Kane vs. Kennedy on the ice

HSBC Arena - Pat Kane says he grew up 300-yards away from Tim Kennedy in South Buffalo, right around the corner.  Now Kane and Kennedy face each other in the NHL for the first time, in Buffalo--Kane, the Chicago Blackhawks superstar, against Kennedy, the home-grown Sabre.

Kane and Kennedy got together in the hallway outside the locker rooms at HSBC Arena Friday morning, in between the morning skate for each team. They used to play street hockey against each other and now they'll face each other at the game's highest level.
 

"It's the battle of South Buffalo," Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff says.  "Kane and Kennedy, head to head.  We'll probably get that matchup, see which one's tougher, which one's more skilled."

Kane says he grew up around the corner from Kennedy, he's younger than him by two years.  "We grew up together," he says, "for me it's fun to come back to my hometown. I have a lot of pride here and a lot of great memories.  It makes it even that much more special that I can play against a guy I grew up with."

The Sabres Tim Kennedy says he logged a lot of street hockey time lined up across from Kane.  "We used to skate together in summer time. We used to play street hockey after school, so we've known each other for a few years."

The Sabres add further intrigue to the game by putting Patrick Lalime in goal for the first time in nine games. And of course, Brian Campbell returns to HSBC Arena for the first time since leaving the Sabres in free agency two summers ago.