Alan O'Connor and Andy Warwick are among eight players who will leave Ulster Rugby at the end of the 2024-25 season.

The pair are two of 11 players who have represented the province more than 200 times.

Dublin native O'Connor, who has regularly captained the side, joined Ulster in 2012 after representing the Ireland Under-20s and was named the side's player of the year in the 2020-21 season.

Warwick, who came through the club's academy, made his senior debut in February 2014.

"Al [O'Connor] and Waz [Warwick] have been superb role models in the way they go about their work with a no-nonsense attitude and total commitment to the jersey over the years," said Ulster's general manager Bryn Cunningham.

"Both players hit the milestone of reaching over 200 caps for Ulster Rugby earlier this season, becoming members of that special club."

As well as previously confirmed exits for John Cooney, Kieran Treadwell and Reuben Crothers, prop Corrie Barrett, scrum-half Michael McDonald and flanker Matty Rea will also be departing Kingspan Stadium at the end of the season.

Youngs made his England debut in March 2010 and played at four World Cups, in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023, retiring from international rugby after the 2023 tournament in France, where he helped England finish third.

He was part of the successful British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2013, featuring in the first two Tests, but withdrew from the 2017 squad to tour New Zealand for family reasons.

Youngs played for Leicester and England alongside his brother Tom, who retired in 2022, while their father Nick played for the club between 1981 and 1988.

In 2021, the family became the first to reach 600 Tigers appearances, a total that now stands at 692.

Seven of eight first-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have begun, and No. 8 gets rolling on Tuesday.

The Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers begins anew (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), with both clubs looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

Cats-Bolts is the third game of four Tuesday on the ESPN family of networks, following New Jersey-Carolina (6 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Ottawa-Toronto (7:30 p.m., ESPN2), and preceding the nightcap, Minnesota-Vegas (11 p.m. ET, ESPN).

What are the key storylines heading into Tuesday's games? Who are the key players to watch?

Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down Monday night, and the Three Stars of Monday Night from Arda Öcal.

Matchup notes

New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes
Game 2 (CAR leads 1-0) | 6 p.m. ET | ESPN

Game 1 sure did not go as planned for the Devils. A win at the legendarily loud Lenovo Center would've been stretching it, but losing Brenden Dillon, Cody Glass and Luke Hughes to injury was not an ideal outcome either.

They'll hope to rebound Tuesday before the series shifts to Newark. Closing the shot attempt differential might help, as the famously possession-savvy Hurricanes held a 45-24 edge on shots on goal in Game 1.

For years, the knock on Carolina was that it lacked that one goal scorer who could get the Canes over the hump in the playoffs. Many observers thought the Canes had acquired such a player in Mikko Rantanen in January. Ironically, it was the player Carolina acquired in its subsequent trade of Rantanen to Dallas -- Logan Stankoven -- who scored two goals in Game 1. Will he add to that total in Game 2?

Of note heading into Tuesday's game, the Devils have come back to win a playoff series after losing the first game 11 out of 26 times (42%); that figure drops to 20% if they fall behind 0-2. The Hurricanes have won six of their past seven series after winning Game 1.

Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 2 (TOR leads 1-0) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2

The atmosphere was intense for Game 1, and the Maple Leafs' "Core Four" led the way: Mitch Marner (one goal, two assists), William Nylander (one goal, one assist), John Tavares (one goal, one assist) and Auston Matthews (two assists) each filled up the scoresheet. A continuation of that output will obviously help Toronto overwhelm its provincial neighbor.

Slowing down the Maple Leafs could depend on discipline, according to Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk. "We took too many penalties, they scored on [them] and that's the game," Tkachuk told reporters after Game 1. "So that's on us. We've got to be more disciplined."

The Sens will also need to capitalize on their chances. According to Stathletes, Ottawa had five high-danger scoring chances in this game, and produced only two goals.

Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1 | 8:30 p.m ET | ESPN

This is the fourth time that the two Sunshine State franchises have met in the postseason, and all four of the meetings have occurred since 2021.

