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.

Heading into his 32nd game of the season against the Canucks on Wednesday night, Fasching was among just three NHL forwards with over 30 games played this season who hadn’t scored a goal.

“At some point, you have to just let go and find humor in it. It’s almost funny how many chances I’ve had without converting them,” said Fasching, who returned to the lineup for Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to Vancouver after missing Monday’s game against the Blue Jackets due to illness. “I need to stop taking it so seriously. I definitely was holding the stick too tight for a while. So, just relaxing and trying to stay calm around the net is my plan.”

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 goals he tallied in the 2022-23 season, after being called up midyear by the Islanders, marked a career high in the NHL and the only time he’s exceeded five goals in a season.

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.