Islanders' Strong Off-Ice Statements On George Injury, A Contrast To On-Ice Reaction

Where was the response from the Islanders after George got lit up?

ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders defenseman Isaiah George entered concussion protocol after taking a high hit from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi at 10:32 of the second period.

As Domi was laying a reverse hit on George, his elbow connected with George's jaw, forcing the 20-year-old rookie, mid-play in the defensive zone, to skate off. 

Unfortunately, as George was making his way to the bench, the Maple Leafs scored the opening goal of the game, adding insult to injury:

There was no penalty called on the play. 

“It didn't seem legal to me," Islanders forward Hudson Fasching said postgame. "Obviously, it looks like he got an elbow to the chin. That was our take on it. We weren't very happy about it. We thought it should have been a penalty.”

Patrick Roy added, "Well, I guess we have a different opinion of the situation, and that hit, which, to me, it was clearly a headshot."

Islanders captain Anders Lee was honest that they only saw a quick review on the bench and had to go back to watch the replay. 

“We would have loved a call," Lee said. "We thought he got him in the head. Had to check the replay. We don't really get to see that right off the hop. But they thought he didn't, so that was that was a discrepancy there.”

Mayfield is hoping that the Department of Player Safety will take a look. 

"I haven't seen the replay, but the guy spins around like that, and the bench thinks he hits [George] up high, so I believe what the bench says," Mayfield said. "We'll see if [the league] take a look at it."

The off-ice responses were great. But where was the on-ice response?

Sure, Fasching hit Domi, and Mayfield had to be held back by the refs a few shifts later. 

The Islanders had opportunities to teach Domi a lesson, but he never once had to answer the call.

There was one point during the game where Domi broke into the Islanders' zone and ripped a shot from the high slot.

It was a prime chance for an Islander to level him, but he went untouched.  

The Islanders needed to respond not just for George but for themselves to prove to the Maple Leafs and the rest of the league that they would stand up for each other and make people pay.

Take the instigating penalty. 

"The lack of response was tough to watch," a fan told me postgame. 

Unfortunately, their lack of an on-ice response after hits that lead to injuries has been a common theme.

You look back to no one standing up for Adam Pelech a few years ago when Robert Bortuzzo came behind the net or when Pelech took a flying elbow from Brendan Gallagher against the Montreal Canadiens last season. 

Another example is earlier this season when Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk cross-checked Semyon Varlamov before a goal. Roy cited this incident the next day, wishing his team had responded. 

The first time they played the Leafs this season, Max Pacioretty drilled Kyle Palmieri from behind. Outside of some pushing and shoving late in that game, Pacioretty got away scot-free. 

On Thursday night, there was a brawl in the Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres game after Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood got hurt:

How often do we see legal hits lead to nightly fights in the NHL?

Where's Ross Johnston when you need him? Matt Martin wasn't in the lineup. 

What does failing to stand up for a rookie show about this current group?

It tells other teams they can bully the Islanders without repercussions. 

George deserved better than that, and Domi deserved more than a basic hit in a corner.  

And when you don't make a guy pay, you get quotes like this postgame:

Who knows how much time George will have to miss?

No, a response doesn't change the injury, but it sure would have meant something. It would have shown something. 

The Islanders don't play the Maple Leafs again this season.