Semyon Varlamov of the Islanders looks on after giving up the fourth goal in the second period against the Capitals at Capital One Arena on Thursday in Washington. Credit: Getty Images/Rob Carr
Normally this would be no time to start pondering standings and potential playoff matchups and the like — not a mere 36 games into an NHL season.
But this is not a normal time, and the Islanders already have played nearly two-thirds of their regular season, so why not ponder such things?
That goes double when the next game on Thursday and five of the final 20 are against the Capitals, who are in first place in the East — two points ahead of the Islanders — and had won 14 of 16 before a loss to the Rangers Tuesday.