Inside The Islanders’ Breakout: The Details That Could Define Their Playoff Push

Roy takes accountability as the Islanders address their breakout issues, hoping cleaner transitions can power a 2026 playoff run.

EAST MEADOW, NY — Speed kills. But when a team is unable to break out cleanly, it throws the timing off of the breakout.

If you ever watch a highlight of an odd-man rush goal off a clean transition, it’s kind of beautiful seeing how the play developed, how in sync everyone is. And then, the ripple effect of clean breakouts each or every other shift changes everything.

Of course, creating offensive chances is important, but constant pressure on the defense wears them down, which creates those chances. And with shifts that don’t have a full transition, the quick ability to break out and get puck deeps to establish a forecheck is a double whammy.

If the New York Islanders want to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they need to find consistency in their breakout.

Head coach Patrick Roy made that clear through his words and drills since the Islanders returned to the ice last Tuesday.

“We want to improve our breakout,” the Islanders’ bench boss said following their fourth real practice — the first one was a get-your-feet-wet skatearound. “We’re at the bottom of the league on breakouts. So if we want to move up in the standings, we’re going to have to find ways to be better in that area.”