Islanders’ Hudson Fasching still seeking elusive first goal of season

Hudson Fasching can only laugh about it.

After all, his lack of goal scoring this season is not exactly for lack of chances.

Individually, Natural Stat Trick has credited him with six high-danger scoring chances in his past two games alone.

Since being put on a line with Casey Cizikas and Pierre Engvall, the trio has been one of the Islanders’ most productive.

And still, going into his 32nd game of the season on Wednesday night against the Canucks, Fasching was one of just three forwards in the NHL with over 30 games played this season and zero goals.

“At some point, too, you have to just let go of it and laugh at yourself a little bit. It’s comical, almost, how many chances I’ve had and been unable to get them to go,” said Fasching, who was back in for Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to Vancouver after missing Monday’s loss to the Blue Jackets with illness. “I just gotta try to not take it as seriously as I have been. Definitely was gripping the stick too tight there for a while. So I think just relaxing and trying to be as calm around the net as I can is my solution.”

As a bottom six player who has been in and out of the lineup all year, no one is expecting Fasching to put up a haul of points.

The 19 he scored in 2022-23, when he joined the Islanders as a call-up midyear, were a career high in the NHL, and the only time he’s scored more than five goals.

Fasching, who played 18 shifts in 11:15 and did not score in the Islanders’ loss, himself knows that better than anyone. He also knows that zero is a lot different than even three or four, from a mental standpoint if nothing else.

“I mean, it sucks. Let’s call a spade a spade here,” Fasching said before playing 18 shifts in 11:15 without a point in the Islanders’ loss. “It’s not fun. To go this far into the year and not have a goal as a forward is definitely challenging.

“But at the end of the day, I feel like I’ve played well throughout the rest of my game. I have to find solace with that a little bit. Have to relax and honestly, not think about it as much is probably the best solution, which is easier said than done at times. Just relax when I get a scoring chance and not be trying to grip my stick too tight and just enjoy every opportunity.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau missed some of the third period after taking a puck to the face, but returned to finish the game.

Coach Patrick Roy said that as far as he knew, there was no communication between the NHL and the Islanders regarding the goalie interference call at the end of regulation on Monday night.

Adam Boqvist returned to being a healthy scratch after Fasching was back in the lineup after recovering from the illness that kept him out on Monday.