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      61 27 329 216 -0.019 43.226    1  0.307    1  0.311    1  0.407    1 0.5440   19  1.062    1  0.377    1  0.438
FLYERS         47 44 269 264  0.027 46.879    9  0.037    9  0.044   14  0.025   11 0.5067   31  0.923   24 -0.167    2  0.218
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.379    4  0.193    4  0.170    3  0.206    4 0.5265   18  1.082    6  0.200    3  0.212
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.253    6  0.162    6  0.150    5  0.153    6 0.5213   21  1.054   11  0.112    4  0.193
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.005 43.389   29 -0.163   29 -0.160   21 -0.084   28 0.4765   32  0.847   31 -0.359    5  0.191
HURRICANES     60 29 317 248  0.010 44.963    2  0.292    2  0.298    2  0.235    2 0.5433   10  1.127    2  0.283    6  0.186
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.004 41.578   11  0.034   10  0.040   17 -0.029   10 0.5068   29  0.948   25 -0.193    7  0.135
SABRES         55 35 313 260  0.015 45.738    3  0.220    3  0.196    4  0.197    3 0.5293    8  1.144    4  0.267    8  0.127
WILD           50 40 303 269  0.012 45.610    7  0.096    7  0.097    6  0.142    7 0.5140   12  1.120    7  0.183    9  0.102
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.018 43.860   12  0.028   12  0.029    8  0.115   12 0.5058   13  1.118    9  0.154   10  0.077
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CANADIENS      53 38 306 276  0.039 47.174    5  0.178    5  0.163    7  0.128    5 0.5242    9  1.131    8  0.181   11  0.074
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.002 41.329   10  0.036   11  0.037    9  0.088    9 0.5068   15  1.107   12  0.112   12  0.063
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 45 46 298 274 -0.025 44.933   20 -0.012   20 -0.027   12  0.055   20 0.4960   17  1.084   15  0.051   13  0.059
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.031 45.417    8  0.068    8  0.075   11  0.076    8 0.5120   16  1.106   13  0.099   14  0.053
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.010 41.727   18 -0.005   19 -0.016   16 -0.011   18 0.4988   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.022
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.012 41.897   26 -0.128   26 -0.131   20 -0.069   25 0.4811   25  1.016   23 -0.155   16  0.017
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.009 41.744   16  0.008   16  0.004   18 -0.053   15 0.5012   22  1.037   21 -0.114   17  0.008
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.027   15  0.013   15  0.011   13  0.043   16 0.5006   14  1.116   14  0.078   18  0.007
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.021 40.783   24 -0.080   24 -0.093   19 -0.068   24 0.4857   23  1.027   22 -0.140   19  0.004
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.012 41.954   13  0.021   14  0.025   25 -0.117   13 0.5046   27  0.996   27 -0.226   20 -0.008
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.021 40.968   27 -0.160   27 -0.155   30 -0.194   27 0.4769   30  0.931   32 -0.378   21 -0.011
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.025 40.786   28 -0.162   28 -0.158   27 -0.143   29 0.4764   26  0.997   28 -0.251   22 -0.035
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.011 41.213   25 -0.124   25 -0.127   26 -0.123   26 0.4806   24  1.022   26 -0.201   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.017 41.126   31 -0.245   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4623   28  0.985   30 -0.350   24 -0.107
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.008 44.594   17 -0.002   18 -0.015   10  0.078   17 0.4990    3  1.248    3  0.281   25 -0.126
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.013 41.126   23 -0.055   23 -0.070   23 -0.100   23 0.4892   11  1.121   20 -0.059   26 -0.141
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.038 43.058   21 -0.027   21 -0.045   15  0.016   21 0.4944    2  1.261    5  0.237   27 -0.204
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.011 41.877   19 -0.006   17 -0.015   22 -0.084   19 0.4985    6  1.193   17  0.048   28 -0.216
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.026 40.773   22 -0.047   22 -0.059   29 -0.177   22 0.4912    5  1.214   18 -0.018   29 -0.335
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.012 41.973   30 -0.178   30 -0.172   28 -0.147   30 0.4752    4  1.242   16  0.048   30 -0.342
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DUCKS          48 43 305 319 -0.025 45.163   14  0.020   13  0.025   24 -0.101   14 0.5030    1  1.284   10  0.150   31 -0.353
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.022 41.165   32 -0.319   32 -0.336   32 -0.395   32 0.4502    7  1.160   29 -0.305   32 -0.485

