue with was the animated and angry way he eye balled his head coach and teammates after he was pulled. Slamming the helmet down on the bench was a bad look.
My point: Lehner could have used that energy to make a save on the Komarov and Martin goals instead.
We live and learn. We are only human.
Lehner seemingly has cleared the air with his head coach and teammates. He has turned the page.
Lehner and his Sabres have bigger fish to fry. They are seven points out of a playoff spot and they play division rivals Detroit and Montreal on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively.
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Look for Tyler Ennis to return to action when the Sabres host the Red Wings in Friday night.
Ennis returned Monday afternoon ( and scored a goal nineteen seconds into the game) from a thirty game lay off due to groin surgery.
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