When you've played for five NHL teams, sooner or later you're going to line up against some old friends.

Such was the case Friday for Ottawa Senators tough guy Zenon Konopka. Konopka played all 82 games for the New York Islanders in 201011, leading the NHL in penalty minutes. Friday was the first meeting of the season between the teams.

"There are a lot of different emotions there, positive and negative," said Konopka. "You use whatever motivation you can over 82 games."

It's almost exactly a year since Konopka was outspoken in his defence of his Islanders when Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux ripped their antics in a 9-3 New York win, which featured a benchclearing brawl. He also joked that he was ripping the poster of Lemieux off his wall.

"I can't believe (Mario) is so far removed from the game that he doesn't realize in the heat of the moment what happens," Konopka said last year.

Konopka, again the NHL penalty leader, says his role remains unchanged.

"I always put a lot of passion and intensity into it, wherever I can," he said. "The dressing room you're in is your family and you would do everything you can for them, put everything on the line for them."