If the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers showed us anything in Game 1 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series Monday — a 5-1 win by the B’s — it’s this:

Expect the unexpected from this one.

The Atlantic Division rivals clashed again amid fraught recent history that will add another stimulating chapter with this postseason matchup. The Bruins fell in infamous fashion to the Panthers last spring, with the Presidents’ Trophy winners blowing a 3-1 first-round series lead to see their playoff run end early in a Game 7 overtime loss.

Then Boston went 4-0-0 in the regular season against Florida, which still won the division with one more point than the Bruins.

The Panthers breezed through their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, and had been out of action since April 29. Meanwhile, Boston was battling its demons again, having gone up 3-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round only to land back in a Game 7 overtime — which it won 2-1, just two days before the second round was set to begin.

That set the stage for a return to South Florida, where the well-rested Panthers awaited a battle-weary Boston brood. But surprise! It was the well-traveled Bruins who came out on top in Game 1 with a blowout victory.

Suffice it to say, the Bruins have everyone’s attention now — most especially the Panthers’. So, what will Florida do in response to the rout?

Before the puck drops for Game 2 on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), we’re breaking down five burning questions for the series based on what happened in Game 1.

Can the Panthers rattle Swayman?

There’s not a more unbothered postseason player than Jeremy Swayman.

Case in point: The Bruins netminder was buried under no fewer than six bodies during a goal-line scrum in Game 1, all of them searching frantically for the puck, and Swayman had it under him all along. The cackle he delivered while nonchalantly tossing the disk out from his glove to the bemused displeasure of the surrounding Panthers? Priceless.

And also, a problem.

Toronto learned the hard way how backbreaking it can be getting stymied by Swayman, what with his .950 save percentage and 1.49 goals-against average in the first round. Now the Panthers have seen up close the challenge that beating Swayman will present, as he made an individual playoff-best 38 saves in Game 1 to reach a postseason record of 5-2, with a .955 SV% and 1.42 GAA. He’s also the eighth goaltender in league history to allow two or fewer goals in each of his first seven starts in a postseason.

Florida didn’t do enough to get in Swayman’s face Monday. Sure, the Panthers fired 39 shots on net, but they clocked just four quality, high-danger chances through the first two periods and weren’t truly testing Swayman until the third, when he had a three-goal cushion.

Boston kept Florida’s best skaters to the outside or chasing their own tails behind the net. The Panthers weren’t getting bodies in front and just peppered Swayman with shots he could easily track. That strategy didn’t work for the Leafs; it doesn’t project to go any better for Florida.

What could work is making Swayman uncomfortable — if, at this point, that’s even possible. Swayman’s confidence is rightfully sky-high after masking many Bruins blemishes in the first round and then putting on a show in Game 1 against Florida.

It’s up to the Panthers now to adjust how they attack Swayman in Game 2. Part of that falls on Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky — who made 24 saves in Game 1 — improving substantially at the other end to match Swayman’s excellence.

Getting through Swayman will require the Panthers to establish a consistent net-front presence, battle down low for loose pucks and seek out greasy goal opportunities. All of those are clichés for good reason — because they work, especially in the postseason, when open ice and rush chances are richer than Swayman’s next contract will be.

Who’ll win the special teams battles?

If the Panthers and Bruins have anything in common, it’s knowing how to shut down an opponent’s power play — and how to leverage their own.

Boston silenced Toronto on the man advantage in the first round, when the Leafs were a woeful 1-for-21 with the extra man to the Bruins’ 6-for-17. Florida stifled Tampa Bay there, too, leaving the Lightning at 4-for-20 while it went 3-for-13 (and added a short-handed goal to boot).

Game 1 offered both Florida and Boston opportunities to capitalize on special teams that netted, well, nothing.

The Panthers were 0-for-3 with the extra man. Boston was 0-for-2.

Who’s going to break the stalemate there?

Boston and Florida entered their series with the same number of 5-on-5 playoff goals (11), although the Bruins had played two more games than the Panthers to get there. Boston held the power-play edge overall, hitting 35.3% to Florida’s 23.1%. Boston also had the better kill, sitting at 95.2% versus 80% for Florida (again, through additional games on Boston’s end).

