Dolphin Ratings - National Hockey League

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                             STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
AVALANCHE      51 26 290 197 -0.003 38.086    1  0.249    1  0.244    1  0.368    1 0.5387   16  1.101    1  0.378    1  0.358
HURRICANES     50 28 281 233  0.007 39.179    2  0.228    2  0.219    4  0.161    2 0.5353    7  1.195    4  0.290   15  0.033
LIGHTNING      48 30 281 221  0.010 39.176    3  0.196    3  0.179    2  0.220    3 0.5299   12  1.161    3  0.305    7  0.135
SABRES         48 31 275 236  0.013 39.874    4  0.185    4  0.172    5  0.149    4 0.5282   10  1.168    6  0.243   12  0.054
CANADIENS      46 32 273 245  0.013 39.421    5  0.150    5  0.144    8  0.107    5 0.5233    6  1.197    7  0.238   23 -0.024
STARS          46 32 262 214 -0.008 38.669    6  0.135    6  0.131    3  0.164    6 0.5202   21  1.031   12  0.091    2  0.238
WILD           45 33 261 225 -0.009 38.667    7  0.108    7  0.110    6  0.141    7 0.5167   20  1.064   11  0.107    3  0.175
BRUINS         43 36 264 246  0.018 40.102    8  0.066    8  0.077   10  0.084    8 0.5130   13  1.147    9  0.152   19  0.016
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.007 39.370    9  0.048    9  0.062   17 -0.001    9 0.5105   27  0.961   23 -0.156    6  0.155
SENATORS       41 37 264 240  0.014 39.451   10  0.038   10  0.048    9  0.106   10 0.5080    8  1.174    8  0.208   20  0.004
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAMMOTH        41 36 254 223 -0.003 38.430   11  0.036   11  0.046   11  0.078   11 0.5067   17  1.093   14  0.079    9  0.078
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.009 39.275   12  0.021   16  0.025    7  0.125   13 0.5049    3  1.250    2  0.325   25 -0.076
RED WINGS      40 38 228 238  0.014 39.623   13  0.019   12  0.028   18 -0.027   14 0.5045   25  0.985   22 -0.155    8  0.101
FLYERS         40 38 233 232  0.012 39.537   14  0.018   13  0.027   16  0.003   15 0.5045   30  0.956   24 -0.158    5  0.164
DEVILS         40 38 219 239  0.013 39.680   15  0.015   14  0.027   24 -0.096   12 0.5049   26  0.980   26 -0.229   13  0.038
DUCKS          41 37 257 276 -0.019 38.708   16  0.014   15  0.026   27 -0.114   16 0.5036    2  1.282   10  0.129   31 -0.357
CAPITALS       40 39 252 240  0.002 39.638   17  0.005   17  0.009   12  0.059   17 0.5029   15  1.115   13  0.087   16  0.031
BLUE JACKETS   39 39 245 241  0.007 39.387   18  0.001   18  0.005   15  0.008   18 0.5014   19  1.070   19 -0.019   14  0.034
OILERS         40 39 275 265 -0.025 38.822   19 -0.005   19 -0.005   13  0.034   19 0.4990    1  1.283    5  0.278   28 -0.210
PANTHERS       37 41 233 266  0.019 39.897   20 -0.022   20 -0.027   25 -0.102   20 0.4963    9  1.171   17 -0.004   27 -0.200
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SHARKS         37 40 236 274 -0.009 38.576   21 -0.028   21 -0.034   29 -0.155   21 0.4937    5  1.210   18 -0.007   30 -0.303
PREDATORS      37 41 238 256 -0.004 39.144   22 -0.031   22 -0.041   22 -0.078   22 0.4922   14  1.132   20 -0.029   26 -0.127
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 36 42 249 241 -0.022 38.449   23 -0.056   23 -0.072   14  0.013   23 0.4884   18  1.084   16  0.003   17  0.022
JETS           34 43 221 234 -0.003 38.651   24 -0.078   24 -0.089   20 -0.063   24 0.4848   24  0.987   25 -0.188   11  0.063
BLUES          33 44 206 241 -0.014 38.330   25 -0.111   25 -0.115   23 -0.086   26 0.4811   28  0.959   28 -0.243   10  0.072
RANGERS        33 46 232 243  0.010 40.066   26 -0.113   26 -0.119   19 -0.061   25 0.4816   22  1.025   21 -0.142   18  0.020
MAPLE LEAFS    32 46 242 279  0.013 39.714   27 -0.126   27 -0.127   26 -0.113   27 0.4803    4  1.212   15  0.037   29 -0.264
KINGS          32 45 211 236 -0.008 38.502   28 -0.131   28 -0.132   21 -0.074   28 0.4785   32  0.881   30 -0.319    4  0.171
KRAKEN         32 45 214 248 -0.021 38.161   29 -0.144   29 -0.142   28 -0.123   29 0.4774   23  1.001   27 -0.232   21 -0.014
FLAMES         32 45 202 247 -0.025 38.104   30 -0.147   30 -0.143   30 -0.188   30 0.4771   31  0.950   32 -0.356   22 -0.021
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     28 50 202 256 -0.008 39.142   31 -0.226   31 -0.220   31 -0.193   31 0.4640   29  0.957   31 -0.353   24 -0.034
CANUCKS        22 55 202 297 -0.011 38.775   32 -0.317   32 -0.332   32 -0.363   32 0.4465   11  1.164   29 -0.274   32 -0.453

