The Lightning will defend their teammates, but they don’t have many enforcer types. Defenseman Emil Lilleberg is the exception, but he struggled enough with his own game Tuesday. Still, if there’s someone who can send a message early in Game 2, it’s Lilleberg. And it might be as good for his game as anything else.

With a raucous crowd and optimism abound, the Tampa Bay Lightning finally opened their Eastern Conference first-round series with the rival Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, only to drop a deflating 6-2 decision to the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Matthew Tkachuk returned to action with two goals, and the Stanley Cup champs swiped home-ice advantage by thumping the host Tampa Bay Lightning.