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      62 28 335 223 -0.013 44.451    1  0.305    1  0.309    1  0.399    2 0.5434   19  1.067    1  0.375    1  0.423
HURRICANES     61 29 320 250  0.010 45.494    2  0.297    2  0.304    2  0.234    1 0.5442   11  1.121    3  0.276    5  0.192
SABRES         56 36 318 268  0.020 46.948    3  0.220    3  0.195    4  0.188    3 0.5293    8  1.146    4  0.261    8  0.115
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.401    4  0.193    4  0.169    3  0.206    4 0.5264   17  1.082    6  0.200    3  0.212
CANADIENS      54 39 314 281  0.042 48.312    5  0.178    5  0.162    7  0.136    5 0.5240    9  1.133    8  0.192   10  0.080
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.272    6  0.161    6  0.149    5  0.152    6 0.5212   21  1.054   11  0.111    4  0.192
WILD           51 41 310 275  0.021 46.960    7  0.102    7  0.102    6  0.150    7 0.5144   10  1.124    7  0.196    9  0.105
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.030 45.385    8  0.067    8  0.073   11  0.074    8 0.5120   16  1.106   13  0.097   14  0.051
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.001 41.322    9  0.035   10  0.036    9  0.087    9 0.5067   15  1.108   12  0.111   13  0.062
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.004 41.571   10  0.033    9  0.039   17 -0.030   10 0.5067   29  0.948   25 -0.194    7  0.134
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.028 47.481   11  0.030   11  0.035   14  0.024   12 0.5056   31  0.917   24 -0.175    2  0.223
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.017 43.857   12  0.029   12  0.028    8  0.114   11 0.5058   13  1.119    9  0.153   11  0.076
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.012 41.948   13  0.021   14  0.024   25 -0.118   13 0.5045   27  0.996   27 -0.226   20 -0.009
DUCKS          49 44 311 325 -0.024 46.208   14  0.020   13  0.025   23 -0.098   14 0.5028    1  1.278   10  0.145   30 -0.341
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.004   15  0.013   15  0.009   13  0.041   16 0.5005   14  1.117   14  0.077   18  0.005
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.008 41.737   16  0.008   16  0.003   18 -0.053   15 0.5011   22  1.037   21 -0.114   17  0.007
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.007 44.587   17 -0.001   18 -0.016   10  0.077   17 0.4988    3  1.248    2  0.281   25 -0.127
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.009 41.721   18 -0.005   19 -0.016   16 -0.012   18 0.4987   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.021
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.010 41.866   19 -0.006   17 -0.016   22 -0.085   19 0.4984    6  1.193   16  0.047   28 -0.217
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 46 47 304 280 -0.028 45.847   20 -0.012   20 -0.029   12  0.050   20 0.4960   18  1.077   17  0.037   12  0.063
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.038 43.063   21 -0.027   21 -0.046   15  0.016   21 0.4942    2  1.262    5  0.237   27 -0.206
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.027 40.767   22 -0.047   22 -0.059   29 -0.177   22 0.4911    5  1.214   18 -0.018   29 -0.337
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.014 41.121   23 -0.055   23 -0.071   24 -0.101   23 0.4891   12  1.121   20 -0.059   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.022 40.777   24 -0.080   24 -0.094   19 -0.069   24 0.4856   23  1.028   22 -0.140   19  0.003
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.012 41.208   25 -0.124   25 -0.127   26 -0.124   26 0.4805   24  1.022   26 -0.202   23 -0.045
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.012 41.890   26 -0.128   26 -0.132   20 -0.070   25 0.4810   25  1.016   23 -0.155   16  0.016
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.961   27 -0.161   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4768   30  0.931   32 -0.378   21 -0.012
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.780   28 -0.162   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   29 0.4763   26  0.997   28 -0.251   22 -0.036
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.006 43.367   29 -0.164   29 -0.161   21 -0.085   28 0.4764   32  0.847   31 -0.360    6  0.190
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.011 41.967   30 -0.178   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4751    4  1.242   15  0.048   31 -0.343
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.018 41.124   31 -0.245   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4622   28  0.985   30 -0.350   24 -0.107
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.023 41.162   32 -0.319   32 -0.335   32 -0.395   32 0.4501    7  1.160   29 -0.304   32 -0.486

