Tkachuk scored twice on the power play and made an all-around impact as Florida opens the playoffs with an emphatic win over in-state rival Tampa Bay.

The Panthers out-hit the Lightning by a 48-28 count. They particularly made their presence felt in the first period when they were credited with 19 hits to only nine for the Lightning. If Jon Cooper is concerned about what the Panthers did to his team physically, he’s not letting on.

Star winger Matthew Tkachuk, sidelined since mid-February with an apparent groin injury, is active and will in the lineup for Game 1 of the Panthers’ opening-round Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at Tampa’s Amalie Arena.