If Game 1 was a feeling-out process, and the series expectedly tightens up from here — particularly as the Panthers get their legs under them again — then special teams should become a larger factor in success (or failure). Given how both sides have generated scoring at even strength, those openings on the power play start to loom large in determining outcomes.

Will Florida’s depth eventually shine?

Game 1 had star power — but it was the Bruins’ depth stealing the spotlight.

The early 1-1 score came courtesy of goals from two top-line skaters — Matthew Tkachuk for Florida, Morgan Geekie for Boston — and then the sides settled in. Some fringe scorers emerged for the Bruins in Mason Lohrei (with his first of the postseason), Brandon Carlo (notching his second) and Justin Brazeau (also with his first).

play

Justin Brazeau beats Sergei Bobrovsky for a Bruins goal

Justin Brazeau scores a third-period breakaway goal to put the Bruins up 4-1 vs. the Panthers.

Boston exemplified the importance of having contributors throughout the lineup. It’s on Florida to respond in kind come Game 2 and beyond.

The Panthers are a formidable team up front and proved it in their first-round series against Tampa Bay. Through those five games, Florida earned incredible contributions from Carter Verhaeghe (five goals), Tkachuk (three goals) and Sam Reinhart (three goals), among others.

The Bruins showed in Game 1 how they deny genuine scoring chances and can be difficult to penetrate defensively. In a series like this, top lines can cancel each other out. So who is going to produce from among the Panthers’ bottom six to help them keep pace with what Boston can offer throughout its own lineup?

Granted, the Panthers are missing Sam Bennett, who hasn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury against the Lightning on April 23; he’s considered day-to-day, and coach Paul Maurice estimates he’ll return by Game 4. When Bennett can get back, it will undoubtedly boost the Panthers offensively.

But even still, Florida should expect contributions from the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko and Evan Rodrigues to start punctuating the score sheet if the Bruins manage to hold Verhaeghe, Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov off it more often than not in this series. And if the Panthers could see some goals flying in from the blue line — defensemen have accounted for just three of Florida’s postseason scores thus far — all the better for them.

How will the coaching matchup play out?

It was five minutes into the third period of Game 1. Boston was up 3-1, and Jim Montgomery had to call a timeout.

Florida had sent 11 shots on Swayman in the final frame, and Boston looked lost.

Montgomery saw his group headed for trouble and asked for a breather.

“I could tell our players were hurried, a little frantic with the puck,” Montgomery said. “I just wanted us to relax.”

The Bruins took a pause. Play resumed. And two minutes later, Brazeau found the back of the net to ice Boston’s victory.

“After that timeout, you could tell the momentum shifted,” Swayman said.

“At the right time, he made the right timeout,” Carlo added. “He believes in us a lot.”

Game management is critical in the postseason. And in Game 1 it was Montgomery who seemed to outduel Maurice in that respect. How will Florida’s bench boss counter?

The intricacies and gamesmanship of coaching aren’t always visible on the outside. In Montgomery’s case with the timeout, it was just a perfectly executed example of knowing what your players need to stay on track. And it’s maximizing their potential in every situation to get a victory over the line.

If Montgomery hadn’t slowed the Bruins down, and Florida had broken Swayman with another goal, there was enough time left for the Panthers to come all the way back (and let’s not forget Boston was tied for the league lead in regular-season overtime losses when leading after two periods).

That must have been top of mind for Montgomery in Game 1. And it might have saved Boston from a potential gut punch.

Can Boston maintain momentum?

The Bruins had emotion on their side entering this series, in more ways than one.

While Florida had been cooling its heels since beating the Lightning over a week ago, Boston rolled into Round 2 off that dramatic overtime victory in Game 7. Add to that an extra side of new dad energy from Carlo — who arrived for Game 1 just hours after his second child was born — and the Bruins were feel-good favorites for the night.

The challenge for Boston now is to channel that same energy even after some of the original luster has been lost.

