Dominant regular-season teams that fizzled out in the postseason

Boston had a dominant regular season and was the fastest team to 50 wins in NHL history, accomplishing the feat in only 64 games. The Bruins finished the regular season second in goals and first in goals against, but they quickly found out what a crapshoot the playoffs can be. Despite leading the first-round series against the Florida Panthers 3-1, Boston lost the series in seven games, including two overtime losses.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA's best record during the 2022-23 regular season, only to be unceremoniously discarded in the first round of the playoffs by Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, who had to advance out of the play-in tournament to qualify for the playoffs. Two-time Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer became the fall guy, as he was fired not long after Milwaukee was ousted. 

The Dodgers won their ninth NL West title in 10 years, and this squad was arguably the best of them all, with 111 wins in the regular season. LA had a star-studded lineup led by Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Trea Turner, but after losing Walker Buehler during the regular season to injury, the team ran out of gas in the postseason and lost to the Padres in the NLDS.

The Lightning led the NHL with 325 goals and went 62-16-4 during the regular season. Unfortunately, they suffered a historic collapse in the first round of the playoffs, getting swept in four games by Columbus. Tampa Bay did rebound to win the following two Stanley Cups.

Houston had an elite offensive squad that won 65 wins during the 2017-18 regular season to earn the top seed in the Western Conference. Led by James Harden, Houston fell to the sharp-shooting Warriors in a seven-game Western Conference Finals.

UConn won four consecutive National Championships, and looked well on their way to a fifth in 2017 with a winning streak that stretched 111 games. Mississippi State ended the streak in the National Semifinal in overtime.

For all of Golden State's success during the current era, the 2015-16 season still leaves a sour taste in their mouths. The team won a regular 73 games during the regular season one year after winning the championship, but they couldn't quite finish the deal in the playoffs. Stephen Curry and company fell in seven games to LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers in a memorable NBA Finals.

The 2014-15 Wildcats appeared unstoppable with a suffocating defense that helped them go undefeated during the regular season. Kentucky's amazing roster included future NBA stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker, but the team was upset by Wisconsin in the National Semifinal.

The 2007 Patriots would undoubtedly be considered the best team in NFL history if not for Eli Manning and the New York Giants upset in Super Bowl XLII. New England was a perfect 16-0 during the regular season, averaging nearly 37 points scored per game and winning 12 games by double-digits. The Giants' pass rush and heroic plays by the offense helped upset New England 17-14 to end the Pats' perfect season.

The Trojans won back-to-back National Championships in 2003 and 2004, and it appeared they'd win a third consecutive after going 12-0 in 2005. The spectacular offense led by Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Lendale White rarely faced a challenge during the regular season, lost to Texas 41-38 in the BCS National Championship. The game is still regarded as one of the best in college football history. USC was later forced to vacate all of its wins from the 2005 season for committing NCAA violations.

After winning the National Championship in 2001, Miami looked well on their way to repeating in 2002 after a 12-0 regular season and invite to the BCS National Championship vs. Ohio State. The Hurricanes lost 31-24 in double overtime. The roster is remembered as one of the best in college football history, with numerous players who went on to great NFL careers.

Two years after their improbable Super Bowl run, the Rams returned to the Super Bowl with arguably an even better squad. The offense went 14-2 during the regular season and averaged over 31 points per game during the regular season with Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and Torry Holt. Heavily favored against a Patriots team quarterbacked by young Tom Brady, the Rams offense was held in check for most of the game and lost 20-17 after a late drive by Brady's offense and a game-winning 48-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.

Seattle had Ichiro Suzuki Fever with the rookie arriving to win AL MVP and Rookie of the Year, helping the Mariners tie the 1906 Cubs with 116 regular season wins. The roster also featured terrific seasons from John Olerud, Bret Boone, Mike Cameron, and Edgar Martinez. After defeating Cleveland in the ALDS, Seattle was defeated in the ALCS by a 95-win Yankees squad.

The Vikings averaged nearly 35 points per game with a prolific offense led by Randall Cunningham, Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Robert Smith. The team cruised into the playoffs at 15-1 but was upset in overtime by the Falcons in the NFC Conference Championship as kicker Gary Anderson missed his first field goal of the season during regulation.

The dominant 1990s Jazz teams never won a championship but did have three seasons with at least 60 regular season wins. The combo of John Stockton and Karl Malone led Utah to 64 wins in 1996-97, but lost in six games to the Bulls in the NBA Finals. They'd face the same outcome the following year before Michael Jordan's retirement from the Bulls.

The Red Wings had a franchise-record 131 points after going 62-13-7 during the regular season. The team appeared unstoppable with their 144-goal differential in the regular season and stars like Sergei Fedorov, Steve Yzerman, Paul Coffee, and goalie Chris Osgood. After two playoff series wins, Detroit was shocked by Colorado in a six-game Conference Finals.

The 1990s are filled with teams that couldn't get over the hump due to the dominant Chicago Bulls, and the Suns are featured prominently in that era. The team went 62-20 during the regular season, led by league MVP Charles Barkley and an excellent supporting cast that included Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson, and Richard Dumas. After marching to the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan's Bulls beat Phoenix in six games.

After winning the National Championship in 1990, UNLV entered the Final Four with a perfect 34-0 record and a tremendous offense led by Larry Johnson, Anderson Hunt, and Stacey Augmon, and Greg Anthony. The Rebels were upset by Duke in the National Semifinals.

The Bills lost four straight Super Bowls from 1990-93, but their first squad to advance is considered their best. Buffalo went 13-3 during the regular season with the top offense in football led by Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed. However, the team was upset by the Giants in Super Bowl XXV 20-19 after kicker Scott Norwood missed a potential game-winning field goal wide right.

The Oilers won consecutive Stanley Cups and looked poised to win a third straight with a 119-point regular season with stars Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Mark Massier. After sweeping Vancouver in the Division Semi-Finals, Edmonton was upset in seven games by Calgary in the Division Finals.

The Dolphins had a historic offense in Dan Marino's second season, averaging 32 points per game en route to a 14-2 regular season record. After two more outstanding playoff performances against the Seahawks and Steelers, Miami was upended by the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX 38-16.

The Hoosiers entered the NCAA Tournament a perfect 29-0. Their quest for perfection ended in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament against Kentucky, losing 92-90. Indiana would rebound to go undefeated and win the National Championship the following season.

After their incredible 11 championships from 1957-1969, the Celtics reloaded with a historic 68-14 regular season in 1972-73. The team featured league MVP Dave Cowens along with stars John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, and Paul Silas. Boston suffered a shocking Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Knicks, who eventually won the championship.

Earl Weaver's Orioles won 109 games during the regular season, with a great roster featuring Boog Powell, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer. After sweeping the Twins in the ALCS, Baltimore's run was halted by the New York Mets in the World Series.

Cleveland reached the World Series after going 111-43 during the regular season and allowing an amazing 3.2 runs per game with a great pitching staff led by Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, and Bob Feller. They met their match in the World Series, getting swept in four games by the New York Giants.

Finishing the regular season with an incredible 116-36-3 record, the Cubs were ousted by the White Sox in the World Series. The Cubs .763 winning percentage still stands as the best in the history of MLB, though their 116 regular season wins were tied by the Mariners in 2001.