Hudson Fasching continues to impress with Islanders
Hudson Fasching #20 of the Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the Washington Capitals with his teammates at UBS Arena on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023 in Elmont, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Hudson Fasching continues to solidify his long-term future in the NHL.
He took a career-high six shots and scored the third goal as the Islanders lost to the Capitals, 4-3, in overtime on Monday night at UBS Arena.
It was the 27-year-old Fasching’s fourth career goal in 56 NHL games and third in 18 games with the Islanders this season. He had bounced between the NHL and the AHL in the Sabres’ and Coyotes’ organizations before starting this season with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
“Definitely I feel like I left a couple on the table there,” Fasching said. “I had a couple of good looks.”
The best came at 3:18 of the third period as Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper made a dazzling stop on Fasching’s backhander at the crease.
Not sentimental
Lane Lambert already had coached against the Capitals in 20 regular-season games plus a five-game playoff series since joining the Islanders. But Monday marked his first game against his former team as a head coach.
Not surprisingly, Lambert wasn’t particularly moved.
“Not really,” he said. “We’ve played so many times. That ship has sailed. It’s a former team.”
Isles files
D Adam Pelech (injured reserve/suspected head injury) took another step toward his eventual return by rotating with the other six defensemen during line rushes and special-teams work in the morning skate, the first time he’s done so since getting hurt on Dec. 6 . . . The Capitals played the majority of the game with 11 forwards as Nic Dowd exited with a lower-body injury at 4:40 of the first period after taking a hard check from Cal Clutterbuck . . . The Islanders marked Mental Health Awareness Night with, among other things, an in-game moment of calm and therapy dogs roaming the concourses . . . LW Ross Johnston remained a healthy scratch.
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.
