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10 best Stanley Cup champions

GMH/SV Reuters / Reuters

The 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing and with four teams still hoping to be this year's champions, let's take a look at some of the greatest teams to ever win a drink from Lord Stanley.

2011-12 Los Angeles Kings

The most recent member of the list - the 2012 Los Angeles Kings - was an interesting case when you consider how the team did during the regular season. In fact, not many would have pegged the Kings as Cup favorites.

In that same breath, that is what also helped make them one of the best. By finishing eighth in the Western Conference, the Kings set themselves up for an uphill battle.

They knocked off the first, second, and third seeds en route to the Cup Final, before knocking off the New Jersey Devils in six games.

The team went 16-4 in the postseason, largely due to the unreal goaltending performance of Jonathan Quick. The netminder posted a .946 save percentage, a 1.41 goals-against average, and three shutouts, en route to claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy.

1987-88 Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers at their prime were the epitome of a dynasty, and at the heart of their prime was the 1987-88 season.

The Oilers lost just two games in their postseason run that year. They defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games in Round 1, they swept the Calgary Flames in Round 2, and they needed just five games in the Conference Final against the Detroit Red Wings, before sweeping the Boston Bruins in the Cup Final.

Considering their roster - which included the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, and many more - it wasn't a big surprise this powerhouse of a team did what it did.

1984-85 Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers make the list again and with a very similar roster to that of '88. Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Anderson, and Fuhr were all at the helm and when you add in Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey, big things were expected.

The 1985 club only lost three games en route to the Cup. In fact, the Oilers won their first nine games of the postseason, before losing their third game in the Conference Final.

The Oilers would then defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in five games in the Final, including trouncing the Flyers 8-3 in Game 5.

1994-95 New Jersey Devils

They say defense wins championships and for years the Devils had been the poster child for defense in hockey.

The 1995 Devils were an interesting group, since on paper one would've pondered how a team with no visible scoring threat upfront could just walk through teams.

The answer is great defense. Led by Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, and Scott Niedermayer, the Devils blue line was solid. And if you got through them you had to contest with goaltender Martin Brodeur - not a good combination.

Mix in solid two-way power forwards upfront in Claude Lemieux, Bobby Holik, and Stephane Richer and you have a punishing team on your hands.

That just happened to be the perfect recipe to take out the Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Flyers with just four losses before sweeping the Red Wings in the Cup Final.

1975-76 Montreal Canadiens

This Montreal Canadiens team lost just one game during their Cup-run.

The '76 Canadiens went 58-11-11 during the regular season and then continued their dominance in the postseason, sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, and then needing just five games to get by the New York Islanders in the Conference Final.

The team was stacked with Hall of Famers, including Guy Lafleur, Jacques Lemaire, Larry Robinson, Bob Gainey, Ken Dryden, Steve Shutt, Guy Lapointe, and Serge Savard.

The Canadiens busted out the brooms again in the Cup Final making quick work of the Broad Street Bullies. The team would then go on to win the '77, '78, and '79 Cups as well.

1980-81 New York Islanders

The Islanders were a dynasty like no other in the early 1980s, winning four consecutive Stanley Cups. However, among those four teams, the 1981 club was one of the strongest.

In their pursuit of their second of the four Cups, the Islanders lost just three games in four series. They swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in three games in Round 2, and the New York Rangers in the Conference Final before taking out the Minnesota North Stars in the Cup Final in just five games.

However, their biggest feat of the run might be their 4-2 beating of the Oilers in Round 2. They took out an Oilers team stacked with the likes of Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Coffey, and Anderson - no small task.

However, having the likes of Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin and company doesn't make you a pushover either.

1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins of the last five years or so have been known for their incredible offensive power, so it is surprising to think the Penguins once dressed an even more offensive lineup.

The Penguins won two straight Cups from 1991-92 dressing some star-studded lineups. Though, the '92 club captured the Cup in a little more dominating fashion than their '91 counterparts.

The '92 Penguins got by their first two rounds against the Washington Capitals and Rangers in 13 games, but after dropping five games in the first two rounds, the Penguins wouldn't lose again before hoisting Stanley above their heads.

The team swept the Bruins and then the Blackhawks in the Cup Final. That was done with the likes of Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen, Ron Francis, Bryan Trottier, and Larry Murphy among others at their disposal.

1969-70 Boston Bruins

Every hockey fan is likely familiar with the picture of Bobby Orr soaring through the air after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues.

That play came at the conclusion of the 1970 playoffs and though it would be the perfect story to say it was done in Game 7, the fact is it came in Game 4 of the series as the Bruins swept the Blues, capping off their triumphant playoff run.

The Bruins needed six games to get by the Rangers in the first round and didn't taste defeat in their final two series.

Thanks to Orr, John Bucyk, Phil Esposito and company, the Bruins were able to pick apart their opponents - including outscoring the Blues in the Cup Final 20-7.

1996-97 Detroit Red Wings

A Stanley Cup Final has not ended in a sweep since the Red Wings did it in 1998. The '98 Red Wings did so after doing the same feat the previous season against the Flyers.

The '97 and '98 Red Wings were both stellar teams, but the '97 team captured Lord Stanley in a slightly easier fashion. The Red Wings lost just four games en route to their eighth Cup in franchise history.

Goaltender Mike Vernon won the Conn Smythe Trophy after allowing just six goals in four games against the Flyers in the Cup Final.

The team had the likes of Hall of Famers Steve Yzerman, Igor Larionov, Brendan Shanahan, Larry Murphy, Nicklas Lidstrom, Viacheslav Fetisov, as well as Sergei Fedorov.

1951-52 Detroit Red Wings

There may have only been six teams in the league at the time, but that doesn't mean the Red Wings' Cup-run of 1952 was any less spectacular.

They may have only won two series to claim hockey's top prize, but they did so with a perfect record. The Red Wings went 8-0 to become the first team in NHL history to go unbeaten in the playoffs.

The Red Wings knocked off the reigning Cup Champions Maple Leafs, before taking out the Canadiens.

Goaltender Terry Sawchuk allowed just two goals in the finals and shutout the Canadiens in the final two games to lead his team to victory. Meanwhile, Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel, Red Kelly, Alex Delvecchio, and Marcel Pronovost rounded out a deep and talented roster.

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