Wildest dreams couldn't make this story line
in SportsIssue date: 2/5/09
Even Yann Danis' most optimistic daydreams likely didn't include his current run as the Islanders starting goalie.
The pinnacle of Danis' professional aspirations would have been simply to make the NHL roster, which seemed unlikely last summer when he was fourth on the club's depth chart. Joey MacDonald was the starter at AHL Bridgeport and Wade Dubielewicz was a team folk hero for leading the Islanders to the playoffs in 2007. Oh, and No. 1 goalie Rick DiPietro's contract still ran for over a decade.
Cracking that logjam would require a unique set of circumstances reminiscent of a famous Simpsons episode where a collection of major league All-Star ringers for the company softball team were all incapacitated by various means, opening a lineup spot for Homer.
But Danis has not caused Islanders fans to say 'D'oh!" In fact, the 27-year-old is making the most of his first NHL time since a brief stint with Montreal in 2005-06. In a two-week span, Danis has backstopped the league's last-place team to a season-high four straight wins and a five-game point streak that started before the All-Star break.
"He's been playing great," Bill Guerin, the Islanders captain, said. "You can see that his confidence is growing and he's really starting to make decisions."
Danis was tagged for just nine goals in those five games, posting a low goals against average that is inflated by a four-goal outing against Atlanta. Take away the 5-4 win against the Thrashers and the goalie is five goals in four games. Danis' best moment didn't even come when he was between the pipes, as his wife Kayla gave birth to the couple's first child, boy Jayden, on Jan. 26.
After spending three full seasons in the minor league AHL, the recent run of success might have been hard to envision. Danis said he was hoping to stick with the big club during his early season shuttle service between the team's Bridgeport affiliate and Nassau Coliseum.
Things started to break right for the 6-0, 181-pound goalie. DiPietro was sidelined for the season following complications from knee surgery. Dubielewicz started the season in Russia before coming back to the Islanders, only to be claimed on waivers by Columbus. MacDonald, who emerged as the fill-in goalie, suffered a groin injury last month, opening the door for Danis.
Even Yann Danis' most optimistic daydreams likely didn't include his current run as the Islanders starting goalie.
The pinnacle of Danis' professional aspirations would have been simply to make the NHL roster, which seemed unlikely last summer when he was fourth on the club's depth chart. Joey MacDonald was the starter at AHL Bridgeport and Wade Dubielewicz was a team folk hero for leading the Islanders to the playoffs in 2007. Oh, and No. 1 goalie Rick DiPietro's contract still ran for over a decade.
Cracking that logjam would require a unique set of circumstances reminiscent of a famous Simpsons episode where a collection of major league All-Star ringers for the company softball team were all incapacitated by various means, opening a lineup spot for Homer.
But Danis has not caused Islanders fans to say 'D'oh!" In fact, the 27-year-old is making the most of his first NHL time since a brief stint with Montreal in 2005-06. In a two-week span, Danis has backstopped the league's last-place team to a season-high four straight wins and a five-game point streak that started before the All-Star break.
"He's been playing great," Bill Guerin, the Islanders captain, said. "You can see that his confidence is growing and he's really starting to make decisions."
Danis was tagged for just nine goals in those five games, posting a low goals against average that is inflated by a four-goal outing against Atlanta. Take away the 5-4 win against the Thrashers and the goalie is five goals in four games. Danis' best moment didn't even come when he was between the pipes, as his wife Kayla gave birth to the couple's first child, boy Jayden, on Jan. 26.
After spending three full seasons in the minor league AHL, the recent run of success might have been hard to envision. Danis said he was hoping to stick with the big club during his early season shuttle service between the team's Bridgeport affiliate and Nassau Coliseum.
Things started to break right for the 6-0, 181-pound goalie. DiPietro was sidelined for the season following complications from knee surgery. Dubielewicz started the season in Russia before coming back to the Islanders, only to be claimed on waivers by Columbus. MacDonald, who emerged as the fill-in goalie, suffered a groin injury last month, opening the door for Danis.
Entering this year, Danis made just six appearances in the NHL, making five starts for Montreal three seasons ago, finishing 3-2 with a 2.69 GAA. He allowed 14 goals in three spot starts before January, being regulated to MacDonald's backup and then getting sent back down to Bridgeport temporarily before returning after DiPietro went on Injured Reserve.
Now, Danis has improved his ledger to 4-5-1, sporting an impressive .914 save percentage.
"I definitely feel a lot more comfortable," Danis said after registering 37 saves in a win against the Florida Panthers Saturday night at the Coliseum. "I feel bigger in the net, like they have nothing to shoot at. I'm going into games confident, feeling that we can win."
Islanders coach Scott Gordon was elusive in praise for Danis when his former emergency goalie became the go-to solution. Despite holding the likely playoff-bound Rangers and Bruins to just two goals apiece in back-to-back 2-1 losses, Gordon seemed to blame Danis more for soft rebound goals then an anemic offense that failed to offer any support. But Gordon said he was simply trying to cajole Danis into becoming more consistent. Now, both the goalie and the team are playing their best hockey of the season.
"He was making the big saves," Gordon said. "But I told him 'you don't want to beat yourself.' He hasn't been beating himself now."
Danis did not take the Port Jefferson ferry from Bridgeport to Long Island, though he still has encountered proverbial rocky seas since his time with Montreal. He spent the last three years playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He never saw action again for the Canadiens, though his current timing might work out perfectly.
Since Danis can be a free agent after this season, his current run can be seen as an audition for the Islanders backup role and insurance for the chronically injured DiPietro. Or another NHL team could see Danis is capable of handling an NHL workload. While his success might help him secure a job next season, the Lafontaine, Quebec native said he is only focusing on making the most of his current opportunity.
"I'm finally getting the chance to play at this level that I haven't had ever," he said. "I obviously want to take advantage of it, but I'm not focusing on next year. I'm trying to improve our record and finish on a high note."
Now, Danis has improved his ledger to 4-5-1, sporting an impressive .914 save percentage.
"I definitely feel a lot more comfortable," Danis said after registering 37 saves in a win against the Florida Panthers Saturday night at the Coliseum. "I feel bigger in the net, like they have nothing to shoot at. I'm going into games confident, feeling that we can win."
Islanders coach Scott Gordon was elusive in praise for Danis when his former emergency goalie became the go-to solution. Despite holding the likely playoff-bound Rangers and Bruins to just two goals apiece in back-to-back 2-1 losses, Gordon seemed to blame Danis more for soft rebound goals then an anemic offense that failed to offer any support. But Gordon said he was simply trying to cajole Danis into becoming more consistent. Now, both the goalie and the team are playing their best hockey of the season.
"He was making the big saves," Gordon said. "But I told him 'you don't want to beat yourself.' He hasn't been beating himself now."
Danis did not take the Port Jefferson ferry from Bridgeport to Long Island, though he still has encountered proverbial rocky seas since his time with Montreal. He spent the last three years playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He never saw action again for the Canadiens, though his current timing might work out perfectly.
Since Danis can be a free agent after this season, his current run can be seen as an audition for the Islanders backup role and insurance for the chronically injured DiPietro. Or another NHL team could see Danis is capable of handling an NHL workload. While his success might help him secure a job next season, the Lafontaine, Quebec native said he is only focusing on making the most of his current opportunity.
"I'm finally getting the chance to play at this level that I haven't had ever," he said. "I obviously want to take advantage of it, but I'm not focusing on next year. I'm trying to improve our record and finish on a high note."
