Efficient Sabres take opener

Second season, familiar result. The Buffalo Sabres can stillscore and still win.

Chris Drury and Brian Campbell each scored two goals, helping thetop-seeded Sabres open the playoffs with an efficient 4-1 victoryover the visiting New York Islanders in their Eastern Conferenceseries Thursday night.

As they did in finishing the season with a league-leading 53 winsand 308 goals, the Sabres showed off their balanced offense.Campbell's game-opening goal was set up by fourth-line center TimConnolly, and Buffalo converted 2 of 6 power-play chances.

Better still, Buffalo was sound on defense, limiting theIslanders to 21 shots, including just one in the first period.

Arron Asham scored for New York, which clinched the East's eighthand final playoff berth by winning its last four games of theregular season.

Minor-league goaltender Wade Dubielewicz wasn't to blame inmaking his career playoff debut filling in for starter RickDiPietro, who's out after sustaining two concussions last month.Dubielewicz kept the Isles in the game by stopping 20 of the first22 shots and finished with 31 saves.

RED WINGS 4, FLAMES 1

Detroit put visiting Calgary on its heels with a crushing checkand two goals in the first eight minutes.

Valtteri Filppula and Nicklas Lidstrom scored in the firstperiod, and Mathieu Schneider knocked down Matthew Lombardi, helpingDetroit get started in its first-round playoff series.

The Red Wings led 4-0 by the middle of the second period -- onPavel Datsyuk's and Schneider's goals -- giving goaltender DominikHasek more than enough offense.

RANGERS 4, THRASHERS 3

Visiting New York scored the first two goals and never trailed inholding off Atlanta in its playoff opener.

The Thrashers, in their seventh season of existence, were playingtheir first postseason game. They desperately tried for a tying goalin the final minute with a power play but were denied.

With the victory, the Rangers won their first playoff game sincethe 1997 postseason.

DEVILS 5, LIGHTNING 3

Zach Parise scored his second goal on a give-and-go with JamieLangenbrunner early in the third period, leading host New Jerseyover Tampa Bay in an opening playoff game.

Scott Gomez set up power-play goals by Patrik Elias and BrianRafalski and the clinching goal by Brian Gionta with 1:22 to playfor New Jersey.

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who set a single-season recordwith 48 wins, looked ordinary in making 23 saves in the gamedetermined by power plays and turnovers.