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
RANGERS        4 1 16  8  0.082  2.596    1  0.070    1  0.084    2  0.097    1 0.5468   27  0.845   24 -0.140    4  0.334 P
AVALANCHE      2 0 14  5 -0.165  0.813    2  0.061    2  0.065    1  0.150    2 0.5443    4  1.466    2  0.695   27 -0.395 P
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3 1 17 10 -0.128  1.712    3  0.052    3  0.047    3  0.082    3 0.5326   12  1.151    9  0.201   16 -0.037 P
DUCKS          2 0  7  5  0.171  1.144    4  0.050    4  0.045   23 -0.039    4 0.5291   11  1.193   12  0.133   23 -0.212 P
MAMMOTH        3 1 17  8 -0.031  1.870    6  0.048    5  0.043    5  0.072    5 0.5280   16  1.098   13  0.125   15  0.019 P
LIGHTNING      2 1  8  7  0.008  1.452    5  0.048    6  0.039    6  0.071    6 0.5269   24  0.943   21 -0.058    7  0.200 P
WILD           2 1  9  5  0.036  1.505    8  0.044    9  0.032    4  0.075    7 0.5241   30  0.697   29 -0.315    3  0.465 P
JETS           2 1  9  8  0.087  1.581   11  0.028    7  0.034   12  0.036    8 0.5227   22  0.994   19 -0.034    9  0.107 P
SENATORS       2 1 10  8  0.109  1.610    7  0.045    8  0.033   10  0.039    9 0.5217    9  1.231    7  0.261   20 -0.184 P
BRUINS         2 2  9 11  0.206  2.319   10  0.035   11  0.022   14  0.020   10 0.5182   26  0.886   25 -0.173    6  0.213 P
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 -0.109  1.327    9  0.039   10  0.024    8  0.049   11 0.5152    1  1.588    1  0.775   32 -0.677 P
SABRES         2 1 10 11 -0.139  1.314   12  0.023   12  0.020   21 -0.016   12 0.5147    8  1.267    8  0.253   26 -0.285 P
CAPITALS       1 1  6  5  0.320  1.250   14  0.019   13  0.018    9  0.043   13 0.5134   18  1.069   14  0.060   14  0.025 P
PENGUINS       2 1 15  8 -0.130  1.297   13  0.020   14  0.017    7  0.052   14 0.5074    7  1.296    6  0.359   25 -0.256 P
PANTHERS       2 2  8  8  0.019  1.993   15  0.013   16  0.006   13  0.034   15 0.5073   32  0.217   32 -0.768    1  0.836 P
HURRICANES     2 2 11 12 -0.032  1.907   16  0.006   15  0.012   11  0.038   16 0.5040   19  1.024   17  0.003   12  0.074 P
BLUE JACKETS   1 1  7  7 -0.050  0.955   19 -0.018   18 -0.010   24 -0.039   17 0.4961   10  1.203   11  0.146   24 -0.224 P
MAPLE LEAFS    2 2 11 11 -0.131  1.760   18 -0.014   19 -0.010   20 -0.014   18 0.4902   28  0.836   28 -0.262    5  0.233 P
SHARKS         2 1  9 12 -0.068  1.448   17 -0.011   17  0.001   30 -0.138   19 0.4899    6  1.301   10  0.177   28 -0.452 P
CANUCKS        2 2 19 18 -0.054  1.913   20 -0.023   20 -0.015   26 -0.040   20 0.4880    3  1.476    4  0.520   30 -0.601 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          1 2  7 10  0.163  1.698   21 -0.024   21 -0.018   17 -0.011   21 0.4860   20  1.023   20 -0.047   13  0.026 P
RED WINGS      1 2  7  8  0.037  1.546   27 -0.036   27 -0.031   27 -0.052   22 0.4842   25  0.918   26 -0.209   10  0.105 P
KRAKEN         2 2 15 11 -0.139  1.750   22 -0.025   22 -0.020   19 -0.014   23 0.4841   17  1.073   16  0.009   17 -0.037 P
STARS          1 2  6  6 -0.217  1.202   23 -0.026   25 -0.029   15  0.017   24 0.4838   31  0.558   31 -0.505    2  0.540 P
ISLANDERS      1 2  9  7  0.037  1.524   25 -0.032   24 -0.028   16  0.009   25 0.4828   23  0.990   22 -0.066   11  0.084 P
CANADIENS      1 2 12 14  0.128  1.651   24 -0.026   23 -0.021   18 -0.011   26 0.4823    2  1.524    3  0.619   31 -0.641 P
PREDATORS      1 2  7  9  0.033  1.538   26 -0.035   26 -0.031   25 -0.040   27 0.4753   14  1.111   15  0.030   18 -0.109 P
DEVILS         1 2  6 13 -0.118  1.386   28 -0.037   28 -0.036   28 -0.102   28 0.4701   13  1.130   18 -0.009   21 -0.195 P
BLACKHAWKS     1 3  9 17  0.130  2.273   29 -0.062   29 -0.060   31 -0.144   29 0.4641   15  1.107   23 -0.079   22 -0.209 P
KINGS          0 3  9 15  0.079  1.606   30 -0.064   30 -0.073   22 -0.037   30 0.4570    5  1.389    5  0.399   29 -0.473 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         0 3  3 16 -0.048  1.477   31 -0.079   31 -0.087   32 -0.161   31 0.4391   21  1.011   27 -0.212   19 -0.110 P
FLYERS         0 4  5 17  0.010  2.062   32 -0.092   32 -0.107   29 -0.133   32 0.4347   29  0.782   30 -0.437    8  0.170 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
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3 1 17 10 -0.128  1.712    3  0.052    3  0.047    3  0.082    3 0.5326   12  1.151    9  0.201   16 -0.037 P