In each instance, the winner of the series has gone on to reach the Stanley Cup Final -- Lightning in 2021 and 2022; Panthers in 2024 -- while the 2021 Lightning and 2024 Panthers won it all.

Unsurprisingly, Nikita Kucherov is Tampa Bay's leading scorer against Florida, with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 15 games. Aleksander Barkov is the Panthers' leading scorer against the Lightning, with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 15 games.

The two teams split their meetings in the regular season, with the Lightning winning the most recent, 5-1 on April 15.

Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 2 (VGK leads 1-0) | 11 p.m. ET | ESPN

The underdog Wild set a physical tone to the series in Game 1, outhitting the Golden Knights 54-29, but the hosts emerged with a 4-2 victory. Tomas Hertl, Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden (two) were the goal scorers for Vegas, and Matt Boldy was responsible for both Minnesota goals.

Howden, who had never scored double-digit goals until his 23 this season, earned praise from coach Bruce Cassidy after Game 1. "He didn't change his game," Cassidy told reporters. "He played physical. He's part of our penalty kill. He's always out when the goalie's out, typically one of the six guys we use a lot because of his versatility. He can play wing. He can take draws as a center. He's been real good for us all year and good again tonight."

Sunday's game was the NHL debut for 2024 first-round pick Zeev Buium, who just finished his season with the University of Denver. He played 13 minutes, 37 seconds and finished with one shot on goal.

Arda's three stars from Monday night

1. Alex Ovechkin
LW, Washington Capitals

The greatest goal scorer in NHL history just keeps finding the back of the net. He had two goals, including the overtime winner, as the Caps won 3-2 despite a valiant third-period effort from Montreal to tie it.

2. Kyle Connor
LW, Winnipeg Jets

Connor had the game-winning goal in the third period for the second straight game, as Winnipeg takes both games at home for the 2-0 series lead on the Blues.

3. Connor McDavid
C, Edmonton Oilers

Further proof that the Oilers are never out of the game, McDavid helped erase a 4-0 deficit with a goal and three assists. But it was all for naught after a late goal lifted the Kings to a 6-5 win in a thrilling Game 1.

Monday's scores

Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Washington leads 1-0

Much of the regular season was spent focused on Alex Ovechkin's "Gr8 Chase" of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record, and he scored No. 895 on April 6. It turns out, Ovi likes the spotlight. The Capitals superstar opened the scoring in Game 1, and bookended it with the overtime winner -- his first ever in the postseason, believe it or not -- as the Caps survived Game 1 following Nick Suzuki's tying goal with 4:15 remaining. Full recap.

Jets 2, Blues 1
Winnipeg leads 2-0

Game 1 in this series was tightly contested until the Jets took over in the third period. That trend continued Monday, with the score tied at 1 entering the third period before Winnipeg's Kyle Connor scored at the 1:43 mark. Connor's linemate Mark Scheifele assisted on the game winner and opened the scoring, giving him a league-leading five points this postseason. Full recap.

Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Series tied 1-1

The series that every observer thought would be the closest in the first round didn't look that way in Game 1, as the Avs ran over the Stars en route to a 5-1 win. Game 2 was much more in line with expectations, as the two Western powerhouses needed overtime to settle things. Colin Blackwell was the hero for Dallas, scoring with 2:14 remaining in OT. Full recap.

Kings 6, Oilers 5
Los Angeles leads 1-0

Monday's nightcap was a delight to those who like offensive hockey and were willing to stay up late. The Kings roared out to a four-goal lead late in the second period before Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl scored to pull within three with six seconds remaining. The two teams traded goals to start the third, before the Oilers notched three in a row to tie up the festivities with 1:28 remaining on Connor McDavid's first of the 2025 playoffs. L.A.'s Phillip Danault sent his club's fans home happy, scoring the pivotal goal with 42 seconds left. Full recap.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke said he planned to rip up his usual celebration plans of "cake and coffee on the sofa" in order to revel in Leeds United's return to the Premier League like a "fire beast."