Montgomery was open about how Boston “made a lot of mistakes” in Game 1 that were not catastrophic thanks to Swayman’s stellar performance. Florida was one of the league’s premier teams all season, and there’s little doubt it’ll have a counterpunch ready to deliver in Game 2. The Panthers were the stronger team out of the gate in Game 1, too, and if not for Swayman holding the Bruins in it early, the result might not have gone Boston’s way.

How the Bruins handle what Florida does differently now moves to the forefront. Boston undisputedly set a tone in Game 1 with physicality, confidence and swagger. But if the Bruins don’t clean up some areas, as Montgomery alluded to, then Florida is too strong a team not to take advantage of its opponent’s errors.

Spring football is over and the spring transfer portal window is closed, so it’s time to look at lingering questions surrounding the teams in our Way-Too-Early Top 25.

Who will win quarterback jobs for Ohio State and Michigan? Can Texas’ secondary improve?

Our reporters broke down spring overreactions already, and now they’re diving into what teams still need to figure out in the next few months.

Lingering question: What will the secondary look like this season?

The back end of Georgia’s defense remains in flux after it lost cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safeties Tykee Smith and Javon Bullard to the NFL draft. There’s plenty of talent left in the secondary, but coach Kirby Smart said the unit had a long way to go after the spring game.

Cornerback Daylen Everette and safety Malaki Starks are the returning starters; Starks was held out of contact drills in the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery. Julian Humphrey and Daniel Harris were working at the other cornerback spot, and Joenel Aguero and JaCorey Thomas were sharing snaps at the safety spots. Veteran Dan Jackson, freshman K.J. Bolden and transfer Jake Pope were in the mix at safety as well. — Mark Schlabach

Lingering question: Is Will Howard the answer at QB?

The Kansas State transfer was among Ohio State’s high-profile portal additions this offseason. Though the Buckeyes have yet to name a starter, Howard will head into the summer presumably as the favorite to win the job over incumbent backup Devin Brown and five-star recruit Julian Sayin.

The Buckeyes appear loaded on both sides of the ball. But Ohio State making noise in the College Football Playoff will hinge heavily on whether Howard — or another player — can give the Buckeyes improved quarterback play from last season. — Jake Trotter

Lingering question: Can the secondary defend the passing game this season?

We know the Ducks have the personnel and the mindset to be physical on the line of scrimmage, but how will they defend the pass game this coming season? Last year, Oregon allowed 3,022 passing yards all season, which ranked 95th in the country.

However, the Ducks did force 12 key interceptions too, and you get the feeling that their success on that side of the field this coming season will depend a lot on how much havoc they can wreak on opposing offenses and quarterbacks. The spring game was a positive sign in that regard, as true freshman cornerback Dakoda Fields made a great play downfield and snagged an interception. — Paolo Uggetti

Lingering question: Can the secondary turn it around?

A highlight of the Texas spring game was the big performances from quarterbacks Arch Manning and Trey Owens as they each threw three touchdown passes, with Manning throwing for more than 350 yards. That’s a positive way to look at a talented Texas offense. However, there’s also the matter of the secondary, which finished 113th in passing yards allowed last season at 254.4 yards per game, allowing all those big plays once again.

The fallout from the game was quick, as junior Terrance Brooks, who started 13 games last fall, entered the transfer portal three days later. Texas did get a commitment this week from San Jose State corner Jay’Vion Cole, who had seven interceptions in the past two seasons. — Dave Wilson

Lingering question: Are there any true stars at receiver?

The Irish haven’t had a receiver with 500 yards since 2021, and even those days weren’t full of elite talent. Since Chase Claypool departed after the 2019 season, it has been more of a patchwork corps, often more reliant on tight ends for big plays. Can this year be different?

The Irish believe this could finally be the breakout season for Jayden Thomas, and they added two potential impact transfers in Kris Mitchell (FIU) and Beaux Collins (Clemson). Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison each showed some flashes as freshmen last year, too, so there’s ample hope their development continues. It’s a group with great potential, but Notre Dame has heard that story before. — David Hale

Lingering question: How will the running back rotation shake out?

