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The Seven Most Dominant Playoff Teams of All Time

by Evan Sporer | 4:45 pm, June 5th, 2012

The 2012 Los Angeles Kings playoff dominance has been well documented. Sneaking into the Western Conference Playoffs with the eighth and final seed, the Kings have gone 15-2 thus far this postseason, and a perfect 10-0 on the road. Los Angeles became the first team in NHL history to open each of its playoff series by going up 3-0. The Kings have outscored their opponents 49-24. Goalie Jonathan Quick has allowed 1.4 goals per game.

The numbers are amazingly dominant. But how, if the Kings finish off the Devils, would they stack up against the most dominant playoff teams ever, across sports? We’re here to help – below, check out the seven most dominant playoff teams of all time.

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1.1976 Cincinnati Reds (7-0)

The "Big Red Machine" made mincemeat of its postseason opponents, en route to winning its second straight World Series. The Reds swept the Phillies in the NLCS (3-0) before having their way with the Yankees, outscoring the Bronx Bombers 22-8 in a four-game sweep.

2.1983 Philadelphia 76ers (12-1)

The Sixers dominated the regular season in the East before sprinting into the NBA Finals. Philadelphia swept the Lakers in those finals behind the strong play of Moses Malone and Julis Erving.

3.1988 Edmonton Oilers (16-2)

It's amazing to some young hockey fans that not only did the Oilers used to be very good, but they were the best. Between 1979 and 1988, Edmonton won four Stanley Cups, none more dominant than its last. Edmonton went 12-2 in the Western Conference playoffs, before sweeping the Bruins for hockey's top prize.

4.1999 New York Yankees (11-1)

In the midst of its turn of the century dynasty (this was the second of three straight World Series the Yanks would capture) the Bombers claimed number two with class. After sweeping the Rangers in the first round, the Yanks ran past the rival Red Sox 4-1 in the ALCS before sweeping the Braves in the World Series. (Note: that photo is from 1996, but "Paul O'Neill rolling over the pile" is a classic.)

5.2001 Los Angeles Lakers (15-1)

The Lakers nearly did the unthinkable in what became the middle championship of a three-peat. Los Angeles ran through the Western Conference playoffs without dropping a single game. Allen Iverson and the upstart Sixers provided a scare for the Lake Show with a Game 1 win in the Finals, but the Lakers won the next four games to finish of Philly.

6.2005 Chicago White Sox (11-1)

Often forgotten on the list of dominant postseason performances is this recent one from Chicago's South Side squad. After winning the AL Central, the White Sox swept Boston out of the playoffs, then dominated the Angels in a 4-1 series win. The Astros put up a fight in the World Series, but were swept by Chicago in four games, even though the White Sox only outscored Houston by six runs.

7.2012 Los Angeles Kings? (Currently 15-2)

The Kings' story of dominance provides intrigue for a few reasons. Los Angeles sneaked into the postseason as the eight seed after a horrid start to the season. But the Kings dispatched the top-seeded Canucks (4-1) and then the second-seeded Blues (4-0). In the Western Conference Finals, Los Angeles took out Phoenix in five games. If the Kings wrap up the Stanley Cup in Game 4 on Wednesday, they'll match the '88 Oilers for the best postseason record in NHL history.

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