The New York Islanders are playing playoff hockey due to a plethora of reasons. There's been a few unsung heroes throughout the season, starting with Hudson Fasching.
The New York Islanders will be playing postseason hockey for a plethora of reasons.
Netminder Ilya Sorokin is easily the Islanders MVP, as he's become not just one of the best goaltenders statistically in the NHL but has shown to be one of, if not the most talented.
For a second straight season, Brock Nelson potted over 35 goals, elevating his game when Mathew Barzal went down.
Despite not scoring too often in an Islanders sweater, Bo Horvat saved the Islanders' season, wearing Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Barzal hats in their absence.
Adam Pelech's return to the lineup following a long-term injury allowed the Islanders to regain their structure and return to the Barry Trotz-esque style, a style this team has had success with in years past.
READ MORE: The Many Reasons Why The Islanders Made The Playoffs
But there's no question the Islanders are playing playoff hockey because of a few unsung heroes, starting with Hudson Fasching,
Hudson Fasching
There's always feel-good stories, but Hudson Fasching's story takes the cake and may be one of the better ones around the NHL this season.
At 27, with just one career NHL goal under his belt in 22 NHL games across five NHL seasons, Fasching reached the 10-goal mark and is gearing up for his first taste of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey.
"I wouldn't believe you, probably," Fasching said when asked if he would have thought he'd been in this position heading into this season. "Obviously, you got to believe in yourself. But to some extent, it's hard to believe, and I'm just really happy to be here. And you're grateful for it."
As a member of the PHWA, Stefen Rosner had the privilege of voting for the New York Islanders' Masterton Trophy representative. While the 38-year-old Zach Parise earned his first-place vote, he chose Fasching with his second.
That 10th goal was critical for New York, coming in their playoff-clinching game Wednesday night, allowing the Islanders to enter the second period with a 2-1 lead.
"I had one goal in the NHL coming into this year, and to have 10 in one season is pretty crazy. So, yeah, I'm proud of the work I put in this year and excited to keep that going for playoffs.
This was a player who had never been given a fair chance at the NHL level.
Ten years after being drafted, 280 AHL games later, Islanders head coach Lane Lambert gave the kid a shot, and not only did he become a vital player for the Islanders, but he made it impossible for Lambert to take him out of the lineup.
Regardless of who Fasching played with, he worked hard down low, was responsible defensively, created chances for his linemates, and worked his tail off.
The Islanders went 7-2-1 when Fasching lit the lamp, and when he recorded a point, they went 14-2-2.
"I think as he started to play, three or four games in, you get a real feel for a player, and we continue to see him doing things that we liked," Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. "And again, when I talked about contributions from everyone to be in this position right now, he is certainly one of those guys, but it was fairly early on."
Pierre Engvall
After Islanders' speedster Mathew Barzal went down with a long-term injury on Feb. 18, general manager Lou Lamoriello knew he needed to bring in speed.
Ten days later, he acquired Toronto Maple Leafs' speedster Pierre Engvall for a 2024 third-round pick, and it was a move that one could say saved the Islanders' season.
In 18 games, Engvall notched five goals and four assists, a stat line that certainly does not jump off the screen.
However, the Islanders went 11-6-1 since Engvall arrived.
But Engvall's individual production is not why he was an unsung hero for this Islanders team. It was what he brought to the duo of Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri over their 14 games as a threesome.
After a breakout game against the Anaheim Ducks, with Engvall and Palmieri potting goals while Nelson scored twice, that line became Lambert's top line.
From then to game 82, this line outscored their opponents 15-4, per Moneypuck.com.
Before Engvall joined that line, Nelson had scored just two goals over his previous nine games. Palmieri had just one goal over his last 10.
Including the Ducks game, Nelson scored eight goals with four assists over the final 14 games. Palmieri recorded six goals and six assists.
To put that production into perspective, that line scored 33 percent of their goals over the final 14 contests.
"The acquisition of Pierre (Engvall) and getting him with those two guys really paid dividends. So they've been driving us. Brock's been driving us. To this point, he's had a terrific season," Lambert said. "He scored big goals when we needed him to do that.
He's really led the way, and those guys have done a great job."
Matt Martin
Fourth-line grinder Matt Martin will never get the credit that he deserves, given his lack of offensive production.
The now 33-year-old seemed to be on the downswing during the 2021-22 season, as he wasn't as effective as he once was.
But, completely healthy, Martin raised his game this season.
He set a new career-high in points, with 19, with his 295 hits the most for him since the 2016-17 season, when he laid the body 300 times with Toronto.
Martin's 43 blocks were also the most for him since his 47 in 2010-11, his rookie campaign.
He missed just one game this season due to the birth of his second child.
When Cal Clutterbuck went down, amongst others, there were many nights when Martin was without his two usual linemates. Lambert tasked him with young or inexperienced players like Hudson Fasching, Simon Holmstrom, Aatu Räty, and many others throughout the year.
Martin continued to play his game, and when Clutterbuck returned to the lineup, for good, on Mar. 11, the identity line was reunited.
And slowly but surely, the identity line played its role, getting in on the forecheck, which is the only way the Islanders can compete with the fast, elite teams.
The fourth line's style earned them a start in Wednesday's playoff clincher.
"We felt like we needed a good start. Obviously, we didn't have one 48 hours ago, and we had that line generate a little bit of forecheck for us."
Over the last 15 games, since the threesome had been completely reunited with Clutterbuck's return, they have shut down the opposition, allowing just one goal against in 108:54.