Ole Miss didn’t shed a lot of tears when leading rusher Quinshon Judkins bolted for Ohio State this offseason. Nonetheless, 2,725 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns over two seasons aren’t easily replaced. The projected starter, Ulysses Bentley IV, has experience as the primary ball carrier when he was at SMU in 2020 and 2021. He rushed for 540 yards and four touchdowns as Judkins’ backup last season after battling injuries in 2022 in his first season at Ole Miss. Bentley was limited this spring with turf toe on his left foot and underwent surgery. He should be ready to go for preseason camp and will have plenty of competition.

Henry Parrish Jr., who started his career at Ole Miss, returns after transferring from Miami. Jacory Croskey-Merritt also transferred in from New Mexico after rushing for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. The Rebels hope former LSU running back Logan Diggs can return from offseason knee surgery at some point during the 2024 season. Sophomore Kedrick Reescano got most of the carries this spring after not getting any carries last season. — Chris Low

Lingering question: Who will replace Cody Schrader?

It’s probably unrealistic to think that one person is going to replace Schrader, who was a star at running back last season for Missouri with an SEC-leading 1,627 rushing yards. Schrader’s consistency and ability to produce in key moments and games were a constant in what the Tigers were able to do on offense a year ago.

Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz may look to use more running backs in 2024. Transfers Marcus Carroll (Georgia State) and Nate Noel (Appalachian State) have both played a lot of football. Missouri running backs coach Curtis Luper said Carroll and Noel remind him of the Tyler Badie–Larry Rountree duo in 2020. Jamal Roberts and Tavorus Jones are the holdovers at running back, but they combined for just one carry last season. — Low

Lingering question: Who will QB Drew Allar be throwing to?

KeAndre Lambert-Smith transferred to Auburn last month, leaving the Nittany Lions without a single returning wideout to post more than 250 receiving yards last season. Harrison Wallace III, who had five grabs in Penn State’s spring game, and Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, who started 22 games over his career for the Buckeyes, are sure to play key roles. Kaden Saunders, who caught a touchdown from Allar in the spring game, could give the Nittany Lions some pop as well. — Trotter

Lingering question: Who will be Alabama’s finishers off the edge on defense?

Edge rushers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell have gone to the NFL, and they take with them a combined 18 sacks from a year ago. Alabama has been blessed with a bevy of elite pass-rushers over the years, but there are no obvious replacements for the 2024 season. That doesn’t mean the Crimson Tide are lacking in talent.

The new defensive staff liked what it saw this spring from redshirt junior Keanu Koht and redshirt freshman Qua Russaw. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Russaw showcased both power and quickness. Redshirt senior Quandarrius Robinson has the most experience, and the Tide hope he can have a breakout season. Redshirt freshman Keon Keeley came to Alabama as one of the top linebacker prospects in the country, but has moved to bandit end in new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 scheme and could provide some pass-rushing punch. — Low

Lingering question: Can Cam Rising stay healthy?

Even though Rising is back and recovered from his knee surgery for one last college season, it remains unclear how he will play and react physically to live play and tackling. After the Utes’ spring game — during which he threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns in three series — Rising looked comfortable and said he felt “strong.”

One of Rising’s talents before his surgery was his ability to move out of the pocket and make plays with his feet. He didn’t do too much of that during the spring game, but that dimension of his game is one the Utes will certainly need in the fall. No matter what, Utah will benefit greatly from Rising’s experience and veteran presence on and off the field. Time will tell if and when he can get fully back to that version of himself that helped the Utes secure back-to-back Pac-12 titles. — Uggetti

Lingering question: How much will Jordan Morgan be missed?

The 2024 first-round draft pick selected by the Green Bay Packers was the lynchpin of the Wildcats’ offensive line — and subsequent offensive attack under quarterback Noah Fifita last season. The All-Pac 12 left tackle was a force who set the tone for the entire group. Even though Arizona returned the rest of its starting line to Tucson, not having Morgan as an anchor to build the line around has forced them to go back to the drawing board in figuring out what the unit will look like.

