Phaneuf on facing Kessel: 'There are no friends out there'

No love lost.

Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, who starred together for part of six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, will be on opposite sides of the third-round series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators.

Kessel, of course, won a Stanley Cup in his first season with Pittsburgh last year, and is now halfway to his second entering Round 3 of the playoffs.

"He's a great player that had a very good run last year and he's having another real good playoffs this year," Phaneuf told reporters Thursday. "He's a skilled guy that can produce and doesn't need a lot of space to do it. You can see that he's playing very well again."

The two former teammates will put their friendship aside through the conference finals.

"It's going to be a challenge, but there are no friends out there, and I'm sure he'd say the same thing," the defenseman added. "We'll talk to him after the series."

Through 12 playoff games - his first postseason with the Senators - Phaneuf has tallied a goal and four assists, while Kessel has collected 13 points in 12 games.

The series begins Saturday in Pittsburgh.