The Western Conference was as wild as ever this year. It doesn't seem too far-fetched to believe all eight teams have a legitimate chance of advancing to the second round. With that said, let's dive into our predictions, X-factors, and breakdowns for each Western series.

Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche

Prediction: Flames in six

Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer was red-hot down the stretch, going 9-2-2 with a .956 save percentage and three shutouts in his final 14 contests. He may be able to steal a game or two against the Flames, but stifling the league's second-ranked offense over a seven-game series will be a tall task.

Calgary's depth - both up front and on the blue line - should prevail in this series. Colorado's top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen may go off in a couple of games, but its lack of secondary scoring should ultimately lead to a first-round exit.

X-factor for Flames: Mikael Backlund

With home-ice advantage, the Flames' top line of Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and Elias Lindholm will have its way with whichever soft matchup it encounters. If Calgary's checking line, centered by Backlund, can keep one of hockey's best trios in check - or better yet, force the Avs to break it up - this series could be over early.

X-factor for Avalanche: Mikko Rantanen

Though nothing is set in stone, the Avalanche expect Rantanen to be ready for Game 1 after he missed the last eight games of the regular season with an upper-body injury. If he misses time in this series or is ineffective due to his ailment, Colorado doesn't stand much of a chance. But if he's playing like his normal self, don't be shocked to see the Avs push this series to the limit on the shoulders of their top line.

San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Prediction: Golden Knights in seven

The Sharks and Golden Knights meet in a rematch of last year's second-round clash, which Vegas won in six games. As most series between two evenly matched clubs go, the team with the better goaltending should prevail. That could prove especially true in a series featuring two of the league's top teams in terms of generating scoring chances, and it means the Golden Knights have a sizable edge.

Martin Jones is coming off the worst regular season of his career by far. He does boast an impressive playoff resume, but returning to that form isn't as simple as flipping a switch.

Marc-Andre Fleury, meanwhile, is well rested after missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury. He showed some rust in his two-game tune-up to cap the regular season, but it's hard not to trust Flower after a solid campaign.

X-factor for Sharks: Erik Karlsson

If San Jose gets the 2017 playoff version of Karlsson, it's difficult to imagine the Sharks losing this series. But the superstar Swede is coming off a groin injury that cost him 17 games before he returned for the season finale. He's excelled on one good ankle before, but can he thrive if his groin fails? Time will tell.

X-factor for Golden Knights: Mark Stone

The other former Ottawa Senator in this series projects to play a huge role. Stone tallied eight points in his first 10 games in new threads but managed just three in the eight contests that followed. Everyone knows Stone is a defensive stalwart, but he needs to produce offensively if the Knights are to advance.

Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars

Prediction: Predators in five

The Predators and Stars meet in the only playoff series to feature two teams that ranked in the bottom half of the league in offense. In what projects to be a low-scoring matchup, the advantage goes to the battle-tested Predators, who have far more playoff experience.

Playoff hockey requires depth scoring and the Stars rely almost exclusively on their top line for goals. Putting all the scoring weight on the shoulders of Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov doesn't bode well against a Predators squad that can neutralize opposing offenses with one of the best top-four defense corps in the league. Jamie Benn has struggled this year, but the postseason is a great time to rediscover one's form.

X-factor for Predators: Filip Forsberg

Nashville's Achilles' heel is its lack of true game-changers up front, but Forsberg certainly fits the bill. Coming off one of his worst seasons since entering the league, he'll need to elevate his game in the playoffs - as he's done in the past.

X-factor for Stars: Ben Bishop

If the Stars are going to win this series, Bishop is going to have to steal it. He certainly seems capable of doing so after posing a .934 save percentage and a 1.98 goals-against average during the regular season.

Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues

Prediction: Blues in seven

The Blues' 2018-19 campaign was a tale of two calendar years. From October through December they were 15-18-4 and sat dead-last in the league on Jan. 2. They went 30-10-5 from that point onward in one of the most spectacular second-half turnarounds in recent memory.

The Jets, meanwhile, stumbled their way to the finish line, compiling a 13-14-3 record over their final 30 games. Injuries certainly played a part, but they were plagued by inconsistent play throughout the lineup.

Winnipeg may be the more talented squad on paper and is certainly capable of turning it on at any moment, but it's difficult to go against a team that comes in riding an unbelievable second half.

