Islanders’ Weight irate after 7th straight loss: ‘It’s f—ing getting old’

Warning: Story contains coarse language

0-4-3.

That's the New York Islanders' record over their past seven outings and, quite frankly, head coach Doug Weight has seen enough.

"It's f---ing getting old," Weight told Arthur Staple of The Athletic following Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks, a game in which the Islanders held a 2-0 lead midway through the second period.

"Fifteen shots in the first and we just want to screw around, walking it down the pipe, backdoors, BS," Weight continued. "And we should've won the game. We should've had a 3-0 lead, but we just stopped shooting. Played fine. They didn't have much. Same story - they get a chance, goes in. Couple bonehead plays."

As the losses pile up, frustrations with the Islanders' inability to lock down a playoff position have escalated.

With 67 points in as many games played, New York now sits four points outside of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, while the team's recent slump has allowed both the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers to climb back into the playoff chase.

It's no secret that New York struggles to keep pucks out of its own net - the Islanders have allowed a league-leading 241 goals against - but the team's sudden inability to create its own offense has come at the worst possible time. Once neck and neck with the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning, New York has tallied just 16 times in its past seven outings.

Not only does a playoff berth hang in the balance, so too does the future of captain John Tavares, an unrestricted free agent this summer. That makes it all the more critical that the Islanders punch their ticket to the postseason, if they hope to sign the franchise pillar to a long-term extension.

The Islanders return to the ice Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, when they will aim for their first win since Feb. 16.

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Blackhawks sign Gustafsson to 2-year extension

Erik Gustafsson is staying in the Windy City, as the Chicago Blackhawks announced a two-year extension with the 25-year-old defenseman.

In 19 games this season, Gustafsson has tallied a goal and four assists while averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time.

Gustafsson made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in 2015-16, when he appeared in 41 games and notched 14 points. He spent last season with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.

The native of Sweden was a fourth-round draft choice by the Edmonton Oilers in 2012. He joined Chicago as a free agent in 2015.

This season, Gustafsson's cap hit is $650,000, according to CapFriendly. While financial terms of the extension were not disclosed, TSN's Mike Kelly believes the contract could pay as much as $1.25 million per season.

On Tuesday, the Blackhawks also announced a one-year extension with minor-league forward Tyler Sikura.

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Bruins’ McAvoy out at least 4 weeks with sprained MCL

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy sprained the MCL in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced Tuesday.

The injury occurred early in the first period of the Bruins' clash with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

It's a big blow to Boston, which is already without forward Patrice Bergeron, who's expected to miss at least one more week with a fractured right foot.

McAvoy paces all rookie defensemen with 32 points in 59 games and trails only Torey Krug in scoring among Bruins defenders.

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NHL announces 2018 Global Series

The NHL is headed to Europe.

Next season, the league will host three regular-season games in Europe, highlighting the native country of star players from each participating club.

Here are the key dates:

The Oilers and Devils will kick off their regular-season schedules in Sweden after opening training camp in Germany and Switzerland, respectively.

The two nations have ties to the clubs, as Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl hails from Germany, while Devils rookie Nico Hischier is a Switzerland native.

Oilers defensemen Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson hail from Sweden, as do Devils forwards Marcus Johansson and Jesper Bratt.

Meanwhile, Jets winger Patrik Laine and Panthers center Aleksander Barkov are both products of Finland.

The Oilers and Devils will also take part in exhibition contests against European opposition:

  • Oct. 1, New Jersey Devils vs. SC Bern in Bern, Switzerland
  • Oct. 3, Edmonton Oilers vs. Kolner Haie in Cologne, Germany

This season, the NHL held two games in Stockholm, Sweden between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators.

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Canucks’ Boeser helped off ice after crashing hard into open bench door

Rookie sensation Brock Boeser was helped off the ice after crashing into the boards while the bench door was open late in the third period of the Vancouver Canucks' game against the New York Islanders Monday.

Boeser reportedly left the dressing room on a stretcher, per

Boeser attempted to check Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck while skating backwards, but ending up getting thrown backwards while the Canucks' bench was open for a line change. He appeared to smash his lower back off the open gate.

Boeser immediately grabbed his lower back following the collision. When he was being helped off the ice, he couldn't put pressure on his left leg.

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Canucks’ Boeser helped off ice after crashing hard into open bench door

Rookie sensation Brock Boeser was helped off the ice after crashing into the boards while the bench door was open late in the third period of the Vancouver Canucks' game against the New York Islanders Monday.

Boeser reportedly left the dressing room on a stretcher, per

Boeser attempted to check Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck while skating backwards, but ending up getting thrown backwards while the Canucks' bench was open for a line change. He appeared to smash his lower back off the open gate.

Boeser immediately grabbed his lower back following the collision. When he was being helped off the ice, he couldn't put pressure on his left leg.

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Leafs’ Babcock wants goalie interference inconsistencies ‘fixed’ before playoffs

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock appears to be fed up with the lack of clarity on what's goalie interference, and what isn't.

During the Leafs' 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, the officials ruled there was no goaltender interference on Johan Larsson's goal seen below:

Babcock was not happy with the call, and hopes inconsistencies such as this incident won't decide playoff games this spring.

"No one knows what's going on so we better get it solved," Babcock told TSN's Kristen Shilton postgame. "Let's get it fixed before the playoffs so we all know the rules."

What seems to have irked Babcock the most is that the league explanation stated that no goaltender interference occurred on the play, but apparently the referee told him Frederik Andersen was indeed interfered with, but it occurred outside the crease.

"What I don't like is the report that came out from the league is different than what they told me," he told TSN's Mark Masters. "They told me he was interfered with outside the paint, which is not true. That tonight is goalie interference any way you look at it."

Babcock may have a legitimate gripe. It appears Larsson's skate sweeps through the crease and makes contact with Andersen while he's still on the outer edges of the blue paint.

As expected, Andersen wasn't pleased with the call, either.

"I think if anything (goalie interference) is more unclear," Andersen told Shilton. "Hopefully it's something that can be fixed in the next few weeks. The sooner the better."

Over a month ago, Commissioner Gary Bettman issued a memo to officials asking them to ease off when looking at video for goaltender interference, yet controversies remain.

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