 After his season in Finland, Joensuu played one game with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate.In the 2008–09 season Jesse played primarily with the Sound Tigers finishing fifth on Bridgeport in scoring with 39 points.On March 2, 2009, Joensuu made his NHL debut, and scored his first NHL goal, as member of the Islanders in a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.