Sabres 8, Flyers 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff took one last big shot at the Philadelphia Flyers, saying they played like "idiots" when the score got out of hand.

Two nights after Philadelphia's R.J. Umberger was knocked woozy by Brian Campbell's heavy but legal hit in Buffalo's Game 1 victory, the Sabres flattened the rest of the Flyers in an 8-2 blowout win Monday night.

"Use a different word if you want, but I thought they did," Ruff said. "The more they acted like idiots, the more we wanted to play."

Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock took offense to Ruff's description after the Flyers took 17 penalties, including Denis Gauthier's ejection and Ben Eager's two misconducts when the play deteriorated as the Sabres built a 5-0 first-period lead.

"That's Lindy's opinion," Hitchcock said. "I've seen his teams do the same thing. So he ought not to talk about that."

Hitchcock took one more question before abruptly leaving the podium. On his way out, he used two profanities in muttering aloud that Ruff should mind his own business.

J.P. Dumont and Jason Pominville each had three goals and an assist for Buffalo. It was the eighth time in NHL history two players on the same team netted hat tricks in a playoff game and the first time Buffalo has done it.

The last teammates to each score three goals in the same playoff game were Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, who did it for Pittsburgh in a 7-3 victory over the Rangers in May 11, 1996.

The Sabres, who needed 58 shots to beat Philadelphia 3-2 in double overtime Saturday, scored twice on their first three shots and needed only 12 shots to build a 6-1 lead on Dumont's third goal midway through the second period. The eight goals were the most since Buffalo's 8-0 series-clinching win over Philadelphia in 2001.

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference series is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Simon Gagne and Petr Nedved scored for the Flyers.

Umberger did not play in Game 2 after failing a concussion-related test earlier in the day. He's listed as day to day and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Philadelphia.

Although the Flyers said Sunday they didn't intend to retaliate against Campbell, that's what eventually happened.

Dumont's second goal, which put Buffalo up 5-0, came just at the end of a two-man advantage, when Flyers captain Derian Hatcher and defenseman Mike Rathje were penalized for taking runs at Campbell. Hatcher forearmed Campbell across the mouth.

"They were frustrated," Campbell said. "They took a lot of penalties. It's tough when you're coming in and suddenly it's 5-0. They're a good hockey club. Let's face it, it's going to be a tough Game 3."

The Sabres were called for six penalties - all minors - and converted on 3-of-12 power-play chances.

Flyers goalie Robert Esche, who stopped a career-high 55 shots on Saturday, gave up five goals and was replaced by Antero Niittymaki at the start of the second period.

Esche's frustrations spilled over 16 minutes into the first period when he dropped his gloves and challenged Buffalo's Derek Roy and Toni Lydman to fight.

Sabres fans then rubbed it in, chanting "USA! USA! in a a poke at Esche, who was chosen ahead of Buffalo rookie Ryan Miller to represent the United States in the Turin Olympics in February.

Miller stopped 20 shots.

"We were overwhelmed in the first 10 minutes, that's my responsibility," Hitchcock said. "We were embarrassed for our fans and we were embarrassed for the city of Philadelphia. ... We've got a lot of work to do."

The Flyers also targeted Sabres rookie Thomas Vanek.

Gauthier received a 5-minute major penalty and was ejected for running Vanek from behind 6 minutes into the second period. Eager's second misconduct came after he goaded Vanek to punch him and then started a fracas near the Sabres bench.

Chippy play aside, Dumont was impressed by how the Sabres didn't let up, considering they squandered a 2-0 lead Saturday.

"We didn't stop," Dumont said. "I think we caught them off guard."

Notes: Nedved scored 9 seconds after Gagne had a goal disallowed when a video review showed the net had been dislodged. ... Dumont and Pominville had the sixth and seventh three-goal playoff games in franchise history, and first since Matthew Barnaby scored three times in a 6-3 win over Montreal on May 10, 1998. ... Buffalo's five-goal first period matched a franchise record set three times, the last April 14, 1985, in a 7-4 win over Quebec.