Joensuu scores in debut as Isles beat Avalanche

Great for Joensuu. Some have predicted that he will develop into a quality power forward. Let's hope this is a sign of the future.

Man the Avs are terrible. Sad to watch a world class team turn to this!

NYR94 wrote:

Man the Avs are terrible. Sad to watch a world class team turn to this!

They just lost to the team of the future.....

Maybe it was just compared to the pip squeak lineup the isles employ, but Joensuu looks HUGE out there. I hope he stays up here for the time being.

I really hope Snow considers team size a problem that he needs to address through the draft & FA. Not to say bring in big guys just cause they're big, but it's apparent to me that the team is undersized.

Rob wrote:

<quoted text> They just lost to the team of the future.....

Dam straight they did...

Although it is sad to see the Avs this bad.

There weren't even enough fans in that empty building last night to hold a minyan! The only ones booing Smyth "every time he touched the puck" were off-ice officials, hot dog vendors, and rats

Keep the wins down,boys. We need that first overall pick come June.

Whether you root for them or not, the Islanders play tough each night. I see the effort, I see them trying to roll with Gordon's system he's attempting to instill. It's a high risk-high reward style but I think with a tad more depth and a true scoring threat, this team will be a pain to play against in an already tough division. Even rooting for the Flyers, I hate to see the franchise I grew up 15 minutes from flounder (no pun intended) season after season.

E Teel wrote:

There weren't even enough fans in that empty building last night to hold a minyan! The only ones booing Smyth "every time he touched the puck" were off-ice officials, hot dog vendors, and rats

Because that's original....who cares how many people were there. And obviously it must not have snowed where you live...so you shouldn't of had any reason not to be there I guess.

49% chance at Tavares if we finish last...do not blow this SNOW!!! Play McDonald more...

The best part about last night was that during warm ups some kid had a sign up Sim 4 draft pick that infuriated Sim. He kept skating past the sign and making comments to the kid holding the sign and then goes out and tallies 3 pts. on the night. So to that kid, keep showing up with that stupid sign because it sparked life into Sim.

I am happy for Joensuu scoring his first NHL goal. The kid has been working hard in Bridgeport. Not sure if he is truly NHL ready yet. I think he needs to workout in the off-season and come into camp in great shape. With a little more seasoning, I think he might be NHL worthy.

Jake99 wrote:

49% chance at Tavares if we finish last...do not blow this SNOW!!! Play McDonald more...

Yeah because Denis gets confused with Roy all the time

Very happy for Joensuu, but even happier to see Tamby get a goal and assist. Over the past month Tamby has been skating hard, fore-checking well, and pacing the team in Hits. No his hits don't hurt, as he's small, but it shows that he's willing to get his nose dirty and play the system that Gordon has instilled. Last night he finally got himself in a position to score and received a nice pass from Streit in the slot and buried it.

Tamby has a wicked shot, but the key to using it is for someone else on his line to carry the puck into the offensive zone so he can receive a pass in position to shoot it. Too often we see Tamby carrying the puck into the zone, and let's face it, he's better at shooting than play-making.

Now go out there and beat the Rangers Thursday but lose more games down the stretch! And for God's sake, get this Guerin deal done already!

Mike in CT wrote:

Very happy for Joensuu, but even happier to see Tamby get a goal and assist. Over the past month Tamby has been skating hard, fore-checking well, and pacing the team in Hits. No his hits don't hurt, as he's small, but it shows that he's willing to get his nose dirty and play the system that Gordon has instilled. Last night he finally got himself in a position to score and received a nice pass from Streit in the slot and buried it.
Tamby has a wicked shot, but the key to using it is for someone else on his line to carry the puck into the offensive zone so he can receive a pass in position to shoot it. Too often we see Tamby carrying the puck into the zone, and let's face it, he's better at shooting than play-making.
Now go out there and beat the Rangers Thursday but lose more games down the stretch! And for God's sake, get this Guerin deal done already!

It does seem to be that Tambi needs to be in that slot area to score...

Are my eyes deceiving me or is it the mist from the meth labs...it looks like Gervais is playing much much better in his own zone since Campoli is gone? He looks tougher , smarter and stronger. Bailey seems to be getting lost out there. He had a few games where he was playing smart and strong but now...?

skating on sand wrote:

Are my eyes deceiving me or is it the mist from the meth labs...it looks like Gervais is playing much much better in his own zone since Campoli is gone? He looks tougher , smarter and stronger. Bailey seems to be getting lost out there. He had a few games where he was playing smart and strong but now...?

I've thought that about Gervais too... even in the Toronto game (which I was at). I still don't think he's ever going to be much more than a depth defenseman but if he can be decent and steady at it then that's okay.

I really like the progress of Hillen and Callahan. They still have plenty of room to improve but they are getting better all the time.

Observations from last night: Comeau doesn't impress me much, and I don't see any great potential. I would package him with one of our #2's to an aging team for a #1, maybe with the pick we got from Ottawa (still a bad trade) for a higher #1 or a 24- to 28-year-old scorer or defensesive stud.
I like McCammond's game, and think he would be good next year with the kids. Only question then, is Sim the real thing -- a good player with some offense -- or or just on a streak.

Steve wrote:

I really hope Snow considers team size a problem that he needs to address through the draft & FA.

Agreed, yes.

skating on sand wrote:

Bailey seems to be getting lost out there. He had a few games where he was playing smart and strong but now...?

Agreed, too.