X-factor for Jets: Josh Morrissey

Morrissey hasn't played since Feb. 24 due to an upper-body injury and his status for Game 1 is still up in the air. Even if he plays, it could take him some time to return to game shape. He's one of the most underrated blue-liners in the league and one of the Winnipeg's most valuable players. The Jets went 36-19-4 with him in the lineup, but just 11-10-1 without.

X-factor for Blues: Colton Parayko

Parayko didn't make the significant strides many expected of him this season, but the playoffs seem like the perfect setting for his coming-out party. If the Blues are going to go deep, the 6-foot-6 defenseman will have to be a horse on the back end.

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Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's National Hockey Writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify.

In this episode, ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Bowen Byram of the WHL's Vancouver Giants join John to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• What it will take for the Stars to upset the Preds
• Can the Jets find their stride before it's too late?
• The Avs are about to have a week to remember
• Major goaltending concerns in San Jose
• Byram's self-scouting report
• Byram's prep for the NHL draft

... and more!

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Team Canada will be without superstar Connor McDavid at this year's World Championship, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.

McDavid suffered a leg injury during the Edmonton Oilers' final regular-season game of 2018-19 on Saturday while crashing into the goal post at full speed. Though the franchise talent had to be helped off the ice, Rishaug says the injury isn't believed to be too serious.

X-rays on McDavid's knee came back negative, and the 22-year-old was scheduled to have an MRI on Sunday. The results won't be known for a couple of days.

McDavid has represented Canada on the World Championship stage twice (2016 and 2018). This season, the two-time Art Ross Trophy winner recorded a career-high 116 points, joining Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, and Mario Lemieux as the only players in history to notch three consecutive 100-point campaigns at age 22 or younger.

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From Connor McDavid to Jack Eichel?

Todd McLellan is reportedly a leading candidate to succeed Phil Housley as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The Los Angeles Kings have reportedly also been negotiating with McLellan and appear to remain in the mix, McKenzie added.

Coincidentally, McLellan already planned to be in Buffalo this week for the Frozen Four to watch his son Tyson, who plays for the University of Denver.

McLellan previously served as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers and the San Jose Sharks. He owns a career record of 434-282-90.

The Sabres fired Housley on Sunday after two seasons.

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Ken Hitchcock's fate as interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers will be determined by the club's new general manager, CEO Bob Nicholson said Monday.

Regardless of the impending GM's decision, Hitchcock will stay with the organization in some capacity moving forward, Nicholson added.

The sole focus of the Oilers front office is on the GM hiring process, Nicholson stated. Edmonton is not currently looking to hire a president of hockey operations.

Hitchcock was hired with the interim tag back in November and compiled a 26-28-8 record behind the bench. The 67-year-old is third on the NHL's all-time wins list.

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Ryan Kesler may be forced to hang his skates up.

The Anaheim Ducks forward could be facing career-ending surgery on his ailing hip.

"We have to find some options for me. Not just for hockey, but for my life," Kesler told NHL.com's Dan Arritt on Sunday. "Simple things, like putting on socks in the morning, are tough."

Kesler underwent hip surgery on June 17, 2017, and has since played in just 104 out of a possible 164 games. The 34-year-old's performance has declined accordingly, as he's coming off two of his worst seasons since entering the league. He tallied just eight points in 60 contests this year.

Kesler said the only surgery available to him is a hip replacement.

"It would probably be career-ending," Kesler said, who still has three years left on his contract with a $6.875-million cap hit.

Kesler plans to meet with hip specialists over the next few weeks before sitting down with his agent, Ducks general manager Bob Murray, and the doctors to discuss his future in the sport.

"Let's talk to the doctors," Murray said. "Get all the information in front of us, and we'll sit down when we have all the information."

Kesler was one of the preeminent two-way centers in the league during his prime. He won the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 2010-11 during his 41-goal, 73-point season with the Vancouver Canucks. He was a Selke finalist four other times, and in total has 573 career points in 1,001 games.

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This year's first-round matchups in the Eastern Conference feature the strongest team in years, a pair of familiar foes meeting for a second straight spring, and a couple of resurgent clubs returning to the postseason after years of missing out.

Let's dive into each opening-round series in the East.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Prediction: Lightning in four

The Lightning put together a dominant regular season, and anything less than a Stanley Cup championship will be a disappointment for the NHL's top team.

