This stat shows the 1 area most holding the Islanders back

The New York Islanders are becoming one of the more high-octane teams in the NHL when it comes to scoring. With a team that's getting younger and one that is taking on a new identity from the Lou Lamoriello days, the Isles will only keep finding the net more.

At 5-on-5, they're hot, with an impeccable 9.2 shooting percentage, well over the league average of 8.5. They scored 53 goals so far this season, and rank 14th in the league in scoring. All signs point to this version of the Islanders becoming one of the most exciting teams in hockey. That comes with one major caveat: They can't score consistently on the power play. 

The Isles are converting just 17.7 percent of the time while on the man advantage. That's the 12th-worst showing in the NHL, and since blowing out the Detroit Red Wings 7-2 on Oct. 23, they are just 4 for 26 while at 5-on-4. That's a 15.3 percent conversion rate, and it could be a dagger if the futility on the power play continues.

The New York Islanders have shown flashes on the man advantage

Despite the doom and gloom, it hasn't been all bad when the Islanders go on the power play. Across their Nov. 8 and Nov. 10 outings against the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, they converted 2 out of 3 opportunities.

If that's too small a sample size for you, the Isles also started off the season with a respectable five power play goals in 22 chances, good for a solid 22.7 percent. The problem isn't that the power play is necessarily bad; it's too inconsistent. Still, that's a problem if the Islanders want to be serious contenders in 2025-26. 

How important is the power play? Going back to the 2024-25 season, 11 of the 16 teams that made the playoffs had a power play that landed in the top half of the league. Further, 13 of the 16 playoff teams were outside of the teams with the 12 worst power play conversion percentages. And remember, the Islanders are in the bottom 12 so far in 2025-26.

Only the Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, and Los Angeles Kings hung around the bottom 12 and still made the playoffs. Here's where things get even more interesting: Only the Kings (17.87) had a power play percentage that almost mirrors the Islanders' current numbers, but they also boasted some of the best defense in the game last season.

That all but drives home that if you want to make a serious playoff run, especially if you're a team in transition like the Islanders, the power play has got to be good.

The Islanders' power play is improving, and that's good news

Last season, the Isles finished with the second-worst power play in hockey with an ugly 12.56 percentage. Only the Anaheim Ducks were worse. Even if the Islanders remain inconsistent on the man advantage, there is a definite improvement here when you compare their current numbers to 2024-25.

It also implies that, with more consistent scoring, the Isles will continue to improve on the power play until it's doing more to help them win games.

They're not where they need to be yet, but nobody expected them to be. Still, they have become a fun team to watch, and that trajectory will keep improving.