The league leaders were promoted to the top-flight after their 6-0 win over Stoke City on Monday afternoon was later followed by Burnley's win over third-placed Sheffield United, meaning Chris Wilder's side could no longer finish in the top two. Burnley's win also confirmed their return to the Premier League after they were relegated last season.

Farke, who had come close to promotion at the end of the last campaign when Leeds were beaten by Southampton in the Championship playoff final at Wembley, was in the mood for a party following his team's big win at Elland Road.

"I normally celebrate with cake and coffee on the sofa because I'm at an age where I'm pretty tired after a game if I'm honest," he said before Burnley's win at Turf Moor.

"If there is something major to celebrate, I'm not sure. If I have to back one side to go to Burnley and get a win it's Chris Wilder's boys. This league is crazy and I'm just willing to celebrate when it's just really done.

"This was a major step. If there's something to celebrate maybe today and one of the next days believe me I will be a fire beast, there will be some other drinks. Normally I like to speak about the next training session but I will be the first on the table."

Leeds and Burnley will battle for the Championship title across the last two games of the season. Leeds host Bristol City on Monday and finish the season away to Plymouth Argyle, while Burnley travel to play Queens Park Rangers before hosting Millwall.

The victory on Sunday moved Leeds' tally up to 94 points, bettering that managed by Marcelo Bielsa's 2020 champions.

"I think it's an impressive achievement, to be on 94 points is the best points tally this club has had in any season," Farke said.

"Eighty-nine goals are right up there too and still two games to play. It's just more or less a reward for what the lads have done this year, outstanding consistency, we're so hard to beat, scoring goals for fun, creating so many chances. The lads are playing really well and doing really well.

"The most important thing is the position in the league and our biggest aim is to get promoted. We will just celebrate when it's done. What we have achieved with hard work and proper football is second to none."

Premier League side Manchester City were allocated around 5.17 million ($5.94m), the most of any UEFA club, as part of the European football governing body's Club Benefits Programme to encourage national team participation by players.

A record 233m were distributed to 901 clubs from all 55 member associations for releasing players to national team competitions: the 2020-21 and 2022-23 UEFA Nations League, European Championship qualifiers 2022-24 and Euro 2024.

Spanish side Real Madrid were allocated 4.79m while Inter Milan of Serie A were given 4.65m.

Clubs received an equal share for each player released for each UEFA Nations League and Euros qualifying match, as well as a fixed amount per player per day during the final tournament.

Clubs throughout the football pyramid benefited with a 10th-tier side -- Yorkshire Amateur of England -- receiving 7,300.

"It is fantastic to see clubs of all sizes and levels, across the entire football pyramid, receiving financial rewards for their vital role in developing players who contribute to the success of our national team competitions -- including the highly successful UEFA Euro 2024 final tournament," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said.

"Every success of our competitions is a shared one, and this benefits programme is another testament to that principle ... When football thrives, everyone benefits."

The total amount for the release of players in this cycle was 100m, up from 70m for the previous cycle.

The amount for the release of players for the European Championship also increased, from 130m to 140m, with funds going to 196 clubs from 29 UEFA member associations.

DALLAS -- Colin Blackwell was hoping for another crack at the playoffs when he signed with the Dallas Stars in free agency last summer. This is his sixth team in seven NHL seasons, and he had only been in the postseason one other time.

After being a healthy scratch for the Stars' playoff opener, he got his shot and changed the trajectory of their first-round series against Colorado with his overtime goal for a 4-3 win in Game 2 on Monday night.

"I always felt my game's kinda built for the playoffs and stuff along those lines. I love rising to the occasion and playing in moments like this" Blackwell said. "That was a big win for us. I think if we go into Colorado down 2-0, it's a different series. I think that's why you're only as good as your next win or your next shift."

Blackwell's only previous playoff experience was a seven-game series with Toronto in a first-round loss to Tampa Bay three years ago.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer talked to Blackwell when he didn't play in Game 1 on Saturday.

