Fine for DeBrusk’s crosscheck on Islanders Mayfield too little too late

Late in yesterday’s game, New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield received a crosscheck to the back of the head from Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk. Mayfield was shaken up on the play. DeBrusk was not penalized for the play.

Today, the NHL Department of Player Safety fined DeBrusk $5,000 for the act. That’s the most they can fine him based on the CBA.

I know the Islanders still won the game in the end, but the fact that this play resulted in a fine means it should have been penalized. Had the refs called that penalty it could have allowed the Isles to lock this up in regulation instead of going to sudden death. Giving DeBrusk a fine now is too little too late.

DeBrusk fined for cross-checking New York Islanders Scott Mayfield

Could a penalty on the play have changed things for the Islanders? Think about it this way. Mayfield was crosschecked at 13:26 of the third period. Just about a minute later – at 14:39 – the Islanders would go on the penalty kill for too many men on the ice. Brad Marchand would score on that power play to level the game at 3-3.

Here’s the crosscheck in case you don’t quite remember it.

And look, I know that the two refs on the ice don’t always catch everything. But that argument doesn’t fly here. You can see the referee pop into the frame just before DeBrusk crosscheck Mayfield. The ref is in the right position to see it all unfold and doesn’t call anything.

If the Islanders are rightfully on the power play after that play, Marchand’s power-play goal doesn’t happen and the Islanders kill two full minutes off the clock, assuming they don’t score a third power-play goal (they probably wouldn’t have).

A $5,000 fine is nothing for DeBrusk, who pulls in a $2.5 million salary this year, that fine is 0.002% of his total earnings. That’s basically a $100 fine for you or me. That’s not much. I’ll hate paying it (cause I’m cheap), but it will do nothing to change my behavior.

I’m glad the DoPS fined him, and I know they are bound by the CBA in terms of what they can fine him, but this act is too little too late. The officials have to get this right on the ice.