Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the last 25 games of the season due to injury, scored a pair of goals in his return as Florida beat Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the opening round.

Matthew Tkachuk is back in the Florida Panthers' lineup, returning to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup champions' first-round series at Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

TAMPA -- Matthew Tkachuk will be a game-time decision for the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena (8:30 p.m. ET; FDSNSUN, SCRIPPS, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360) on Tuesday.