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
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.005 43.389   29 -0.163   29 -0.160   21 -0.084   28 0.4765   32  0.847   31 -0.359    5  0.191
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 45 46 298 274 -0.025 44.933   20 -0.012   20 -0.027   12  0.055   20 0.4960   17  1.084   15  0.051   13  0.059
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.021 40.968   27 -0.160   27 -0.155   30 -0.194   27 0.4769   30  0.931   32 -0.378   21 -0.011
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.025 40.786   28 -0.162   28 -0.158   27 -0.143   29 0.4764   26  0.997   28 -0.251   22 -0.035
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.038 43.058   21 -0.027   21 -0.045   15  0.016   21 0.4944    2  1.261    5  0.237   27 -0.204
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.026 40.773   22 -0.047   22 -0.059   29 -0.177   22 0.4912    5  1.214   18 -0.018   29 -0.335
DUCKS          48 43 305 319 -0.025 45.163   14  0.020   13  0.025   24 -0.101   14 0.5030    1  1.284   10  0.150   31 -0.353
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.022 41.165   32 -0.319   32 -0.336   32 -0.395   32 0.4502    7  1.160   29 -0.305   32 -0.485

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      61 27 329 216 -0.019 43.226    1  0.307    1  0.311    1  0.407    1 0.5440   19  1.062    1  0.377    1  0.438
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.253    6  0.162    6  0.150    5  0.153    6 0.5213   21  1.054   11  0.112    4  0.193
WILD           50 40 303 269  0.012 45.610    7  0.096    7  0.097    6  0.142    7 0.5140   12  1.120    7  0.183    9  0.102
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.027   15  0.013   15  0.011   13  0.043   16 0.5006   14  1.116   14  0.078   18  0.007
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.021 40.783   24 -0.080   24 -0.093   19 -0.068   24 0.4857   23  1.027   22 -0.140   19  0.004
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.011 41.213   25 -0.124   25 -0.127   26 -0.123   26 0.4806   24  1.022   26 -0.201   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.017 41.126   31 -0.245   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4623   28  0.985   30 -0.350   24 -0.107
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.013 41.126   23 -0.055   23 -0.070   23 -0.100   23 0.4892   11  1.121   20 -0.059   26 -0.141

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
FLYERS         47 44 269 264  0.027 46.879    9  0.037    9  0.044   14  0.025   11 0.5067   31  0.923   24 -0.167    2  0.218
HURRICANES     60 29 317 248  0.010 44.963    2  0.292    2  0.298    2  0.235    2 0.5433   10  1.127    2  0.283    6  0.186
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.004 41.578   11  0.034   10  0.040   17 -0.029   10 0.5068   29  0.948   25 -0.193    7  0.135
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.002 41.329   10  0.036   11  0.037    9  0.088    9 0.5068   15  1.107   12  0.112   12  0.063
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.010 41.727   18 -0.005   19 -0.016   16 -0.011   18 0.4988   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.022
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.012 41.897   26 -0.128   26 -0.131   20 -0.069   25 0.4811   25  1.016   23 -0.155   16  0.017
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.012 41.954   13  0.021   14  0.025   25 -0.117   13 0.5046   27  0.996   27 -0.226   20 -0.008
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.008 44.594   17 -0.002   18 -0.015   10  0.078   17 0.4990    3  1.248    3  0.281   25 -0.126

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      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.379    4  0.193    4  0.170    3  0.206    4 0.5265   18  1.082    6  0.200    3  0.212
SABRES         55 35 313 260  0.015 45.738    3  0.220    3  0.196    4  0.197    3 0.5293    8  1.144    4  0.267    8  0.127
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.018 43.860   12  0.028   12  0.029    8  0.115   12 0.5058   13  1.118    9  0.154   10  0.077
CANADIENS      53 38 306 276  0.039 47.174    5  0.178    5  0.163    7  0.128    5 0.5242    9  1.131    8  0.181   11  0.074
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.031 45.417    8  0.068    8  0.075   11  0.076    8 0.5120   16  1.106   13  0.099   14  0.053
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.009 41.744   16  0.008   16  0.004   18 -0.053   15 0.5012   22  1.037   21 -0.114   17  0.008
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.011 41.877   19 -0.006   17 -0.015   22 -0.084   19 0.4985    6  1.193   17  0.048   28 -0.216
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.012 41.973   30 -0.178   30 -0.172   28 -0.147   30 0.4752    4  1.242   16  0.048   30 -0.342

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     365 325 0.529    1  0.074
CENTRAL DIVISION      347 335 0.509    2  0.036
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 352 326 0.519    3  0.034
PACIFIC DIVISION      303 381 0.443    4 -0.170

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.050 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: Sat May  9 05:30:18 2026
games through: Fri May  8 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.