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Michael Augello·Nov 13, 2023·Partner

Okposo To Play 1,000th NHL Game Against Bruins

The 35-year-old winger is playing his 471st game for the Sabres after 529 games with the Islanders

Okposo To Play 1,000th NHL Game Against BruinsOkposo To Play 1,000th NHL Game Against Bruins

Buffalo Sabres team captain Kyle Okposo has withstood some challenges with injury over his 17-year career, but on Tuesday the 35-year-old winger will play in his 1000th NHL game against the Boston Bruins. Okposo will become the 46th active player to reach the 1000-game plateau, something that he had doubts he could reach.

Update After Monday's Practice

“I think honestly the first time that I really thought about it was when I hit 500 games, and I was like 'wow, that's a lot of games and you've got to play 500 more to hit 1000'."Okposo said after practice on Monday. "It's something that I will look back on very fondly. I don't do anything for praise or recognition, I just tried to do the right thing and this is something that's a byproduct of that."

The seventh overall pick in 2006 has 230 goals, and 365 assists over his 999 games, has scored 20+ goals four times in his 17-year career, and scored a career-high 27 goals in 2013-14 with the Islanders.

After signing a seven-year deal with Buffalo in 2016, Okposo suffered a severe concussion that limited him to 65 games in his first season, but he eventually overcame those issues and became a respected team leader and team captain.

The Sabres will honor Okposo in a pre-game ceremony on Tuesday.

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