Islanders' Scott Mayfield, teammates don't hesitate to stand up for each other

Ross Johnston wears a Ducks jersey now, his third season doing so, while Matt Martin, in his first season as an ex-player, comes to games in a suit as a special assistant to Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche, and their staggered departures have left the Islanders without a designated “tough guy.” Defenseman Scott Mayfield likely comes closest to currently filling that role.

But there’s no void, no concerns another team will take liberties against the Islanders, particularly No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer. The Islanders have shown a selfless, by-committee approach to watching out for each other.

And that’s a trait almost all good teams have.

“I play hard hockey,” Mayfield said before the Islanders faced the Ducks on Thursday night at UBS Arena in the middle match of a three-game homestand when it was suggested he was the team’s current “tough guy.” “I know how I need to play. It’s still part of the game. It’s not as big a part of the game as earlier in my career. We have a group that we have each other’s back. We’ve shown it time and time again.”

Mayfield led the Islanders with 51 penalty minutes, including one of their three fighting majors this season (Anders Lee and defenseman Tony DeAngelo had the others), entering Thursday’s match. And he was tasked with helping to protect Schaefer as the 18-year-old’s defense partner through the first 14 games.

“Early on, when he was out on the ice with Schaef, it brought some opportunities,” Lee told Newsday. “But Scotty, he’s never backed down from a fight or never shied away from that side of the game and that’s what’s made Scotty such a great teammate and someone that will protect other guys on the ice. It’s a special attribute that he has to be able to do that.”

To be fair, Lee’s sentiment could have been inserted into any teammate’s quote about Johnston or Martin during their time with the Islanders.

But Schaefer was elevated to play on the top pair with Ryan Pulock and, in Tuesday night’s 5-4 four-round shootout win over Vegas, it was third-liner Anthony Duclair who stepped up after defenseman Brayden McNabb’s late, heavy first-period hit on Schaefer. Duclair and McNabb both received roughing minors.

“It’s a team thing,” Duclair said. “You don’t necessarily need a tough guy. You just kind of have each other’s backs. I don’t think we’re relying on one guy. Whoever is on the ice can step up and send a message.

“It’s just instinctual,” Duclair added of responding to McNabb. “I didn’t really see the play, to be honest. I just say Schaef [down on the ice] in the corner and the crowd reacting. I didn’t know what happened. I saw that I just needed to step up and I did. But that’s me, I was on the ice at the time. I think anybody would have done the same thing if they were out there.”

Of course, all of that is exactly what Patrick Roy wants from his team.

But the coach said the support he sees his players give their teammates is not just about on-ice physical protection. He sees a deeper connection in their play that has fueled their 17-11-3 start.

“That’s important but it’s more than just those situations,” Roy said. “What I love about our group right now is we’re never going to play a perfect game. There’s going to be mistakes. But where we are perfect is to recover those mistakes. How fast we have everybody’s back. And that’s also a good example of having your teammate’s back.

“What Anthony did, we certainly love that and it’s contagious for everyone. But we do that also five-on-five or even on a power play or on the penalty kill. When there’s a mistake, we find a way to recover.”

As good teams do.

Notes & quotes: Jonathan Drouin missed his fifth game but participated in the morning skate and Roy said there was a “good chance” the top-six wing would be available against the Lightning on Saturday. “He looks really good,” Roy said after Drouin skated with teammates for the first time since hurting his back on Dec. 4 . . . Forward Max Tsyplakov and defenseman Adam Boqvist remained healthy scratches.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.