There’s plenty of talent remaining with players such as Jonah Savaiinaea, three-year starter Josh Baker, Wendell Moe and Raymond Pulido — a true freshman last year who earned a starting spot on the line. There’s no shortage of talent, but finding the right combination and chemistry, something the Wildcats tried to do this spring, will be a key factor in ensuring their offensive attack is one of the most prolific in the country. — Uggetti

Lingering question: Who will play defensive tackle?

The Tigers have two glaring holes on the interior defensive line after Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith departed for the NFL. Veteran Jacobian Guillory will probably start at one spot after totaling 51 tackles and 0.5 sack in 39 games. Converted offensive lineman Kimo Makane’ole and Florida transfer Jalen Lee were working at the other spot during the spring.

Incoming freshman Dominick McKinley might provide some help this season, but the Tigers were still looking to add at least one more tackle via the transfer portal. Defensive end Ahmad Breaux moved inside to help in the spring. LSU missed out on a couple of big transfer targets in Damonic Williams (TCU to Oklahoma) and Simeon Barrow Jr. (Michigan State to Miami). — Schlabach

Lingering question: Who will win the QB job?

The battle to replace J.J. McCarthy remains wide open heading into the summer. Jack Tuttle, entering his seventh season, backed up McCarthy last fall and has the most experience but is coming back from an injury. Davis Warren was the star of the spring game. Alex Orji can run and throw. Jayden Denegal and freshman Jadyn Davis could factor in the mix, as well. Who emerges in the preseason will be the storyline to watch as Michigan enters into a new era. — Trotter

Lingering question: What will the full-strength offense look like?

Jackson Arnold took some deep shots in the spring game, going 10-of-20 for 233 yards with two touchdowns, including a 64-yard pass to Purdue receiver transfer Deion Burks, who was the star of the show with 174 yards and two scores on five catches. But the Sooners took the field without receivers Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony and Nic Anderson, and with no Jovantae Barnes at running back.

With so many bodies at the position, receiver Gavin Freeman has already opted to transfer to Oklahoma State. But with a new-look offensive line, a new offensive coordinator in Seth Littrell and a new starting QB in Arnold, there’s still plenty of curiosity about what shape the offense will take with all the starters back in the lineup. — Wilson

Lingering question: Who will step up in the front seven?

Florida State loses its top two linebackers and tacklers in Kalen DeLoach (drafted No. 68) and Tatum Bethune (No. 70), in addition to its sack leader in Jared Verse (No. 9). Those three are important players for the Seminoles to replace — particularly DeLoach, who did just about everything as the heart of the defense a year ago, with 10.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles.

Let’s start at linebacker, where Florida State expects veteran DJ Lundy to step up and become the leader of the unit. Coaches are also high on Blake Nichelson, who showed flashes as a true freshman. Up front, Florida State returns veterans who will take on bigger roles, including Pat Payton and Joshua Farmer, while it also expects a big year from transfer Marvin Jones Jr., who played well in the spring game. Watch for Darrell Jackson in the interior of the defense as well, after he sat out last year because of NCAA transfer rules. Finding the right rotation up front so Florida State can go two-deep will be an area to watch come fall camp. — Andrea Adelson

Lingering question: What will Tennessee’s secondary look like?

The Vols lost their top six defensive backs from a year ago, some who were multiyear starters, so there’s not really a veteran presence on the back end. But a handful of defensive backs return who played meaningful snaps during the latter part of the 2023 season, including cornerbacks Rickey Gibson III and safeties Andre Turrentine and Jourdan Thomas, who’s poised to take over at the hybrid “star” role.

The big get in the portal was Oregon State cornerback Jermod McCoy, who earned Freshman All-America honors a year ago. Temple transfer Jalen McMurray was one of Tennessee’s most consistent cornerbacks this spring, and true freshman Boo Carter and Middle Tennessee transfer Jakobe Thomas are both new faces to watch at safety. — Low

Lingering question: Who will start at defensive end?

