Jason Pominville has hat trick for Sabres

Buffalo Sabres' Jason Pominville, left, celebrates his third goal of the game as Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Antero Niittymaki (30), of Finland, and Alex Tanguay react in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 18, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. Buffalo won 3-2. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jason Pominville and Buffalo Sabres made quick work of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Pominville scored three goals and the Sabres beat the Lightning 6-2 on Thursday night to move within four points of New Jersey for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Ryan Miller added 23 saves including a stop on Vincent Lecavalier's breakaway as Buffalo held a 4-0 lead after two periods.
"He's been there all year," Pominville said. "That's what you expect out of Ryan. He's an elite goalie and every night he gives us a chance to win."
Derek Roy had a short-handed goal and an assist, and Thomas Vanek also scored for Buffalo.
Pominville scored twice in the first period, the first a power-play goal on a near-perfect pass from Derek Roy. Roy took a pass from Toni Lydman and executed a one-touch feed to Pominville in the center for the easy goal.
"It was a great play," Pominville said.
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