Coach Peter DeBoer declined to comment on Lehner after practice Saturday, deferring to the statement released by the Golden Knights. Multiple reports Friday said that Lehner will have season-ending knee surgery, which DeBoer has denied.
"Not to my knowledge," DeBoer said Friday. "It was a maintenance day today. I expect him at practice [Saturday] and dress on Sunday."
The Golden Knights (42-31-5) are four points behind the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference with four games remaining.
Rookie Logan Thompson will start for Vegas on Sunday. Thompson and an emergency backup were the two goalies who practiced Saturday and Sunday.
"The plan is Logan Thompson starting and Robin Lehner is the backup," DeBoer said Sunday. "Logan was starting tonight based on performance."
Lehner sustained a lower-body injury against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 8, causing him to miss the next 12 games. He returned on April 3 and started six of the next eight games, going 2-2-1 with a 3.20 goals-against average and .892 save percentage.
"When Robin dresses, the plan is he's going to be here and part of the tandem tonight," DeBoer said. "If he's dressed, he's available to play."
Lehner was pulled after the first period of a 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday after allowing one goal on 13 shots. He was replaced by Thompson, who made 13 saves on 15 shots.
"In my conversations with Robin and everyone involved, there's been nothing physically that can keep him from performing for us," DeBoer said. "There has been no red flags. Nobody is healthy 82 games in. Everybody needs something. … As far as my knowledge goes, and that's personal conversations with the player, it has not been a play issue. I'm not a doctor. It's either he can play or can't play."
Lehner is 23-17-2 with a 2.83 GAA, .907 save percentage and one shutout in 44 games this season.
Thompson is 9-5-0 with a 2.56 GAA, .920 save percentage and one shutout in 15 games (13 starts). The 25-year-old has allowed two goals or fewer in six of his past nine starts.
"[Thompson] has done a great job," DeBoer said. "He's come in. Every decision we're making right now is with a Game 7 mentality. We've got to win. We're rolling out that lineup. We're making most personnel decisions, in-game decisions based on a Game 7 mentality. I feel like we have to make a decision in-game that is going to give us a better chance to win and stay alive here. We're going to do that. That's the only agenda."
NHL.com independent correspondent Paul Delos Santos contributed to this report