Given the returning production for Oklahoma State, it’s much better positioned going into this season than it was last year. However, one area that we probably won’t know who starts until the season is at defensive end.

Kody Walterscheid has the most game experience at the position with 17 starts and 50 games played. Obi Ezeigbo is a Division II transfer the team hopes can make the leap to Big 12 football. There’s familiarity with Ezeigbo, since Gannon University is where defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo was before coming to Stillwater. — Harry Lyles Jr.

Lingering question: Can the Wolfpack run the ball?

Yes, we saw transfers Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers turn in nice performances in the spring game. But last year, NC State had to rely on QB Brennan Armstrong and receiver KC Concepcion to handle virtually all rushing duties.

Over the past three seasons, NC State’s running backs averaged less than 100 yards per game on the ground (119th in FBS in that span). And at the root of the problem is the run blocking, which has afforded tailbacks 1.67 yards before contact per carry since the start of 2021, good for 123rd nationally. The pieces looked much better this spring, but NC State’s backfield still has a lot to prove. — Hale

Lingering question: Is the secondary elite?

A year ago, Clemson’s defense was among the best in the country, led in large part by an elite secondary that just saw one of its corners — Nate Wiggins— selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Gone, too, are safety Andrew Mukuba (transferred to Texas), safety Jalyn Phillips and corner Sheridan Jones. Yet, there is certainly a case to be made that the new faces have a higher ceiling.

Junior Jeadyn Lukus was a five-star recruit when he arrived, and he has gotten snippets of playing time in each of the past two years, though he’ll be battling sophomore Shelton Lewis for playing time. Sophomore Avieon Terrell — the younger brother of former Clemson standout A.J. Terrell — should step seamlessly into a starting corner role, which he held for parts of last season. And returners R.J. Mickens and Khalil Barnes have flashed impressive potential. The question comes from a limited number of snaps, but the ceiling for the group certainly looks high. — Hale

Lingering question: Can Avery Johnson live up to the starting QB role?

We’re not going to know the answer to this question until the season starts, but it feels like the biggest lingering question remains how good can Avery Johnson be in replacing Will Howard. There’s reason for optimism on the ground, given the presence of Johnson, DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards.

Elsewhere, this is a team that has lost its best pass-catchers in Phillip Brooks and Ben Sinnott, and four of its six offensive linemen who started in 2023, including new Dallas Cowboy Cooper Beebe. Adjustments have been made, but seeing how the final product forms remains the biggest question. — Lyles

Lingering question: Is the transfer portal helping Louisville?

Louisville has had great success using the transfer portal — in fact, its 27 additions a year ago helped the Cardinals make the ACC championship game in Year 1 under coach Jeff Brohm.

This spring, there have been a few question marks after incoming transfers Peny Boone and Tyler Baron quickly reentered the transfer portal after spending one semester with the Cards. Add in returning linebacker Jaylin Alderman, who also entered the portal in the spring and has since committed to Miami, and there are some lingering questions about what exactly happened. — Adelson

Lingering question: Will the new offensive line work, and will it be enough to keep QB Jalon Daniels healthy?

The Jayhawks allowed the fewest sacks in the Big 12 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Coming out of 2023, they lose three starters in Dominick Puni, Mike Novitsky and Ar’maj Reed-Adams, as well as OL coach Scott Fuchs.

Daryl Agpalsa is Fuchs’ replacement and will be tasked with reshaping a line that will hopefully help keep Daniels healthy, which will be the key to any success the Jayhawks have this season. — Lyles

Lingering question: Who will replace Ray Davis?

There are some big shoes to fill in the backfield after Davis was a one-and-done starter at tailback for the Wildcats. The former Vanderbilt transfer accounted for 68% of Kentucky’s rushing yards and 78% of its rushing touchdowns in 2023.

That’s not good news for an offense that ranked 12th in the SEC with 127.9 yards per game. Chip Trayanum is a veteran runner who was stuck behind TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams at Ohio State the past two seasons. Former NC State transfer Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and freshman Jason Patterson seemed to be next in line during the spring. With four starting offensive linemen coming back, Kentucky has to figure out a way to be more efficient in the running game. — Schlabach

Lingering question: How will Miami’s revamped defensive front fare?

