Vanek, Sabres cream Rangers; Left wing scores twice to give Buffalo quick start.(Sports)

Byline: JOHN WAWROW - Associated Press

Sabres 5

Rangers 2

BUFFALO - Thomas Vanek and the Buffalo Sabres sure looked like the cream of the crop Wednesday night.

Vanek scored twice, sparking a three-goal second period, and Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots in a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series opener. Jason Pominville and Ales Kotalik also scored for a Buffalo team that played much better after struggling to eliminate the New York Islanders in five games in the first round.

The Sabres were particularly motivated after Rangers coach Tom Renney said this week that top-seeded Buffalo …