Robin Lehner's story of battling addiction, mental-health issues has made him an Islanders fan favorite

Matt Daley and his wife, Calynne, waited patiently on line at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on Friday night as he purchased a Stanley Cup Playoffs cap. But the Riverhead couple’s real investment in Islanders merchandise came much earlier in the season.

Both wore blue alternate Robin Lehner No. 40 jerseys. Asked why both were wearing the goalie’s jersey, Matt Daley, 35, offered a quick explanation.

“Ten years sober,” he said, describing how he spent his 25th birthday at a rehab clinic.

“The community of being sober is so small,” he added, his voice starting to crack. “Only one in 10 make it one year. To watch him this year means a lot.”

“I haven’t seen him this passionate about a player in a long time,” said Calynne Daley, 28.

Lehner’s story of working to control substance addictions and mental-health issues became public on Sept. 13. Three days later, he led his new team onto the Coliseum ice for its first preseason game.

The crowd’s positive reception was instantaneous and portended how the Swede quickly would become a fan favorite on Long Island.

“You love his story, and I think the fans did an unbelievable job from Day 1 when he released his piece and told his story,” said left wing Matt Martin, who resumed his spot as a fan favorite this season after being reacquired from the Maple Leafs.

“That first preseason game at the Coliseum, he got a huge ovation. They supported him long before he was having the season he’s having. It just goes to show the type of people that are on Long Island, the type of fans we have. They stand behind us.”

Lehner is expected to start Game 3 of the Islanders’ first-round series against the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon after getting wins in the first two games at the Coliseum, including making 32 saves in Friday night’s 3-1 victory.

Every big save — and there were several — was followed by a thunderous “Leh-ner, Leh-ner” chant.

“They’ve done that a lot this year,” Lehner said. “It means a lot. It’s great to play here.”

“He’s set the table,” said former goalie Glenn “Chico” Resch, who played for the Islanders from 1974-81 and was a member of their first Stanley Cup championship team in 1980. “If Robin, like I did, wins a round or two, it really gets the imagination of the fans. He’s set on Long Island for life. Once they attach to you, they don’t throw you overboard very quickly.”

Lehner signed a make-good, one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Islanders after three seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, who did not extend him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, and three previous seasons with the Ottawa Senators.

He paid the Islanders back by going 25-13-5 with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, setting career bests in victories, GAA and shutouts (six). He and Thomas Greiss shared the Jennings Trophy as the Islanders allowed an NHL-low 196 goals after giving up 293 the previous season, the most in the league since 2007.

Lehner is a near-lock to win the Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.  

“He’s inspirational, just overcoming adversity,” said Rob Dickson, 41, of Huntington. “He epitomizes the heart of this team. He’s an underdog fighting.”

Added Larry Fischer, 69, of Copiague, “He’s a small example of what this team is about, to overcome what he’s overcome.”

In many ways, Lehner still feels like a new resident on Long Island. He has said at different points this season that he would like to re-sign with the team and grow roots. President and general manager Lou Lamoriello has said there’s interest in retaining Lehner, but the Islanders know as well as any team that until a deal is signed, there’s no deal.

“I hope to God he stays here,” said Matt Daley, who started following Lehner’s career when he played for the Senators against the Islanders at the Coliseum.

“You might make a little less with the Islanders, but what you’re going to get with that experience with the Islanders you’re not going to get anywhere else,” said Resch, who also played for the Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers and is the Devils’ radio analyst. “I don’t think he’ll go anywhere. It would be really silly of him. He could have five, seven great years.”

Lehner, 27, certainly appreciates the support he’s gotten from the Long Island fan base.

“I don’t know the area too well yet,” he said. “They’re really passionate people, a blue-collar community. I think they appreciate the hard-working team. This is just from my impression, but I think they are a fan base that appreciates more a hard-working, passionate, emotional team than a high-end-skill team. I think we have a pretty good mixture of both, and I think that’s why it works.”

Resch said he derived motivation from being noticed in the community during his playing days.

“I didn’t know about New York people. I heard they were aggressive and not friendly,” said Resch, originally from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. “I found they were very friendly. They can yell at you from across the parking lot. At first, it startles you. Then you start to appreciate it.

“I grew a lot in New York. I was shy and reserved. Then you just learn to be yourself and interact with the fans.”

Lehner is far from the only Islander to receive crowd adoration this season. Probably no coach has heard his name chanted more in a season than Barry Trotz has at the Coliseum.

But the bond between goalie and fans always seems to be the strongest. It was that way in New Jersey with Martin Brodeur and Devils fans. The love Rangers fans have shown for Eddie Giacomin, Mike Richter and Henrik Lundqvist — even Eddie Mio was serenaded in his time — seemingly has transcended that team’s other stars.

“Goalies, they’re unique because, say a defenseman can be struggling, has a loss of confidence, he can kind of play safe in the team structure,” Resch said. “But the goalie, there’s no hiding place, and I think fans like that. If you can show, especially to a Long Island fan, that you’re a battler and you’re someone who can overcome challenges, people recognize underachieving and overachieving.”

Martin said he got to know Lehner better last offseason as both worked out at the Islanders’ practice facility in East Meadow.

Lehner began opening up about his past problems to Martin, and the goalie began getting more and more comfortable in his new surroundings.

“He’s really come into his own,” Martin said. “He’s been more and more vocal during the season in the dressing room. He’s really molded in here well and just been a huge piece of this team.

“I can’t imagine the amount of work he’s had to put in, the amount of work he’s continuing to put in. I can’t imagine it’s an easy struggle from day to day. As a team, we’re here for him. The fan base is here for him.”

It has been from the start.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.