Tim Kennedy hasn't taken a full lap around the NHL, but he already knows how it works. You want to score goals? Get your fanny to the net. You want to help your team and make a good living in the best travel hockey league in the world? Get your fanny to both ends of the rink.

Kennedy was hardly fretting about a seven-game scoring drought that ended Saturday when he

set up fellow rookie Tyler Ennis for his first NHL goal in the Buffalo Sabres' 3-2 victory

over the Philadelphia Flyers. Instead, the South Buffalo native looked at a bigger picture

that showed he was playing well for a Sabres team leading its division.

"I don't really stress about [scoring] as long as our line is playing well," Kennedy said.

"We're creating opportunities and playing well in our own zone. That's all I care about right

now. I've been playing hockey long enough to know that you go on streaks sometimes, and those

points will come in bunches."

For what it's worth, Kennedy has one goal and five points. This is the only point total

that mattered: 25.

That's how many the Sabres have earned through 17 games with a 12-4-1 record. Their strong

start continued with three straight victories in four nights, including back-to-back wins over

Calgary and Philadelphia. They were off Sunday.

Forget the individual stats. Kennedy has been solid for the Sabres while centering the

third line and playing against the opposing team's top two lines virtually every game, giving

Buffalo its first true checking line in years, while he adjusts to playing in the NHL.

"They're the one line you really feel good about putting on the ice," Sabres coach Lindy

Ruff said. "They're a puck-possession line. They've had good opportunities. They don't make

that real low-percentage play. Every play that line usually makes against the top lines is a

high-percentage play. Just get it to the net."

Kennedy has had veteran Jochen Hecht on his flank almost all season. Mike Grier was playing

the right side before injuring his groin. Angola native Patrick Kaleta was bumped up from the

fourth line, giving the Sabres two Buffalo-born forwards on the same line for the first time

in history.

"The B-lo line," Kaleta said with a smile.

If the Buffalo boys continue playing their style, they will remain in good standing with

Ruff. Kennedy made the roster because he played so well defensively that Ruff had to keep him.

Kaleta has a spot because he was willing to skate through a wall when he wasn't throwing

someone through one.

Kennedy, 23, is a terrific skater and puck-handler who also plays with plenty of bite. Ruff

knows his point totals would certainly be higher if he played on the power play, but that's

not where he needs Kennedy. Ruff would rather have the rookie available for the first shift

after the Sabres' PP, when the opposition typically sends out its top scoring line.

"I'm pleased with the way he's played," Ruff said. "I would love to see him cash in on a few

opportunities, and I think that will come. As a line, they scored some important goals for us

early on. No points [for seven games]? That part will come."

It explains why Ruff, for all the conversations he had with Kennedy about his play, hasn't

mentioned a word to the rookie about producing more points. After all, when did scoring goals

become more important than preventing them? Kennedy has a plus-1 rating, an accomplishment

given his role.

Kennedy's defense has created offensive opportunities, which is what Ruff has been

preaching for years. The Sabres spent much of the game against Philly playing — shhhh!

— the neutral zone trap, which enabled them to control the tempo. Kennedy had one good

scoring chance, but Ray Emery stopped it with his blocker.

He has had more scoring opportunities than he could count but failed to convert on all but

one for a variety of reasons. It includes unlucky bounces that get smothered in the crease

(Edmonton last week) to great saves (Boston the previous weekend) to simply failing to get his

shot off quickly enough against the best goalies in the world.

At some point, that will change.

"If I keep getting them and don't start scoring, that's on me," Kennedy said. "Right now,

they're not going in, but who knows? Last year [in Portland], it was the same thing. I wasn't

scoring for a little bit and ended up going on a good streak. That's how it comes right now

with the pros. You go through droughts for some games, and then you go on a hot streak.

Hopefully, a hot streak is coming around."