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Top 5 fanbases of playoffs

Bruce Fedyck / USA Today

The "sixth man" is how many players refer to the advantage a good home crowd can offer. And when the NHL playoffs are in their prime and every game is the biggest game of the year, a great crowd and fanbase can be the difference.

Throughout the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, many teams have been fortunate enough to be backed by some incredibly rowdy and incredibly loyal fans. So let's take a look at the top 5 fanbases from this postseason.

5. Minnesota Wild

Being arguably the biggest hockey bed in the United States, it's no surprise that fans get loud and proud in Minnesota.

The Wild may have been swept by the playoff-rival Chicago Blackhawks in round two, but not before upsetting the St. Louis Blues, who many coined as Cup favorites.

As you can see, the fans at the Xcel Energy Center always have their team's back.

4. Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals had their best season since 2010-11, and for once looked to be a well-balanced team not relying solely on offense. They had the recipe for success - a recipe the "red army" loved.

Fans have gotten wild in Washington, creating an enormous parade of red excitement. After splitting the first two games in New York during their second-round series against the Rangers, the Capitals took a commanding 3-1 series lead by winning both home games. You have to think the sixth man had a lot to do with that.

Unfortunately, they couldn't take down the beast that is the Rangers, falling in overtime in Game 7.

(Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

3. Calgary Flames

From the red army to the "sea of red," Calgary Flames fans made it very obvious that they had their team's back. Wear any piece of clothing that isn't red, and it seems likely you might be asked to leave the building.

On top of being a unified collective of red-dressed hockey enthusiasts, Flames fans get loud. And when this underdog team surprised many by making the playoffs, fans showed their support.

They may have fell in five games to the Anaheim Ducks in round two, but rest assured, they did not go quietly.

2. New York Islanders

It might have been because it was the last time fans would get to see their New York Islanders play at Nassau Coliseum, or the fact that the team had its best regular-season output since 1983-84, but Islanders fans were wild.

New York fell to the Capitals in Game 7 in the first round, but not before showing that there's still a passion for this once-great franchise.

Let's hope the Islanders receive the same praise at their new home in Brooklyn.

(Photos Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

1. Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets may have been swept in the first round by the Ducks, but that wasn't before their fans made their presence known - not just to the city, but the entire league.

The fans at the MTS Centre created the "whiteout," showing up in full white attire with white towels to create an endless sea of exhilarated unity.

Then there was the noise level.

The noise reached 124 dbA inside the MTS Centre. To put that into perspective, the record for the loudest crowd at a sporting event was set by 80,000 fans at the Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium last year at 142.2 dbA. Not bad for a capacity crowd of just over 15,000.

After a 19-year absence from the playoffs, it's pretty clear the fans have missed Jets playoff hockey.

Honorable mention: Montreal Canadiens

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