Okposo bracing teammates for raucous return to Coliseum

UNIONDALE -Kyle Okposo's most vivid memory of Nassau Coliseum occurred on May 5, 2013, prior to Game 3 of the New York Islanders' quarterfinal series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the Islanders' first playoff game at home in six years and the first series of Okposo's career, and the atmosphere reflected it.
"We were in the locker room before the game and literally, the locker room was shaking," Okposo said. "I'll never forget that as long as I live."

It's not quite the playoffs, but the Sabres should be in for a similar atmosphere when they visit the Islanders tonight at The Coliseum, which has been renovated and rebranded as NYCB Live. The Islanders are looking to fend off the Penguins for the second seed in the Metropolitan Division and can clinch a playoff berth with a win.
Okposo spent the first eight seasons of his career playing on Long Island, but never envisioned himself coming back after a Game 7 loss to the Capitals in 2015. The Islanders moved to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn the following season.
Things changed prior to this season, when the Islanders announced they would split their home games between Brooklyn and Long Island. Okposo found himself leading the stretch at center ice this morning and even dressing in his old locker room, with the home and road rooms having switched during renovations.
The Sabres' alternate captain said he spoke with his younger teammates about the atmosphere they should expect tonight.
"I tried to kind of prepare them," he said. "Talking to a few guys that play here, they've said it's just been rocking every night at the Coli. Saturday night and I think they have a chance to clinch, it's going to be loud. We're going to have to be ready."
Sabres coach Phil Housley is also well-versed in the Coliseum's history, having begun his career during the final season of the Islanders' dynasty that won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983.
Housley reminisced about those early days this morning during the short walk from the team Marriot, which shares a parking lot with The Coliseum. It's the same walk he made as a player, mentally prepping to face Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier.
With six rookies set to dress for the Sabres tonight, Housley said the game should me a memorable experience and a welcomed test.
"Pittsburgh's breathing down the Islanders' neck, just got get home ice, so they've got a lot to play for and we've got a lot to prove as a group, especially with our young players here," he said. "It's going to be a great atmosphere. It's going to be a great test for our guys tonight."

Projected lineup

Jake McCabe and Evan Rodrigues both skated with the team this morning and are close to returning from their respective upper-body injuries, but neither player will dress tonight. Vladimir Sobotka was absent from the morning skate due to an upper-body injury and will not play.
Zemgus Girgensons will move to center in Sobotka's absence, marking a return to the position he played at the outset of his career.
"I think he's a natural," Housley said. "He's a very versatile player and he's really good on the draws, which is going to be important tonight against their team."
Scott Wilson will return to the lineup after sitting out the past seven games as a healthy scratch. Carter Hutton will get the nod in net, opposite former Sabres goalie Robin Lehner.
Here's how the Sabres are expected to line up, based on their morning skate:
41 Victor Olofsson - 9 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart
53 Jeff Skinner - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 29 Jason Pominville
43 Conor Sheary - 22 Johan Larsson - 92 Alex Nylander
20 Scott Wilson - 28 Zemgus Girgensons - 21 Kyle Okposo
24 Lawrence Pilut - 62 Brandon Montour
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 33 William Borgen
6 Marco Scandella - 8 Casey Nelson
40 Carter Hutton
35 Linus Ullmark