"[I] said be ready, you're not going to be out long," DeBoer said. "I wanted to get him in Game 2. He's one of those energy guys. I thought after losing Game 1 we needed a little shot of energy. He's a competitive player and I thought he was effective all night. But it's also great to see a guy like that get a goal, out Game 1, work with the black aces, and then come in and play a part in playoff hockey."

Blackwell scored 17:46 into overtime after his initial shot ricocheted off teammate Sam Steel and Avs defenseman Samuel Girard in front of the net. But with the puck rolling loose on the ice, the fourth-line forward circled around and knocked it in for the winner.

The 32-year-old Blackwell, a Harvard graduate who played for Chicago the past two seasons, said he has often had to go in and out of lineups and has learned over the years to stay sharp mentally and keep working hard on and off the ice. In his first season for Dallas, he had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) over 63 regular-season games.

"It's been a long season, and not playing the first game, stuff like that, just kind of been in and out of the lineup toward the end here," he said. "I don't really worry about making a mistake. I just go out there and play hockey and good things happen."

And they certainly did for the Stars, who were in danger of dropping their first two games at home in the first round for the second year in a row before his winning shot. Game 3 is Wednesday night in Denver.

"Colin's one of those guys, especially me being out, I get to see how hard he works every day," said Tyler Seguin, who missed 4 1/2 months after hip surgery before returning last week. "I get to see how he is in the gym. I get to see how good of a basketball player he is. There's many things that I get to see with some of these guys that are in and out of the lineup. You're just proud of a guy like him and what he did."

Manchester United are exploring the possibility of triggering the release clause in Matheus Cunha's contract at Wolves, a source has told ESPN.

United are looking to bolster their attack this summer and have identified Cunha as one of their top targets.

A source has told ESPN that the club have received positive indications about his willingness to move to Old Trafford if he is allowed to open formal negotiations.

Cunha is available in a 62.5 million ($83.6m) deal, although there is competition for his signature from a number of Premier League clubs.

The 25-year-old expects to leave Molineux ahead of next season.

He signed a new contract with Wolves in February on the understanding that he would be allowed to move in the summer.

Wolves confirmed their Premier League survival with a 1-0 win over United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Head coach Ruben Amorim was seen deep in conversation with the forward at full-time and name-checked the Brazilian in his pre-match news conference.

Since arriving in England from Atlético Madrid initially on loan in January 2023, Cunha has scored 32 league goals -- including 16 this season.

A source has told ESPN that one of the reasons he is being targeted by United is his effectiveness in the 3-4-3 system employed by coach Vitor Pereira -- the same tactical set up used by Amorim.

Cunha has been identified to fill one of the two No.10 roles behind the central striker. United are also in the market for a new centre forward in the summer with Liam Delap and Victor Osimhen two of the names in the frame.

Boulter starts her clay-court swing on Tuesday when she plays Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the Madrid Open first round.

The Briton's experience on clay is still limited, having only played four top-level main-draw matches on the surface.

After winning one and losing one of her BJK Cup singles matches last week on indoor clay in the Netherlands, Boulter went to Alicante - where her fiancé Alex de Minaur has long been based - for a training week.

She decided that was the sensible option - instead of squeezing in another WTA clay-court event before Madrid - as she continues to manage a foot injury.

The issue has left her only able to play five tournaments this season, missing almost two months of the WTA Tour between the Australian Open in January and Indian Wells in March.

"I want to see the girls going higher and higher [in the rankings], but personally I have my own goals and try to focus on those a lot," added Boulter, who secured GB's place in the BJK Cup Finals alongside Jodie Burrage in the deciding doubles.

"For me I just need to try and stay healthy. That's that most important thing and then the ranking will take care of itself.

"Obviously I've dropped a little bit from last year but due to the fact I've not been able to play.

"It's not like my level has gone anywhere. I feel like my level is great so now it's about keeping myself healthy for the most important tournaments."