Islanders’ Patrick Roy Needs to Send Message to Scott Mayfield

The New York Islanders can’t get out of their way, and head coach Patrick Roy has to take control of the situation. This time, Scott Mayfield cost his team big time with three minor penalties in the Stadium Series game against the New York Rangers.

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None were bigger than his trip on Alexis Lafrenière late in the third period that set up a late-tying goal by Mika Zibanejad on the power play. The 6-5 overtime loss by the Islanders is unacceptable, and it’s time to start holding players accountable individually for actions that are killing the team.

A Look at Mayfield’s Penalties

Some might say Mayfield deserves the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the referees were too whistle-happy and were making unnecessary calls. Well, let’s take a look at all three penalties.

The first one Mayfield takes occurs at 5:20 of the first period when he’s called for boarding Barclay Goodrow. That penalty is assessed to an offender who pushes, checks, or trips an unsuspecting into the boards. During the play that got called a penalty, Goodrow is making a play toward the puck and has his back turned toward Mayfield.

While the action by Mayfield isn’t malicious, he sees Goodrow’s numbers and delivers a check into the boards when he’s not expecting to be hit. It’s probably the right call, and Mayfield could have avoided it by pinning Goodrow up against the boards. But you can certainly understand why Mayfield went for the hit. He’s playing the puck and finishes his check. It’s not the worst penalty you can take, and it’s only the first period in a tied hockey game.

One penalty isn’t a big deal, but what about the other two? The second one by Mayfield occurs at 10:36 in the third period, when he trips Adam Edstrom’s skate from behind with his stick. There really is no debate here – that’s a black-and-white penalty. Luckily, the Islanders come up with a huge kill, and Mayfield is bailed out after goaltender Ilya Sorokin comes up with five saves. The Islanders are still in full control, up 5-3.

But then Mayfield takes another penalty at a critical part of the game. With about two and a half minutes left, Lafrenière makes a move to the outside to chase the puck in the corner, and Mayfield clearly trips him. It’s the same thing as his second penalty….