TAMPA -- Matthew Tkachuk returned for the Florida Panthers against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Amalie Arena on Tuesday.

Matthew Tkachuk hadn't gotten to feel this feeling in a while. The Florida Panthers superstar hadn't played in more than two months after dealing with a lower-body injury. But on Tuesday night, he was back on the ice for the Panthers' playoff opener against in-state rival Tampa Bay.

Tkachuk ended up playing just 19 shifts over 11:43 of playing time, about six and a half minutes less than his average TOI during the season. He finished with three shots on five attempts but was not credited with any hits or blocked shots.