The 2011–12 New York Islanders season was the 40th season in the franchise's history. The team failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Off-season
At the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Islanders selected playmaking center Ryan Strome from the Niagara IceDogs.
On July 1, 2011, the Islanders signed Marty Reasoner.
On August 1, 2011, a public referendum was held in Nassau County to authorize $400 million for a new coliseum as a home to the Islanders, a minor-league ballpark and other economic development projects. The plan was rejected by the voters, thus causing speculation that after the 2014–15 season, the Islanders may be moving.
Pre-season
On June 30, 2011, the Islanders announced that they will play five pre-season games including two games each against the Bruins and Devils, and the other one against the Flames. The Islanders' final game of the pre-season, which is against the Bruins, will take place at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Defenceman Mark Streit is named team captain, following Doug Weight's retirement.
Regular season
Playoffs
The Islanders attempted to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2006–07 season, but failed to do so for the fifth straight season.
Standings
Schedule and results
Pre-season
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 1 || September 23 || 7:00pm || Boston || 3-6 || Nillson || TD Garden || 16,555 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 2 || September 24 || 7:00pm || New Jersey || 6–2 || Poulin || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 7,107 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 3 || September 27 || 9:00pm || Calgary || 0-2 || Glencross || Scotiabank Saddledome || 19,289 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 4 || September 30 || 7:00pm || New Jersey || 0-1 || Clarkson || Prudential Center || 11,154 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 5 || October 1 || 7:00pm || Boston || 2-3 || Seidenberg || Webster Bank Arena(Bridgeport, CT) || 8,489 || |-
Regular season
|- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 1 || October 8 || 8:00pm || Florida || 0–2 || Montoya || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 16,234 || Recap |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 2 || October 10 || 1:00pm || Minnesota || 2–1 || Montoya || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 11,278 || Recap |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 3 || October 13 || 7:00pm || Tampa Bay || 5–1 || Montoya || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 9,759 || Recap |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 4 || October 15 || 7:00pm || NY Rangers || 4–2 || Nabokov || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 16,234 || Recap |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 5 || October 20 || 7:30pm || @ Tampa Bay || 1–4 || Montoya || St. Pete Times Forum || 18,181 || Recap |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 6 || October 22 || 7:30pm || @ Florida || 2–4 || Nabokov || BankAtlantic Center || 15,411 || Recap |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 7 || October 25 || 7:00pm || Pittsburgh || 0–3 || Nabokov || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 10,681 || Recap |-style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 8 || October 27 || 7:00pm || @ Pittsburgh || 2 – 3 (SO) || DiPietro || Consol Energy Center || 18,461 || Recap |-style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 9 || October 29 || 7:00pm || San Jose || 2 – 3 (OT) || DiPietro || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 11,742 || Recap |-