Tampa Bay shouldn't have much difficulty with its first-round playoff opponent, as the club is simply too deep and too explosive for Columbus to handle. The Blue Jackets will likely struggle to contain Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Co. in a best-of-seven series.

Adding Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel gave Columbus a little more scoring punch, but the Blue Jackets' attack still pales in comparison to the juggernaut they're matched up against in round one.

Barring a stunning flip of the script, this one should be over quickly.

X-factor for Lightning: Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper is hopeful that Victor Hedman will play in Game 1. The reigning Norris Trophy winner's health, or lack thereof, could determine his effectiveness early in the series.

The Lightning have proven they can get by without him. But if a nagging injury affects Hedman's availability or his play for an extended period, that could give the Blue Jackets a better chance to steal a game or two.

X-factor for Blue Jackets: Sergei Bobrovsky appears to have regained his form, but he'll need to be excellent in every game for the Blue Jackets to pull off a massive upset.

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Prediction: Bruins in seven

This highly anticipated rematch should once again provide plenty of intrigue.

While John Tavares may be leading the Maple Leafs this time around, the team is still weak defensively, and Frederik Andersen was shaky down the stretch in goal until his final two games.

Boston prevailed over Toronto in seven games last year, and the Bruins returned essentially the same roster in 2018-19. So while the Leafs could overwhelm the Bruins with their upgraded arsenal of offensive weapons, they may be hard-pressed to keep up at both ends of the rink once again.

Much was made about Auston Matthews' poor production in the 2018 series, but he should contribute more this year with Tavares' presence creating an added headache for two-way wizard Patrice Bergeron.

Toronto is deeper than last year, as Jake Muzzin provides depth on the back end and Andreas Johnsson does the same up front. But the Bruins still boast one of the best lines in the NHL, and they're among the league's top teams at minimizing goals against.

X-factor for Bruins: As usual, Bergeron should excel offensively between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak on the Bruins' top line. But his ability to contain the Leafs' collection of dynamic forwards will significantly impact the outcome of the series.

X-factor for Maple Leafs: The Leafs need Andersen to be at his best, and while his late-season issues don't provide much optimism, the playoffs give him an opportunity to wipe the slate clean.

Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Prediction: Capitals in five

The defending Stanley Cup champions meet the so-called "jerks" as the Capitals begin their title defense against the team that took the league by storm.

Washington is the clear favorite here, and for good reason. The Capitals hardly missed a beat during the regular season en route to their fourth straight division crown, and they won all four meetings with Carolina in 2018-19.

The Hurricanes ended the NHL's longest active playoff drought when they qualified this spring, but Carolina simply can't match the depth of their first-round opponents.

Carolina deserves credit for exceeding expectations and embracing fun during a magical regular season, but it'll be tough for the Hurricanes to keep up with the Capitals.

X-factor for Capitals: Alex Ovechkin was exceptional throughout the postseason last year, and he's showing no signs of decline at age 33. The superstar forward can still break a game open in the blink of an eye, and while the Capitals have a deep, versatile roster around him, he's the catalyst.

X-factor for Hurricanes: Petr Mrazek emerged as the Hurricanes' No. 1 netminder toward season's end, winning 11 of his final 13 starts with a .944 save percentage. He doesn't have much playoff experience, but the veteran has posted a .927 save percentage in 11 career postseason appearances.

New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Prediction: Penguins in seven

Barry Trotz's system transformed the Islanders during his first season behind the bench in New York, creating a defensively rock-solid club that sailed past expectations following Tavares' offseason departure.

The Islanders also have offensive talents at their disposal, but they ranked in the bottom third in goals per game and will need Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, and Josh Bailey to produce in this series.

But will the well-balanced Islanders be deep enough to vanquish the experienced, playoff-tested Penguins?

Pittsburgh can never be counted out with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Kris Letang leading the charge. Netminder Matt Murray is also looking like his old self again after a difficult 2017-18 campaign.

The Penguins' back-to-back championship core is still largely intact, and Trotz's mastery might not be enough to lift a less experienced Islanders squad past Pittsburgh in New York's first playoff series since 2016.

X-factor for Islanders: Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss earned the William M. Jennings Trophy for their stellar play after splitting time in the crease. But Lehner has logged only two postseason appearances (no starts), with 49 minutes of playoff experience to his name. Greiss doesn't have much postseason experience himself, but the two will need to keep excelling in the playoffs for the Islanders to win.

