Kane always happy to go home

Going back to his hometown of Buffalo to play the Sabres never gets old for Patrick Kane.

Tonight's trip to HSBC Arena should be easier for Kane, who last December had to spend a lot of his time answering questions from the local media about his altercation with a taxi driver four months earlier.

“Last year was different; we had a lot more going on and this year it's not as much, Kane said. “I'll just probably go eat with a lot of different family and friends and then focus for the game.

“This year it's been pretty generous of the people in Buffalo. I got three (suite) boxes that people just gave me. I have a lot of tickets to hand out.

This will be Kane's third trip back home to play a game.

“It's always fun going back there to play, Kane said. “This is the third time, and both experiences have been pretty different. The first year they had a ceremony for me and last year they booed me. It's going to be interesting to see what happens this year.

“When you're booed you want the puck a little more and it gets you in the game. We'll see what happens. Either way is fine with me. I've heard from my buddies and different people there's a lot of buzz in the city about the game.

Memorable night: Anyone who was at the United Center on Saturday won't soon forget the spectacular ceremony to raise the Stanley Cup banner.

“It was flooring, Jack Skille said. “A guy like me looking up and watching that makes me even more hungry. I know the guys that were standing on the blue line who weren't out on the ice last year in the playoffs, when we watched that banner being raised there's no way they couldn't feel the same thing.

“The fans here are amazing. They make every single night easier to play.

Unfortunately, the Hawks couldn't deliver a victory on the special night.

“You always want to win, Duncan Keith said. “Just because it's banner night doesn't mean we're any more disappointed. The game was right there and if we had been better on the power play we might have been able to get it.

Tip-ins: Patrick Sharp, who missed Saturday's game with an upper-body injury, was expected to make the trip to Buffalo. His status could be determined following the morning skate. … The Hawks assigned Brandon Pirri back to Rockford on Sunday. … The Hawks were 1-1-1 after their first three games last season.

Follow Tim Sassone's Blackhawks blog, “Between the Circles", at dailyherald.com.