TAMPA — It started with a feel-good rookie lap and ended with a disheartening division loss.

In between, there were highlight-reel moments, too many turnovers and a blown lead.

Yup, the Lightning were back.

OK, maybe that’s a little harsh. Tampa Bay is a much better team than that.

The Lightning are too talented to waste a pair of two-goal leads. They are too talented to go nearly 19 minutes without a shot on goal. They are too talented to gather 19,092 of their best friends at Benchmark International Arena in the season opener only to lose 5-4 to Ottawa on Thursday.

“You take your foot off the gas for five seconds in this league, and teams will expose you,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said.

That’s a brutally succinct description of what happened. The Lightning — who will host New Jerse

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