Normally I would write something about the trade deadline, which was yesterday, and happens to be my second-favourite holiday, after Canada Day (aka Free Agent Frenzy). But GMGM chose to do absolutely nothing and even I find it difficult to write about that. Our biggest recent move was putting Nick Backstrom on long-term injured reserve which I also find difficult to write about, but for different reasons. This would’ve freed up salary cap room for GMGM to get a stopgap center, except he, uh, didn’t do that. Instead we’re making do with Keith Aucoin. AGAIN.

So the team we see tonight against the Islanders will be entirely the same. That is, on the Capitals side. The Isles have done some crazy things, none of which I can remember off the top of my head. To me, the most notable thing that’s happened on the Island this year is the NHL online shop accidentally marking down the horrible Islanders third jerseys to about $15 on Christmas Day. I spent twenty minutes on an iPad trying to buy one. Instead I gave up and bought a Whalers jersey from a Chinese sweatshop. So I guess I have the Islanders to thank for that, albeit indirectly.

Anyway, the Islanders are playing exactly like we expect the Islanders to play, which is nice. Unfortunately, we are also playing exactly like we expect the Islanders to play, which is awful. I predict a lazy game in which no one gives any effort whatsoever, the Capitals barely manage to get the puck out of their own zone, and we lose a one-goal game due to Nabokov playing somewhat competently.

We’re still just one point out of playoff contention with THREE games in hand against the Jets, so things aren’t entirely bleak. I have given up any hope of doing anything but squeaking precariously in at the last minute. I’d like to reiterate: it may have been boring to watch the Caps coast merrily for the last two months of the season in 2010, having secured a playoff spot by mid-January, but it beats the hell out of this apathetic nailbiter. Is that an oxymoron?