"For the Buffalo Sabres' sake, hopefully video cameras followed their every move prior to Thursday's game. That way they can review the tape, retrace their steps and do exactly the same thing every game day — because whatever they did, it worked.

The Sabres busted out of their slow-starting mode in a big way against Tampa Bay, scoring three times in the first period of a 6-2 rout. The vocal Blue and Gold backers in St. Pete Times Forum repeatedly celebrated as the Sabres lit up the Lightning early.

The fast start was sought and needed. Buffalo's three-game winless streak featured sluggish openings, and the Sabres came out intent on stopping both those skids. They collectively have been at a loss to explain why they don't always come out swinging, so maybe a playback of Thursday's actions will give them some explanation.

The changes started early. The Sabres skipped the morning skate and had a meeting instead. Then, when the pregame warm-ups started, the Lightning had the ice to itself as coach Lindy Ruff told his team to wait three minutes.

"It's the first time we tried it and it worked, so I think the odds are pretty good that we're going to do it again," said right wing Jason Pominville, who scored three times. "I don't know if that's why we came out better, but it definitely has been our focus. Our starts haven't been good enough."

The Sabres owned the opening period with the trio of goals and a 14-4 shot edge. They improved to 27-4-4 when scoring first. They finished with their best goal output since a 7-2 win in Phoenix on Jan. 18.

"It was a good steppingstone for us," Ruff said. "Our desperation, our attention to positioning, our puck possession was real good. The first 30 minutes, we had the majority of puck possession, and it made it tough on them."

The coach said an extended meeting Wednesday was a real eye-opener for the team.

"We got their attention," Ruff said. "It was a real good meeting, interactive, and everybody agreed to a man that we need to be better."

Pominville opened the attack with 5:19 gone. The Sabres' power play, which has scored in three of the past four games after a five-week skid, did the honors. After Tyler Myers gave Buffalo a 2-0 lead with 6:04 remaining, Pominville sent the Buffalo fans in the crowd of 16,868 out of their seats again."