It's now time for the greatest postseason tournament in all of profe sional sports .While we all start off thinking one team is a sure-fire pick to win it all, one bounce or post or bad bounce can alter a team's destiny. Can Calgary put up similar numbers in the postseason or was their best years 1989 the year it won it's last Cup a fluke? Will they, or Winnipeg, become the first Canadian team win since Montreal in 1993 or will the Blues derail their dreams and keep their own Cinderella season going?How it will all end is anyone's gue s, but Sporting News' NHL experts still tried to predict the Western Conference playoffs and who will take a lap with Lord Stanley's Cup in June.MORE SN STAFF PICKS: | Stanley CupNHL playoffs bracket 2019 NHL playoffs 2019:Western Conference predictionsCalgaryFlames (P1)vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC2) The backstory As stated above, Flames had a stellar season which also included the team burying the puck 289 times second-most in Jose Pirela Jersey the NHL 14 times against the Avalanche in three games.X-factor Mark Giordano should be a Norris Trophy finalist, if not the winner, with the season he had. Calgary's captain notched74 points with a plus-39 differential and is a veteran who can help drive the Flames forward towards a deep run.The big number Colorado's captain could also be the X-factor but it's his 1.03 Anderson Espinoza Jersey points per game that sets him apart. Gabriel Landeskog set career highs inpoints (75), goals (34) and a sists (41) despite only playing 73 regular-season games. The Avalanche will need him to be productive for them to oust the Pacific Division leaders.ExpertCalgary FlamesColorado AvalancheJackie SpiegelWinner in 6Brandon SchlagerWinner in 7Steve KournianosWinner in 6Dave McCarthyWinner in 6Mike MurphyWinner in 5Murray PamWinner in 6Lyle RichardsonWinner in 5Sammi SilberWinner in 6MORE: San Jose Sharks (P2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P3) The backstory This season is either the meeting of teams for the first time or repeats of 2018 and this series is a repeat. Last year the Sharks lost in six games to Vegas who went all the way to the Stanley Cup FinalX-factor If he can stay healthy, Erik Karl son is always an X-factor. The two-time Norris Trophy mi sed more than a month towardthe end of the season but did return for the Sharks season finale and, of course, logged more than 20 minutes of ice time.The big number 21. Twenty-one is the number of seasons Joe Thornton has completed in his Hall of Fame career. Is this the year Jumbo Joe finally get the one trophy he's been coveting for so long?ExpertSan Jose SharksVegas Golden KnightsJackie SpiegelWinner in 7Brandon SchlagerWinner in 7Steve KournianosWinner in 5Dave McCarthyWinner in 6Mike MurphyWinner in 7Murray PamWinner in 7Lyle RichardsonWinner in 7Sammi SilberWinner in 7MORE: Nashville Predators (C1) vs. Dallas Stars (WC1) The backstory This is the first playoff meeting for these two franchises, but if it was like their regular-season series, expect the games to be physical and close scoring affairs.X-factor Mats Zuccarello. The Norwegian may have only played in two games for Dallas after being acquired before the trade deadline, but in those two games he left a big impre sion, and scoredthree points. Zuccarello has a veteran voice in the locker room for Dallas and60 playoff games with 31 playoff points under his belt Dinelson Lamet Jersey .The big number Seven. That's the number of games Nashville played last season in the second round against Winnipeg and lost despite enteringthe postseason as the No. 1 team in the NHL. It left a bad taste in their mouth and they'll look to put that series in the past and go deep into the playoffs.ExpertNashville PredatorsDallas StarsJackie SpiegelWinner in 5Brandon SchlagerWinner in 6Steve KournianosWinner in 7Dave McCarthyWinner in 7Mike MurphyWinner in 6Murray PamWinner in 6Lyle RichardsonWinner in 6Sammi SilberWinner in 6MORE: Winnipeg Jets (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3) The backstory Ignore the regular-season series between these two teams. Those games were before the calendar turned to 2019, before the Blues went on a ridiculous run and before the Jets slumped. Wipe the slate clean and get ready for a highly-entertaining series.X-factor A year after scoring 44 goals, Patrik Laine netted only 30 for his lowest goal (and point) total of his young career. The Finn needs to up his game because while Cory Spangenberg Jersey Blake Wheeler and Mark Schiefele can put up points, the Jets will need that extra offensive boostif Winnipeg wants to past the rolling Blues.The big numberAll eyes will be on rookie netminder, and St. Louis hero, Jordan Binnington who posted a 1.89 goals-against average after he was called up in January. He's never seen the NHL postseason up close before, but if he can at least match that number this Blues team may just be lacing them up in June.ExpertWinnipeg JetsSt. Louis BluesJackie SpiegelWinner in 7Brandon Chris Paddack Jersey SchlagerWinner in 6Steve KournianosWinner in 7Dave McCarthyWinner in 7Mike MurphyWinner in 6Murray PamWinner in 7Lyle RichardsonWinner in 6Sammi SilberWinner in 5MORE: Stanley Cup Final picksExpertEastern ConferenceWestern ConferenceStanley CupConn Smythe winnerJackie SpiegelTB over WSH in 5SJS over STL in 6SJS over TB in 6Joe PavelskiBrandon SchlagerTB over PIT in 6NSH over SJS in 7TB over NSH in 6Steven StamkosSteve KournianosTB over NYI in 5NSH over VGK in 6TB over NSH in 5Andrei VasilevskiyDave McCarthyTB over WSH in 7VGK over WPG in 7TB over VGK in 6Steven StamkosMike MurphyTB over WSH in 7CGY over STL in 5TB over CGY in 6Brayden PointMurray PamTB over WSH in 6CGY over STL in 6TB over CGY in 6Brayden PointLyle RichardsonTB over WSH in 6CGY over STL in 6TB over CGY in 6Nikita KucherovSammi SilberTB over WSH in 7WPG over CGY in 5WPG over TB in 6Blake Wheeler