Miami returns freshman All-American Rueben Bain to anchor a unit that will have a different look in 2024. Seven players have entered the transfer portal since the season ended, but the Hurricanes have gone into the portal to help solidify the position.

Elijah Alston (Marshall), C.J. Clark (NC State) and Marley Cook (Middle Tennessee) participated in spring ball, and there are a few early enrollee freshmen who could contribute as well in Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount. Plus, Miami is hoping Akheem Mesidor is back to full strength after he was hurt in Week 2 last year and missed the rest of the season. — Adelson

Lingering question: How will Conner Weigman look in the Aggies’ new offense?

The Aggies limped to the end of the Jimbo Fisher era with multiple quarterbacks starting games the past two seasons. With a new coach in Mike Elko and a new offensive coordinator in Collin Klein, there is new opportunity for a quarterbacks room that has already earned some confidence.

Weigman started eight games in the past two seasons and had moments where he looked like a star in the making (five TDs in last year’s season opener, 336 yards passing vs. Miami). But Jaylen Henderson looked like a star in relief, completing 25 of 35 passes for 294 yards and two TDs on the road against LSU late in the year, before freshman Marcel Reed took over for an injured Henderson in the Texas Bowl to throw for 361 yards and run for 44 more against Oklahoma State. Weigman (foot) was still limited this spring, going just 5-of-14 in the spring game, but Elko was all positive about Weigman’s trajectory and the work he put in this spring to learn the offense despite not being 100%. — Wilson

Not one. Not two. Not three. But six. That’s how many consecutive Game 1s the Dallas Stars have lost after falling to the visiting Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Stars jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period after goals from Ryan Suter, Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn only to then go scoreless the rest of the way and allow four straight goals by the Avalanche, including the winner from Miles Wood nearly nine minutes into overtime.

“We had that game under control, and we let it slip away. But we’ve seen that in the regular season against them,” Stars forward Matt Duchene told reporters. “We had two games like that, so we have bounce back here and split the homestand here.”

The Avalanche jump-started their comeback by capitalizing on their power-play chances. Valeri Nichushkin trimmed the lead to 3-1 a little more than five minutes into the second period, and Cale Makar cut it to 3-2 nearly four minutes later.

Avalanche star center Nathan MacKinnon, who was named one of the three Hart Trophy finalists on Tuesday, scored the tying goal less than a minute into the third period.

“They’re a great power play,” Benn said. “They’ve got a lot of skill. We’ll have to watch some video, learn from it and move on.”

There were moments in overtime when the Avalanche struggled to find a clear shot before Wood found space on a breakaway and beat Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for the winning goal.

“We didn’t know we could come back, but we wanted to at least try,” MacKinnon said after the game.

Learning how to make the necessary adjustments following a Game 1 loss has proved to be a familiar theme for the Stars.

The last time they won Game 1 of a playoff series came in 2020, when they took the first game of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a series Dallas would lose in six games.

The Stars opened the 2022 playoffs with a Game 1 loss to the Calgary Flames and fell in seven games. Last season saw the Stars open the playoffs with a Game 1 loss in double overtime in the first round to the Minnesota Wild before winning the series in six games. Dallas lost Game 1 of the second round in overtime to the Seattle Kraken before winning that series in seven games en route to reaching the Western Conference finals, where the Stars lost another Game 1 that went into overtime to the Vegas Golden Knights before dropping that series in six games.

Fast-forward to this year’s playoffs: The Stars lost the first two games of their opening-round series to the Golden Knights before ousting the defending Stanley Cup champions in the first round. And now Dallas has pushed that streak to six straight Game 1 defeats with Tuesday’s loss to the Avalanche.

“I think you learn about each other as a series goes on, and what we know about that team is what happened tonight,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. “I think we had the lead. … They’re a quick-strike team. You can’t make mistakes in those situations. It’s a tough lesson to learn in Game 1, but glad you’re not learning it in Game 6 or 7 in an elimination game.”