NHL: Buffalo 5, Florida 2

SUNRISE, Fla., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Mike Grier and Jason Pominville scored in the first 2 minutes Wednesday and Buffalo produced all its goals in the opening period while downing Florida 5-2.

The Sabres jumped past Ottawa into first place early in the Northeast Division race by winning for the fifth time in seven games.

Grier scored 71 seconds after the opening faceoff and Pominville tallied on the power play 45 seconds later. Florida goaltender Scott Clemmensen was removed from the game after giving up those two goals and making just one save.

Buffalo went on to build a 5-0 lead against replacement goalie Tomas Vokoun before the first period was 11 minutes old.

Ryan Miller made 41 saves for the win.

Buffalo's fifth goal came from Thomas Vanek, the team's leading scorer last year who had missed two contests with an upper body injury. Vanek scored 40 goals in 2008-09 and has four this season.