X-factor for Penguins: Pittsburgh's defense will need to step up, as the team ranked 14th in goals allowed while surrendering the sixth-most shots per game in the regular season.

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Welcome to the 14th and final edition of theScore's 2018-19 regular season NHL Power Rankings. Below, we assess how each team wrapped up their recent campaigns.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (62-16-4)

What a run for the Lightning, who matched an NHL record with 62 wins. They're the runaway favorites to win the Stanley Cup for good reason, but the health of blue-line stalwart Victor Hedman is imperative for the club's title aspirations.

Previously: 1st

2. Calgary Flames (50-25-7) ▲

The Flames improved 23 points in the standings this season and earned home ice throughout the Western Conference playoffs. It's unclear who will start Game 1 in goal for Calgary but the good news is both Mike Smith and David Rittich were capable of winning games down the stretch.

Previously: 3rd

3. Boston Bruins (49-24-9) ▲

From Jan. 1 onward, the Bruins went 28-10-5 while ranking sixth in goals for (148) and seventh in goals against (109). They face a daunting Atlantic Division draw again this spring, but Boston is a legitimate Cup threat.

Previously: 5th

4. Washington Capitals (48-26-8)

The title defense is officially on for the Capitals, who pulled away from the pack in the Metropolitan and earned their fourth consecutive division title.

Previously: 4th

5. Nashville Predators (47-29-6) ▲

The Central Division crown was ripe for the taking throughout March and April, and the seasoned Predators won seven of their last 10 games to capture it. Now, Nashville has home ice and gets an easier opponent in Round 1 to get its playoff run started.

Previously: 13th

6. New York Islanders (48-27-7) ▲

The Islanders shattered expectations to finish fifth in the entire league, and it will be fascinating to see if head coach Barry Trotz can get his troops to make some noise in the playoffs - perhaps enough to set up a second-round match up with his former Capitals squad.

Previously: 11th

7. St. Louis Blues (45-28-9) ▲

St. Louis was tied for 29th place at Christmas. It ended up missing the division title by a single point. Watch out for the Blues.

Previously: 16th

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (46-28-8) ▼

An inconsistent Frederik Andersen and a swath of injuries led to some shaky play from the Maple Leafs to close out the regular season. Still, the 2018-19 campaign was about playoff progress from the get-go, and Toronto earned its chance at redemption versus the Bruins.

Previously:6th

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (44-26-12)

Not to say seeding doesn't matter, but for a team as experienced as the Penguins, full health is more important than first-round opponents. It goes without saying that Pittsburgh getting Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang back into the lineup prior to the playoffs makes this club as dangerous as any.

Previously: 9th

10. Carolina Hurricanes (46-29-7) ▼

The Hurricanes' playoff push enthralled the hockey world, and it's safe to say the hype train will go off the rails if Carolina puts a scare into, or beats the Capitals. Let's see what this bunch of jerks can do.

Previously: 8th

11. San Jose Sharks (46-27-9) ▼

The Sharks stumbled into the playoffs with a 3-8-1 record in their last 12 games to claim their lowest spot on our power rankings since Dec. 10. The team's biggest question mark all season has been between the pipes with Martin Jones. The netminder is coming off his worst season but does boast a stellar playoff resume.

Previously: 2nd

12. Winnipeg Jets (47-30-5) ▼

The Jets also dragged their way into the postseason, but injuries were certainly a contributing factor - specifically on the blue line. Dustin Byfuglien, who skated in just 42 contests this season, returned for a five-game tuneup before the playoffs. Meanwhile, Josh Morrissey hasn't played since Feb. 24 and his status for Game 1 is uncertain.

Previously: 10th

13. Columbus Blue Jackets (47-31-4) ▲

The Blue Jackets won seven of their final eight games to punch their postseason ticket. Sergei Bobrovsky was spectacular down the stretch, going 10-3 with a .946 save percentage and four shutouts. He'll need to be just as sharp in the playoffs for Columbus to upset Tampa Bay.

Previously: 15th

14. Vegas Golden Knights (43-32-7) ▼

The Golden Knights mustered together just one win in their last eight games to cap the worst season in franchise history. Marc-Andre Fleury was absent for most of those contests, though. He returned for the last two games after missing nearly a month, but is that enough to get ready for a playoff run?

Previously: 7th

15. Dallas Stars (43-32-7) ▼

The Stars squeaked into the playoffs despite owning the third-worst offense in the entire league. Simply put, Ben Bishop's brilliance will have to continue for Dallas to stand a chance.

