Flu keeps Evgeni Nabokov off the ice

Nabokov has been off the ice and away from the team since coming down with the flu Thursday in St. Louis. Because he wasn't able to skate Monday, there was little point in taking him on the trip for Tuesday night's game against the Sabres.

He allowed three or more goals in only three of his last 11 starts before falling ill. With Nabokov out, the Islanders have allowed at least three goals in each of the last three games he's missed, going 1-2-0 during that stretch.

Jack Capuano stuck with the defense pairs that finished Saturday's game, with Mark Streit and Andrew MacDonald paired up. "Just a different look for some of our breakouts," he said.

Streit and MacDonald were on for the two quick Senators goals to open Monday's game.

Kyle Okposo didn't skate Sunday because of the flu that had been going around the locker room, but was well enough to play Monday. Tim Wallace was the healthy scratch among the forwards . . . Hall of Famer Denis Potvin was back in the Coliseum, doing color on the Senators' broadcast . . . Former Islander Zenon Konopka also made his return, but only for warm-ups. He was a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game for Ottawa.