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          49 44 311 325 -0.024 46.208   14  0.020   13  0.025   23 -0.098   14 0.5028    1  1.278   10  0.145   30 -0.341
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 46 47 304 280 -0.028 45.847   20 -0.012   20 -0.029   12  0.050   20 0.4960   18  1.077   17  0.037   12  0.063
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.038 43.063   21 -0.027   21 -0.046   15  0.016   21 0.4942    2  1.262    5  0.237   27 -0.206
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.027 40.767   22 -0.047   22 -0.059   29 -0.177   22 0.4911    5  1.214   18 -0.018   29 -0.337
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.961   27 -0.161   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4768   30  0.931   32 -0.378   21 -0.012
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.780   28 -0.162   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   29 0.4763   26  0.997   28 -0.251   22 -0.036
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.006 43.367   29 -0.164   29 -0.161   21 -0.085   28 0.4764   32  0.847   31 -0.360    6  0.190
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.023 41.162   32 -0.319   32 -0.335   32 -0.395   32 0.4501    7  1.160   29 -0.304   32 -0.486

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      62 28 335 223 -0.013 44.451    1  0.305    1  0.309    1  0.399    2 0.5434   19  1.067    1  0.375    1  0.423
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.272    6  0.161    6  0.149    5  0.152    6 0.5212   21  1.054   11  0.111    4  0.192
WILD           51 41 310 275  0.021 46.960    7  0.102    7  0.102    6  0.150    7 0.5144   10  1.124    7  0.196    9  0.105
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.004   15  0.013   15  0.009   13  0.041   16 0.5005   14  1.117   14  0.077   18  0.005
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.014 41.121   23 -0.055   23 -0.071   24 -0.101   23 0.4891   12  1.121   20 -0.059   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.022 40.777   24 -0.080   24 -0.094   19 -0.069   24 0.4856   23  1.028   22 -0.140   19  0.003
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.012 41.208   25 -0.124   25 -0.127   26 -0.124   26 0.4805   24  1.022   26 -0.202   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.018 41.124   31 -0.245   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4622   28  0.985   30 -0.350   24 -0.107

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     61 29 320 250  0.010 45.494    2  0.297    2  0.304    2  0.234    1 0.5442   11  1.121    3  0.276    5  0.192
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.001 41.322    9  0.035   10  0.036    9  0.087    9 0.5067   15  1.108   12  0.111   13  0.062
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.004 41.571   10  0.033    9  0.039   17 -0.030   10 0.5067   29  0.948   25 -0.194    7  0.134
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.028 47.481   11  0.030   11  0.035   14  0.024   12 0.5056   31  0.917   24 -0.175    2  0.223
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.012 41.948   13  0.021   14  0.024   25 -0.118   13 0.5045   27  0.996   27 -0.226   20 -0.009
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.007 44.587   17 -0.001   18 -0.016   10  0.077   17 0.4988    3  1.248    2  0.281   25 -0.127
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.009 41.721   18 -0.005   19 -0.016   16 -0.012   18 0.4987   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.021
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.012 41.890   26 -0.128   26 -0.132   20 -0.070   25 0.4810   25  1.016   23 -0.155   16  0.016

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
SABRES         56 36 318 268  0.020 46.948    3  0.220    3  0.195    4  0.188    3 0.5293    8  1.146    4  0.261    8  0.115
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.401    4  0.193    4  0.169    3  0.206    4 0.5264   17  1.082    6  0.200    3  0.212
CANADIENS      54 39 314 281  0.042 48.312    5  0.178    5  0.162    7  0.136    5 0.5240    9  1.133    8  0.192   10  0.080
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.030 45.385    8  0.067    8  0.073   11  0.074    8 0.5120   16  1.106   13  0.097   14  0.051
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.017 43.857   12  0.029   12  0.028    8  0.114   11 0.5058   13  1.119    9  0.153   11  0.076
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.008 41.737   16  0.008   16  0.003   18 -0.053   15 0.5011   22  1.037   21 -0.114   17  0.007
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.010 41.866   19 -0.006   17 -0.016   22 -0.085   19 0.4984    6  1.193   16  0.047   28 -0.217
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.011 41.967   30 -0.178   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4751    4  1.242   15  0.048   31 -0.343

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     367 327 0.529    1  0.073
CENTRAL DIVISION      349 337 0.509    2  0.035
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 353 327 0.519    3  0.033
PACIFIC DIVISION      305 383 0.443    4 -0.171

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed May 13 05:30:08 2026
games through: Tue May 12 2026

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