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                             STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DUCKS          41 37 257 276 -0.019 38.708   16  0.014   15  0.026   27 -0.114   16 0.5036    2  1.282   10  0.129   31 -0.357
OILERS         40 39 275 265 -0.025 38.822   19 -0.005   19 -0.005   13  0.034   19 0.4990    1  1.283    5  0.278   28 -0.210
SHARKS         37 40 236 274 -0.009 38.576   21 -0.028   21 -0.034   29 -0.155   21 0.4937    5  1.210   18 -0.007   30 -0.303
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 36 42 249 241 -0.022 38.449   23 -0.056   23 -0.072   14  0.013   23 0.4884   18  1.084   16  0.003   17  0.022
KINGS          32 45 211 236 -0.008 38.502   28 -0.131   28 -0.132   21 -0.074   28 0.4785   32  0.881   30 -0.319    4  0.171
KRAKEN         32 45 214 248 -0.021 38.161   29 -0.144   29 -0.142   28 -0.123   29 0.4774   23  1.001   27 -0.232   21 -0.014
FLAMES         32 45 202 247 -0.025 38.104   30 -0.147   30 -0.143   30 -0.188   30 0.4771   31  0.950   32 -0.356   22 -0.021
CANUCKS        22 55 202 297 -0.011 38.775   32 -0.317   32 -0.332   32 -0.363   32 0.4465   11  1.164   29 -0.274   32 -0.453

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                             STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
AVALANCHE      51 26 290 197 -0.003 38.086    1  0.249    1  0.244    1  0.368    1 0.5387   16  1.101    1  0.378    1  0.358
STARS          46 32 262 214 -0.008 38.669    6  0.135    6  0.131    3  0.164    6 0.5202   21  1.031   12  0.091    2  0.238
WILD           45 33 261 225 -0.009 38.667    7  0.108    7  0.110    6  0.141    7 0.5167   20  1.064   11  0.107    3  0.175
MAMMOTH        41 36 254 223 -0.003 38.430   11  0.036   11  0.046   11  0.078   11 0.5067   17  1.093   14  0.079    9  0.078
PREDATORS      37 41 238 256 -0.004 39.144   22 -0.031   22 -0.041   22 -0.078   22 0.4922   14  1.132   20 -0.029   26 -0.127
JETS           34 43 221 234 -0.003 38.651   24 -0.078   24 -0.089   20 -0.063   24 0.4848   24  0.987   25 -0.188   11  0.063
BLUES          33 44 206 241 -0.014 38.330   25 -0.111   25 -0.115   23 -0.086   26 0.4811   28  0.959   28 -0.243   10  0.072
BLACKHAWKS     28 50 202 256 -0.008 39.142   31 -0.226   31 -0.220   31 -0.193   31 0.4640   29  0.957   31 -0.353   24 -0.034

METROPOLITAN DIVISION
                                             STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HURRICANES     50 28 281 233  0.007 39.179    2  0.228    2  0.219    4  0.161    2 0.5353    7  1.195    4  0.290   15  0.033
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.007 39.370    9  0.048    9  0.062   17 -0.001    9 0.5105   27  0.961   23 -0.156    6  0.155
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.009 39.275   12  0.021   16  0.025    7  0.125   13 0.5049    3  1.250    2  0.325   25 -0.076
FLYERS         40 38 233 232  0.012 39.537   14  0.018   13  0.027   16  0.003   15 0.5045   30  0.956   24 -0.158    5  0.164
DEVILS         40 38 219 239  0.013 39.680   15  0.015   14  0.027   24 -0.096   12 0.5049   26  0.980   26 -0.229   13  0.038
CAPITALS       40 39 252 240  0.002 39.638   17  0.005   17  0.009   12  0.059   17 0.5029   15  1.115   13  0.087   16  0.031
BLUE JACKETS   39 39 245 241  0.007 39.387   18  0.001   18  0.005   15  0.008   18 0.5014   19  1.070   19 -0.019   14  0.034
RANGERS        33 46 232 243  0.010 40.066   26 -0.113   26 -0.119   19 -0.061   25 0.4816   22  1.025   21 -0.142   18  0.020

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                             STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LIGHTNING      48 30 281 221  0.010 39.176    3  0.196    3  0.179    2  0.220    3 0.5299   12  1.161    3  0.305    7  0.135
SABRES         48 31 275 236  0.013 39.874    4  0.185    4  0.172    5  0.149    4 0.5282   10  1.168    6  0.243   12  0.054
CANADIENS      46 32 273 245  0.013 39.421    5  0.150    5  0.144    8  0.107    5 0.5233    6  1.197    7  0.238   23 -0.024
BRUINS         43 36 264 246  0.018 40.102    8  0.066    8  0.077   10  0.084    8 0.5130   13  1.147    9  0.152   19  0.016
SENATORS       41 37 264 240  0.014 39.451   10  0.038   10  0.048    9  0.106   10 0.5080    8  1.174    8  0.208   20  0.004
RED WINGS      40 38 228 238  0.014 39.623   13  0.019   12  0.028   18 -0.027   14 0.5045   25  0.985   22 -0.155    8  0.101
PANTHERS       37 41 233 266  0.019 39.897   20 -0.022   20 -0.027   25 -0.102   20 0.4963    9  1.171   17 -0.004   27 -0.200
MAPLE LEAFS    32 46 242 279  0.013 39.714   27 -0.126   27 -0.127   26 -0.113   27 0.4803    4  1.212   15  0.037   29 -0.264

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     335 291 0.535    1  0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION      315 305 0.508    2  0.058
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 324 302 0.518    3  0.035
PACIFIC DIVISION      272 348 0.439    4 -0.173

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.051 points in main ratings (0.079 for semineutral)
     0.007 points in improved RPI (0.008 for semineutral)
Average of 1.00 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Apr  9 05:30:07 2026
games through: Wed Apr  8 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.