Tampa, FL – Kris Versteeg and Stephen Weiss scored twice and 4, in the home opener for Tampa Bay.
Tomas Kopecky, Sean Bergenheim and Jason Garrison also tallied for the Panthers, who swept the home-and-home against the Lightning.
Jose Theodore stopped 35-of-39 shots for Florida.
Teddy Purcell, Victor Hedman, Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos netted the goals for Tampa Bay, which lost its fifth straight.
Dwayne Roloson struggled in net for the Lightning as he saved just 26-of-33 shots.
