NHL: Buffalo 5, Tampa Bay 3

BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Ryan Miller stopped 36-of-39 shots Wednesday, helping the Buffalo Sabres to their fifth straight win, a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Sabres carried a 3-2 lead into the first intermission after scoring three times in the game's opening minutes and never trailed.

Five different players -- Tyler Myers, Jochen Hecht, Clarke MacArthur, Drew Stafford (power play), and Jason Pominville -- scored goals, while Craig Rivet and Tim Connolly had two assists apiece for the Sabres, who built a five-game winning streak for the second time this season.

Tampa Bay got one goal each from Martin St. Louis, Victor Hedman (unassisted) and Vincent Lecavalier.

Mike Smith made 30 saves on 35 shots for the Lightning, who had won five of seven.

On the power play, Buffalo went 1-for-3, while Tampa Bay failed to score on its three man-advantage opportunities.