The Nashville Predators begin the NHL playoffs with Sunday's Game 1 at the Vancouver Canucks.

Nashville will be underdogs against Vancouver, the Pacific Division regular season champions and a team that swept the Preds in the regular season.

A key to the series will be the health and effectiveness of Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, who returned on April 16 after missing 14 games with a knee injury.

What are the keys for the Predators to upset the Canucks? What is going to happen in this series? Here's what our experts think.

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Alex Daughtery, Tennessean Predators beat reporter

The pick: Predators over Canucks in 7 

Juuse Saros steals a road win in Vancouver, flipping home-ice advantage to Nashville. The Predators' top line with Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Gustav Nyquist has been one of the most consistently dangerous lines in the league. Look for it to continue that dominance.

X-factor: Ryan O’Reilly

Not only is his nickname “Factor” but his 65 points in 75 career playoff games leads all Predators skaters. Barry Trotz brought him in as a “serial winner” – now it’s time for him to shine.

Gentry Estes, Tennessean sports columnist

The pick: Canucks over Predators in 7

I missed the fun of 2017. I got to the Tennessean in late 2019, and since then, the Preds’ record in playoff games is 3-11. This team and this season, it has felt differently, but I’ll still need to see it to truly believe. And then there’s this: Vancouver is really dang good. Similar to the Preds, actually, except maybe a little better. And that little bit – as well as a fourth home game – could make the difference in a tight series.

X-factor: Juuse Saros

He missed the playoffs two years ago while injured, and the Preds were lost without him. If this team is going to make a deep run, it’ll need its goalie going on a heater and stealing games. Saros is certainly capable.

Paul Skrbina, sports enterprise reporter, former Predators beat writer

The pick: Predators over Canucks in six

Your table is ready, Ryan O’Reilly, Gus Nyquist and Luke Schenn. A big reason Barry Trotz signed those guys last offseason was for this stage of the season.

X-factor(s): Luke Evangelista and Tommy Novak.

The linemates and former roommates will have pitch in on offense in order for the Predators to advance.

Nick Gray, trending sports reporter

The pick: Canucks over Predators in 6

The Predators will need production driven by someone other than the top line or Roman Josi. If it comes to middle-six production, the Canucks will win this series. I think it does.

X-factor: Luke Evangelista

This might be a year too early for Evangelista’s star turn. But if he has a productive series, the Predators will have a good chance to move on.

Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks NHL playoffs first-round schedule

All times Central

Game 1: Nashville at Vancouver; 9 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 21 on ESPN and Bally Sports South

Game 2: Nashville at Vancouver; 9 p.m. CT, Tuesday, April 23 on ESPN2 and Bally Sports South

Game 3: Vancouver at Nashville; 6:30 p.m. CT, Friday, April 26 on TBS and Bally Sports South

Game 4: Vancouver at Nashville; 4 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 28 on TBS, truTV and Bally Sports South

Game 5 (if necessary): Nashville at Vancouver; TBD on Tuesday, April 30

Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Nashville; TBD on Friday, May 3

Game 7 (if necessary): Nashville at Vancouver; TBD on Sunday, May 5

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators NHL playoffs predictions 2024: Expert picks for Predators-Canucks