Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen will return to the lineup after serving a three-game suspension for a hit against Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel on March 21. "I got good rest, I worked out well, a good couple of practices, and I'm ready to go," Ristolainen said Saturday. "It felt like a month." Buffalo will again be without right wing Kyle Okposo because of an illness; he was a late scratch for a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. "The status of Kyle is he's sick and ill right now," coach Dan Bylsma said, "and hasn't really recovered from it at this point in time, so he's just under the weather." With Okposo out, forward C.J. Smith is expected to make his NHL debut. Smith was signed out of UMass Lowell on Thursday after completing his junior season, when he had 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists) in 41 games. "I like to play just a tenacious game, so if whatever happens, I'm just going to go out there, compete, and play hard," Smith said.