NY Islanders must turn this crucial number around in 2025-26

The NY Islanders’ 2024-25 season was littered with various shortcomings. These shortcomings prevented the club from establishing consistency and potentially returning to the postseason.

Amid those shortcomings, one number stood out: Blown leads. In particular, blown third-period leads were an issue that plagued the Islanders early in the season.

In total, the Isles blew 18 leads throughout the season. The bulk came in the first half, setting the team early in the year. While the Islanders tightened up their game as the season wore on, those blown leads ultimately weighed heavily on the team’s chances of regaining a playoff spot.

Of the 18 total lost leads, 11 came in the third period. That’s something that will have to change this season under Patrick Roy. Of course, the Chicago Blackhawks led the league with 31 blown leads, with the San Jose Sharks second with 27.

In contrast, playoff contenders like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche registered two and three blown third-period leads, respectively. That’s something that sets the postseason clubs apart from the rest.

Additionally, the Winnipeg Jets blew seven total leads all season, with three coming in the third period. That was one of the major reasons why the Jets took home the Presidents’ Trophy last season.

The Islanders will need to turn that crucial number around this upcoming season if the club is to have a shot at returning to playoff contender status.

A fully healthy Islanders squad can play a tight game this season

A fully healthy Islanders squad can play a solid defensive game throughout the season. While it may seem easy to blame injuries for the Islanders’ lack of consistent defensive play, it’s a reality. The Isles often found themselves with patchwork defensive pairings and forwards not playing in their habitual roles.

Yes, solid playoff contenders must make adjustments based on circumstances. But the irrational number of injuries last season made it ridiculously difficult for the Isles to have any sort of consistent play across the board.

That situation was evident at the beginning of the season. The club showed significant challenges in adjusting to the number of injury issues around them. So, it’s reasonable to assume that a healthy Islanders club can maximize its overall defensive capabilities.

Much of it will come down to Patrick Roy being able to get the most out of the team. But there’s plenty of room to believe that a reasonable number of injuries, plus additional reinforcements, could result in a stronger defensive game this season. The outcome could be fewer blown leads and more points in the standings.