How Fasching's Chemistry With Nelson Changes Islanders Lineup Outlook

EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert is still working on finding the right lineup combinations with 14 days to go before their season opener. 

It seems that the Islanders' identity line will remain, at least for one more season, barring an injury. 

Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau seem to be the Islanders' newest duo, with Julien Gauthier making the most of his chances alongside them.

Back healthy, Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat are rekindling their chemistry from a season ago. Simon Holmstrom has been getting looks alongside them lately, but he's not a lock there just yet.

Pierre Engvall and Brock Nelson are back together, but the final piece of that line's success from a season ago, Kyle Palmieri, has failed to join his teammates since training camp opened up due to an undisclosed injury (day-to-day). 

"He's skating every day, and he's progressing," Lambert said Saturday morning, "His conditioning is great [...] He's been skating, and so we don't expect that transition period [back into lineup] to be very difficult at all."

If Palmieri isn't ready to go for opening night on Oct. 14, there's another question mark in the lineup outside of Horvat's left wing. 

There are two choices for that spot: Oliver Wahlstrom and Hudson Fasching. 

Lambert elected to give Fasching the first few chances with Nelson and Engvall at the end of the week.

"Fasching's a good player. I mean, he's a simple but effective player. I think he just goes out there and works extremely hard," Nelson told The Hockey News Friday. "I skate with him in the summer. See him firsthand, and obviously, he was a big part of our team down the stretch last year and scored a lot of crucial, timely goals for us. 

"He contributed quite a bit offensively, so I'm looking for more and another step for that, and in terms of him producing here and taking advantage of opportunities, so skating with him has been fun."

The Islanders rewarded Fasching with the first multi-year contract of his career, a two-year deal worth $1.55 million. 

READ MORE: Islanders Hudson Fasching Eager to Continue Proving He Belongs

Lambert shared Saturday morning that he's liked what he's seen from the second-year Islander. 

"I've just seen him, right from the start of training camp, just do the right things," Lambert said Saturday morning. "Just quietly going about his business. He's in the right spots. He's making plays. He's protecting the puck.

"I think he's had a good training camp."

THN followed up by asking Lambert if he wanted to see Fasching play more of an offensive game in the top six, compared to the defensive prowess he showed off in the bottom six last season. 

"I just want him to play his game," Lambert said.

When the puck dropped for the Islanders preseason affair against the New York Rangers Saturday night, Fasching brought his "A" game. 

In 18:15 TOI, Fasching recorded a beautiful assist, with one shot on goal and two hits in the 5-3 win over the Rangers.

His chemistry with Nelson was on display the entire night, as strong forechecking and tape-to-tape passing provided Nelson with scoring opportunities left and right.

With 10:23 to play in the first, Fasching provided pressure on the forecheck but kept his eye on the puck as it went up the half wall. 

After the Rangers misplayed a zone-exit pass, Fasching garned possession inside the right face-off circle. With Nelson right behind him, the 28-year-old dropped the puck between his legs, allowing Nelson to scoop up the puck and take it to the house before a strong finish five-hole on Jonathan Quick.

"Turnover puck there. Felt him behind me," Fasching told THN following the win. "I mean, incredible play by him after that."

Fasching and Nelson didn't play much together last season. But they are quickly finding chemistry like we saw with Lee and Pageau.

"Watching his game last year and playing with him a little bit and getting a little bit of that chemistry going on," Fasching said. "I think we're trying to start to find each other out there and trying to find those seams and who's getting open. We're kind of getting on the same page a bit more."

A line needs three players to be effective, and although Engvall didn't find the scoresheet on that highlight-reel goal or throughout the night, Fasching gave him his deserved credit.

"He's always there. I mean, he's always got the speed going. Sometimes I'm just trying to find a way to catch up to him out there," Fasching said. "He's wheeling out there. He's a big body, strong on the puck, so it's fun to play with him out there."

Lambert believes something is brewing between Nelson and Fasching and was happy with their performance. 

"I thought they looked good," Lambert said. "I thought Fasching looked good in that spot. He protects the puck. He opens up space and room at times for Brock (Nelson), and I thought Pierre (Engvall) skated well tonight, too.

"I thought there was some chemistry there, and you know, something might be developing."

Fasching likely gets another look with Nelson and Engvall, and if he can mimic Saturday's performance, Fasching will give Lambert no choice but to keep him in the lineup on the second line.

Fasching forcing his way into the lineup...sounds familiar. 

The expectation is that if Palmieri is ready to go, whenever that may be, he will skate with Nelson and Engvall.

But could we see Palmieri move up the lineup if Fasching's chemistry with Nelson is that strong?

Holmstrom had some good moments and some not-so-good moments Saturday night on the top line, missing a few prime scoring chances. With the Islanders over the cap ceiling by $482,600, Holmstrom can be sent down for them to become cap-compliant.

Holmstrom also is waiver-exempt, meaning he would report right to Bridgeport with no risk of losing him to another NHL team.

Palmieri showed last season, after a battle with back-to-back head injuries, that he could be a consistent goal-scorer for the Islanders. He's very strong down low and has the best long-distance release on the team.

Not only would he bring a finishing ability to the Islanders' top line, but his defensive play would also be a bonus.

It's doubtful that Fasching would play on the top line if Palmieri is healthy. It's quite possible that Julien Gauthier, given his raw speed, would get the chance over him, meaning Fasching could skate on Pageau's wing as he often did last season. 

As for what that means for Wahlstrom, who was not part of the NHL-caliber preseason roster on Saturday, there's no clear answer just yet. 

Lambert said Wahlstrom not being part of that group had nothing to do with his season-ending ACL injury back in December. 

The second-year bench boss will have difficult decisions to make once preseason ends if Gauthier and Fasching continue to play the way they have thus far. 

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