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      2 0 14  5 -0.073  0.890    1  0.059    1  0.064    1  0.145    1 0.5504    4  1.459    3  0.694   27 -0.404 P
WILD           2 0  7  2  0.049  1.012    2  0.053    2  0.056    2  0.078    2 0.5467   20  0.938   16 -0.042   11  0.198 P
BRUINS         2 1  8  7  0.216  1.741    4  0.044    4  0.042    7  0.048    3 0.5309   21  0.886   19 -0.130    9  0.227 P
PENGUINS       2 0 13  5 -0.124  0.866    3  0.049    3  0.044    3  0.064    4 0.5300    5  1.414    5  0.550   28 -0.421 P
RANGERS        2 1  7  4  0.097  1.588    8  0.039    6  0.032    8  0.045    5 0.5235   31  0.654   29 -0.372    2  0.463 P
MAMMOTH        2 0 10  1 -0.270  0.738    5  0.044    5  0.035    4  0.061    6 0.5231   25  0.861   20 -0.144    8  0.266 P
SENATORS       1 0  3  2  0.113  0.541    6  0.042    7  0.029   14  0.018    7 0.5215   14  1.099   14  0.088   18 -0.051 P
OILERS         2 1 17 14 -0.079  1.364    7  0.041    8  0.025    5  0.049    8 0.5204    2  1.561    1  0.750   31 -0.652 P
LIGHTNING      1 1  4  6  0.165  1.118    9  0.031   10  0.021    6  0.049    9 0.5194   16  0.997   15 -0.004   14  0.101 P
SHARKS         2 0  9  7 -0.118  0.907   11  0.020    9  0.024   29 -0.082   10 0.5106    8  1.268    9  0.203   26 -0.366 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAPITALS       1 1  6  5  0.253  1.196   10  0.021   11  0.016    9  0.037   11 0.5100   13  1.127   12  0.141   19 -0.067 P
PANTHERS       1 1  4  4  0.040  1.015   12  0.013   15  0.008   11  0.028   12 0.5090   32  0.523   32 -0.511    1  0.567 P
BLUES          1 1  5  6  0.332  1.263   13  0.011   13  0.012   15  0.015   13 0.5061   19  0.944   17 -0.099   13  0.128 P
DUCKS          1 0  4  3  0.210  0.591   14  0.010   12  0.014   26 -0.049   14 0.5048   11  1.169   13  0.108   22 -0.205 P
CANUCKS        2 1 17 15 -0.049  1.433   16 -0.002   14  0.011   23 -0.027   15 0.5040    1  1.606    2  0.741   32 -0.796 P
CANADIENS      1 1  8  8  0.235  1.187   17 -0.003   16  0.007   17  0.008   16 0.5024    7  1.327    7  0.372   25 -0.356 P
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 1 1  8  6 -0.442  0.616   15 -0.001   21 -0.008   10  0.029   17 0.4958   10  1.210    8  0.238   21 -0.179 P
PREDATORS      1 1  3  4 -0.027  0.976   23 -0.027   17 -0.007   25 -0.038   18 0.4926   27  0.717   30 -0.393    7  0.318 P
BLUE JACKETS   1 1  7  7 -0.057  0.950   19 -0.009   22 -0.008   24 -0.036   19 0.4918    9  1.226   10  0.194   24 -0.266 P
ISLANDERS      1 1  7  2 -0.122  0.874   21 -0.017   18 -0.007   12  0.028   20 0.4917   22  0.882   21 -0.155   10  0.211 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SABRES         1 1  7  9 -0.312  0.738   20 -0.015   23 -0.009   22 -0.025   21 0.4908    6  1.354    6  0.377   29 -0.426 P
KRAKEN         1 1  7  4  0.022  1.011   24 -0.029   19 -0.008   19 -0.012   22 0.4905   23  0.876   24 -0.201   12  0.177 P
HURRICANES     1 2  5  8 -0.064  1.393   18 -0.006   24 -0.012   13  0.024   23 0.4897   29  0.691   26 -0.358    3  0.405 P
DEVILS         1 1  3  8 -0.139  0.903   22 -0.026   20 -0.008   28 -0.078   24 0.4855   17  0.968   22 -0.164   16  0.009 P
JETS           0 1  3  4  0.054  0.517   26 -0.032   25 -0.020   16  0.010   25 0.4854   12  1.159   11  0.155   20 -0.134 P
MAPLE LEAFS    1 2  6  7 -0.048  1.423   25 -0.030   26 -0.025   18 -0.007   26 0.4811   28  0.709   28 -0.371    4  0.356 P
KINGS          0 2  8 13  0.220  1.182   29 -0.039   29 -0.039   20 -0.016   27 0.4758    3  1.488    4  0.575   30 -0.608 P
STARS          0 2  1  6 -0.035  0.964   27 -0.036   28 -0.038   21 -0.019   28 0.4724   26  0.732   27 -0.359    6  0.322 P
RED WINGS      0 1  0  2  0.029  0.514   28 -0.038   27 -0.031   27 -0.061   29 0.4715   30  0.675   31 -0.458    5  0.336 P
FLAMES         0 2  2 10 -0.077  0.950   30 -0.048   30 -0.057   31 -0.107   30 0.4547   18  0.963   23 -0.198   17 -0.015 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLYERS         0 3  4 13 -0.052  1.453   31 -0.057   31 -0.079   30 -0.101   31 0.4426   24  0.864   25 -0.302   15  0.101 P
BLACKHAWKS     0 3  5 15  0.158  1.746   32 -0.061   32 -0.081   32 -0.161   32 0.4367   15  1.087   18 -0.106   23 -0.216 P

