Islanders' Mikhail Grabovski uncertain of return

Mikhail Grabovski can't believe he's up to 20 games missed because of his latest concussion.

"Maybe my head doesn't work too well. I don't remember how long it's been," Grabovski joked after skating with his teammates Saturday morning, only his second time on the ice with his fellow Islanders in the seven weeks since he was knocked unconscious by a legal check from the Predators' Eric Nystrom.

Grabovski still is in the evaluation stage and already has needed to pull back from skating because of lingering symptoms.

"It's important to be able to play your best," Grabovski said. "It's only a short period of time [until the playoffs], so I'll try to work myself back with practice. We have a good team and it will be exciting to come back."

Jack Capuano stuck with Eric Boulton over Tyler Kennedy and Michael Grabner in Saturday night's lineup, the second straight game and only the seventh this season for Boulton, who scored the opening goal in Columbus on Thursday. That was the veteran's first goal since Dec. 20, 2013.

"He's the last guy you've got to worry about," Capuano said of Boulton. "Emotion on the bench is real important this time of year, especially for some of our younger guys."

De Haan sits again

Defenseman Calvin de Haan was scratched for the fourth straight game as Capuano stuck with Brian Strait. "I'm only concerned about tonight," Capuano said. "All those guys -- Calvin, Dono [Matt Donovan], Colin McDonald, Grabs, Kennedy -- I'm impressed with their work ethic and you just stay focused, work hard. I'm not thinking beyond tonight."

Moulson misses out

Two Sabres who are former Islanders missed the game. Matt Moulson was ill and did not make the trip for one last game at the Coliseum. Goalie Chad Johnson, traded by the Isles at the deadline, is injured and also stayed behind.