Previously: 14th

16. Colorado Avalanche (38-30-14) ▲

In addition to a well-earned playoff berth, Colorado could net the first overall pick courtesy of the Senators' incompetence. The Avs' top-end talent makes them a dangerous team to face, but a lack of scoring depth could lead to an early exit.

Previously: 23rd

17. Montreal Canadiens (44-30-8) ▲

The Canadiens were simply in the wrong conference. They finished with more points than the Stars, Golden Knights, and Avalanche, but won't be heading to the postseason. Nonetheless, this season should be viewed as a positive, as many projected them as a lottery team in October.

Previously: 18th

18. Arizona Coyotes (39-35-8) ▼

If the league handed out a team award for perseverance, the Coyotes would be this year's winners. Arizona suffered an unimaginable amount of injuries but remained in the thick of the playoff hunt until the final few games. However, it's clear this team needs an injection of offense if it wants to take the next step.

Previously: 12th

19. Florida Panthers (36-32-14)

The Panthers could be in for a busy offseason. They've already hired Joel Quenneville as their next head coach and have been linked to pending free agents Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. With plenty of high-end talent already on the roster, a couple of key additions could finally get Florida over the hump.

Previously: 19th

20. Minnesota Wild (37-36-9)

Paul Fenton's first year as Wild general manager didn't go as planned. Their six-year postseason streak was snapped, and the midseason Nino Niederreiter-for-Victor Rask trade looks horrendous. More moves are surely on the way in Minny.

Previously: 20th

21. Chicago Blackhawks (36-34-12)

The Blackhawks will obviously be disappointed to have missed the playoffs, but they should take some solace in how well they played down the stretch to vault back into the hunt. Despite some lingering issues, Chicago should enter next season with a positive outlook.

Previously: 21st

22. Vancouver Canucks (35-36-11) ▲

Speaking of an encouraging outlook, the Canucks certainly have one despite how their season concluded. Vancouver gave prized defensive prospect Quinn Hughes a handful of games before wrapping things up, and the club has reason for optimism going forward with Hughes, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Boeser anchoring a promising core.

Previously: 25th

23. Detroit Red Wings (32-40-10) ▲

Winning seven out of 10 is a nice way to end the regular season, but the Red Wings' roster still has plenty of holes heading into 2019-20.

Previously: 31st

24. Philadelphia Flyers (37-37-8) ▼

Despite Carter Hart's emergence, this season was unquestionably a failure for the Flyers, who learned they'll need more than the talented, young goaltender and two good lines to become a truly competitive club again.

Previously: 17th

25. Edmonton Oilers (35-38-9) ▼

Connor McDavid's frustration boiled over a bit down the stretch, and then he got hurt in the Oilers' regular-season finale. Needless to say, he and the rest of the club would clearly like to put this campaign behind them.

Previously: 22nd

26. Anaheim Ducks (35-37-10)

The lesson for the Anaheim this season is that John Gibson needs a lot more help. The Ducks have to improve the NHL's worst offense and get better at limiting shots and scoring chances. They're unlikely to do that if they continue to be one of the league's oldest teams.

Previously: 26th

27. New York Rangers (32-36-14)

Alexandar Georgiev has proven capable of being the heir apparent to Henrik Lundqvist whenever King Henrik decides to call it a career, but it's going to be a while before the Rangers are real contenders again.

Previously: 27th

28. Buffalo Sabres (33-39-10) ▼

A second-half nosedive doomed Phil Housley, as the now-former Sabres head coach got the ax Sunday. Buffalo clearly has plenty of room to grow, but expectations will always be high with Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin in the fold. Jeff Skinner still needs a new contract, too.

Previously: 24th

29. New Jersey Devils (31-41-10) ▼

Getting Taylor Hall signed long term will be priority No. 1 for the Devils this summer. New Jersey will also have a shot at a very high pick in the upcoming draft, so general manager Ray Shero has an important offseason ahead.

Previously: 28th

30. Los Angeles Kings (31-42-9) ▼

The Kings will have the second-best odds at winning the first overall pick, but not even Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko can fix Los Angeles' problems on their own.

Previously: 29th

31. Ottawa Senators (29-47-6) ▼

A nightmare of a season on and off the ice is finally, mercifully over for the Senators, but hey, at least they have the lottery to look forward to. Oh, wait ...

Previously: 30th

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