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
OILERS         2 1 17 14 -0.079  1.364    7  0.041    8  0.025    5  0.049    8 0.5204    2  1.561    1  0.750   31 -0.652 P
SHARKS         2 0  9  7 -0.118  0.907   11  0.020    9  0.024   29 -0.082   10 0.5106    8  1.268    9  0.203   26 -0.366 P
DUCKS          1 0  4  3  0.210  0.591   14  0.010   12  0.014   26 -0.049   14 0.5048   11  1.169   13  0.108   22 -0.205 P
CANUCKS        2 1 17 15 -0.049  1.433   16 -0.002   14  0.011   23 -0.027   15 0.5040    1  1.606    2  0.741   32 -0.796 P
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 1 1  8  6 -0.442  0.616   15 -0.001   21 -0.008   10  0.029   17 0.4958   10  1.210    8  0.238   21 -0.179 P
KRAKEN         1 1  7  4  0.022  1.011   24 -0.029   19 -0.008   19 -0.012   22 0.4905   23  0.876   24 -0.201   12  0.177 P
KINGS          0 2  8 13  0.220  1.182   29 -0.039   29 -0.039   20 -0.016   27 0.4758    3  1.488    4  0.575   30 -0.608 P
FLAMES         0 2  2 10 -0.077  0.950   30 -0.048   30 -0.057   31 -0.107   30 0.4547   18  0.963   23 -0.198   17 -0.015 P

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      2 0 14  5 -0.073  0.890    1  0.059    1  0.064    1  0.145    1 0.5504    4  1.459    3  0.694   27 -0.404 P
WILD           2 0  7  2  0.049  1.012    2  0.053    2  0.056    2  0.078    2 0.5467   20  0.938   16 -0.042   11  0.198 P
MAMMOTH        2 0 10  1 -0.270  0.738    5  0.044    5  0.035    4  0.061    6 0.5231   25  0.861   20 -0.144    8  0.266 P
BLUES          1 1  5  6  0.332  1.263   13  0.011   13  0.012   15  0.015   13 0.5061   19  0.944   17 -0.099   13  0.128 P
PREDATORS      1 1  3  4 -0.027  0.976   23 -0.027   17 -0.007   25 -0.038   18 0.4926   27  0.717   30 -0.393    7  0.318 P
JETS           0 1  3  4  0.054  0.517   26 -0.032   25 -0.020   16  0.010   25 0.4854   12  1.159   11  0.155   20 -0.134 P
STARS          0 2  1  6 -0.035  0.964   27 -0.036   28 -0.038   21 -0.019   28 0.4724   26  0.732   27 -0.359    6  0.322 P
BLACKHAWKS     0 3  5 15  0.158  1.746   32 -0.061   32 -0.081   32 -0.161   32 0.4367   15  1.087   18 -0.106   23 -0.216 P