DUCKS          2 0  7  5  0.171  1.144    4  0.050    4  0.045   23 -0.039    4 0.5291   11  1.193   12  0.133   23 -0.212 P
OILERS         2 1 17 14 -0.109  1.327    9  0.039   10  0.024    8  0.049   11 0.5152    1  1.588    1  0.775   32 -0.677 P
SHARKS         2 1  9 12 -0.068  1.448   17 -0.011   17  0.001   30 -0.138   19 0.4899    6  1.301   10  0.177   28 -0.452 P
CANUCKS        2 2 19 18 -0.054  1.913   20 -0.023   20 -0.015   26 -0.040   20 0.4880    3  1.476    4  0.520   30 -0.601 P
KRAKEN         2 2 15 11 -0.139  1.750   22 -0.025   22 -0.020   19 -0.014   23 0.4841   17  1.073   16  0.009   17 -0.037 P
KINGS          0 3  9 15  0.079  1.606   30 -0.064   30 -0.073   22 -0.037   30 0.4570    5  1.389    5  0.399   29 -0.473 P
FLAMES         0 3  3 16 -0.048  1.477   31 -0.079   31 -0.087   32 -0.161   31 0.4391   21  1.011   27 -0.212   19 -0.110 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 -0.165  0.813    2  0.061    2  0.065    1  0.150    2 0.5443    4  1.466    2  0.695   27 -0.395 P
MAMMOTH        3 1 17  8 -0.031  1.870    6  0.048    5  0.043    5  0.072    5 0.5280   16  1.098   13  0.125   15  0.019 P
WILD           2 1  9  5  0.036  1.505    8  0.044    9  0.032    4  0.075    7 0.5241   30  0.697   29 -0.315    3  0.465 P
JETS           2 1  9  8  0.087  1.581   11  0.028    7  0.034   12  0.036    8 0.5227   22  0.994   19 -0.034    9  0.107 P
BLUES          1 2  7 10  0.163  1.698   21 -0.024   21 -0.018   17 -0.011   21 0.4860   20  1.023   20 -0.047   13  0.026 P
STARS          1 2  6  6 -0.217  1.202   23 -0.026   25 -0.029   15  0.017   24 0.4838   31  0.558   31 -0.505    2  0.540 P
PREDATORS      1 2  7  9  0.033  1.538   26 -0.035   26 -0.031   25 -0.040   27 0.4753   14  1.111   15  0.030   18 -0.109 P
BLACKHAWKS     1 3  9 17  0.130  2.273   29 -0.062   29 -0.060   31 -0.144   29 0.4641   15  1.107   23 -0.079   22 -0.209 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
RANGERS        4 1 16  8  0.082  2.596    1  0.070    1  0.084    2  0.097    1 0.5468   27  0.845   24 -0.140    4  0.334 P
CAPITALS       1 1  6  5  0.320  1.250   14  0.019   13  0.018    9  0.043   13 0.5134   18  1.069   14  0.060   14  0.025 P
PENGUINS       2 1 15  8 -0.130  1.297   13  0.020   14  0.017    7  0.052   14 0.5074    7  1.296    6  0.359   25 -0.256 P
HURRICANES     2 2 11 12 -0.032  1.907   16  0.006   15  0.012   11  0.038   16 0.5040   19  1.024   17  0.003   12  0.074 P
BLUE JACKETS   1 1  7  7 -0.050  0.955   19 -0.018   18 -0.010   24 -0.039   17 0.4961   10  1.203   11  0.146   24 -0.224 P
ISLANDERS      1 2  9  7  0.037  1.524   25 -0.032   24 -0.028   16  0.009   25 0.4828   23  0.990   22 -0.066   11  0.084 P
DEVILS         1 2  6 13 -0.118  1.386   28 -0.037   28 -0.036   28 -0.102   28 0.4701   13  1.130   18 -0.009   21 -0.195 P
FLYERS         0 4  5 17  0.010  2.062   32 -0.092   32 -0.107   29 -0.133   32 0.4347   29  0.782   30 -0.437    8  0.170 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
LIGHTNING      2 1  8  7  0.008  1.452    5  0.048    6  0.039    6  0.071    6 0.5269   24  0.943   21 -0.058    7  0.200 P
SENATORS       2 1 10  8  0.109  1.610    7  0.045    8  0.033   10  0.039    9 0.5217    9  1.231    7  0.261   20 -0.184 P
BRUINS         2 2  9 11  0.206  2.319   10  0.035   11  0.022   14  0.020   10 0.5182   26  0.886   25 -0.173    6  0.213 P
SABRES         2 1 10 11 -0.139  1.314   12  0.023   12  0.020   21 -0.016   12 0.5147    8  1.267    8  0.253   26 -0.285 P
PANTHERS       2 2  8  8  0.019  1.993   15  0.013   16  0.006   13  0.034   15 0.5073   32  0.217   32 -0.768    1  0.836 P
MAPLE LEAFS    2 2 11 11 -0.131  1.760   18 -0.014   19 -0.010   20 -0.014   18 0.4902   28  0.836   28 -0.262    5  0.233 P
RED WINGS      1 2  7  8  0.037  1.546   27 -0.036   27 -0.031   27 -0.052   22 0.4842   25  0.918   26 -0.209   10  0.105 P
CANADIENS      1 2 12 14  0.128  1.651   24 -0.026   23 -0.021   18 -0.011   26 0.4823    2  1.524    3  0.619   31 -0.641 P

DIVISION               W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      13 12 0.520    1  0.081
ATLANTIC DIVISION     14 13 0.519    2  0.038
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 12 14 0.462    3 -0.006
PACIFIC DIVISION      13 13 0.500    4 -0.113

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.148 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: Wed Oct  7 05:30:19 2026
games through: Tue Oct  6 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.