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
PENGUINS       2 0 13  5 -0.124  0.866    3  0.049    3  0.044    3  0.064    4 0.5300    5  1.414    5  0.550   28 -0.421 P
RANGERS        2 1  7  4  0.097  1.588    8  0.039    6  0.032    8  0.045    5 0.5235   31  0.654   29 -0.372    2  0.463 P
CAPITALS       1 1  6  5  0.253  1.196   10  0.021   11  0.016    9  0.037   11 0.5100   13  1.127   12  0.141   19 -0.067 P
BLUE JACKETS   1 1  7  7 -0.057  0.950   19 -0.009   22 -0.008   24 -0.036   19 0.4918    9  1.226   10  0.194   24 -0.266 P
ISLANDERS      1 1  7  2 -0.122  0.874   21 -0.017   18 -0.007   12  0.028   20 0.4917   22  0.882   21 -0.155   10  0.211 P
HURRICANES     1 2  5  8 -0.064  1.393   18 -0.006   24 -0.012   13  0.024   23 0.4897   29  0.691   26 -0.358    3  0.405 P
DEVILS         1 1  3  8 -0.139  0.903   22 -0.026   20 -0.008   28 -0.078   24 0.4855   17  0.968   22 -0.164   16  0.009 P
FLYERS         0 3  4 13 -0.052  1.453   31 -0.057   31 -0.079   30 -0.101   31 0.4426   24  0.864   25 -0.302   15  0.101 P

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
BRUINS         2 1  8  7  0.216  1.741    4  0.044    4  0.042    7  0.048    3 0.5309   21  0.886   19 -0.130    9  0.227 P
SENATORS       1 0  3  2  0.113  0.541    6  0.042    7  0.029   14  0.018    7 0.5215   14  1.099   14  0.088   18 -0.051 P
LIGHTNING      1 1  4  6  0.165  1.118    9  0.031   10  0.021    6  0.049    9 0.5194   16  0.997   15 -0.004   14  0.101 P
PANTHERS       1 1  4  4  0.040  1.015   12  0.013   15  0.008   11  0.028   12 0.5090   32  0.523   32 -0.511    1  0.567 P
CANADIENS      1 1  8  8  0.235  1.187   17 -0.003   16  0.007   17  0.008   16 0.5024    7  1.327    7  0.372   25 -0.356 P
SABRES         1 1  7  9 -0.312  0.738   20 -0.015   23 -0.009   22 -0.025   21 0.4908    6  1.354    6  0.377   29 -0.426 P
MAPLE LEAFS    1 2  6  7 -0.048  1.423   25 -0.030   26 -0.025   18 -0.007   26 0.4811   28  0.709   28 -0.371    4  0.356 P
RED WINGS      0 1  0  2  0.029  0.514   28 -0.038   27 -0.031   27 -0.061   29 0.4715   30  0.675   31 -0.458    5  0.336 P

DIVISION               W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION       8  8 0.500    1  0.057
ATLANTIC DIVISION      8  8 0.500    2  0.033
METROPOLITAN DIVISION  9 10 0.474    3  0.004
PACIFIC DIVISION       9  8 0.529    4 -0.087

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Oct  4 05:30:18 2026
games through: Sat Oct  3 2026

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