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      21  8 115  66  0.012 14.490    1  0.173    1  0.162    1  0.282    1 0.5573   21  1.035    3  0.249    3  0.315
STARS          20 10 105  77 -0.022 14.712    2  0.114    2  0.114    3  0.143    2 0.5378   20  1.035   12  0.111    8  0.175
DUCKS          18 11 107  95  0.014 14.827    3  0.085    3  0.089   11  0.036    3 0.5299    1  1.327    1  0.375   31 -0.304
HURRICANES     17 11  94  82  0.019 14.333    4  0.077    4  0.080    6  0.057    4 0.5279   10  1.143    6  0.157   16 -0.042
CAPITALS       18 12 103  75  0.020 15.236    5  0.076    5  0.076    2  0.165    5 0.5264   19  1.040    7  0.139    7  0.191
BRUINS         17 13  96  94  0.046 15.740    6  0.060    6  0.062   12  0.027    6 0.5222   13  1.135   11  0.117   18 -0.062
DEVILS         16 13  84  89  0.059 15.447    8  0.050    7  0.055   16 -0.015    7 0.5203   23  1.012   24 -0.074   15  0.045
ISLANDERS      16 14  87  85  0.093 16.269    9  0.048    8  0.051    7  0.052    8 0.5185   25  0.971   23 -0.055    9  0.159
LIGHTNING      16 13  88  75  0.056 15.233    7  0.051    9  0.051    4  0.085    9 0.5176   26  0.942   22 -0.055    5  0.226
FLYERS         15 12  81  77 -0.032 13.369   10  0.028   10  0.028   17 -0.015   10 0.5107   27  0.932   27 -0.166   10  0.137
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
WILD           16 14  85  81 -0.012 15.003   11  0.020   11  0.020    9  0.043   11 0.5056   29  0.849   28 -0.200    4  0.285
RED WINGS      16 14  95 102 -0.064 14.526   14  0.008   14  0.005   26 -0.064   12 0.5035    4  1.216    8  0.129   27 -0.256
PENGUINS       14 13  85  77 -0.016 13.427   13  0.010   13  0.007    5  0.065   13 0.5031   16  1.077   14  0.082   14  0.047
CANADIENS      15 13  92  99 -0.041 13.826   12  0.015   12  0.013   23 -0.048   14 0.5027    3  1.256    4  0.197   30 -0.292
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 14 14  86  81  0.007 14.222   15  0.007   15  0.000    8  0.047   15 0.5022   24  1.001   20 -0.026   11  0.119
RANGERS        15 16  83  81  0.042 16.265   16  0.003   16 -0.001   14  0.002   16 0.4991   31  0.773   31 -0.321    2  0.325
PANTHERS       14 14  88  90 -0.032 13.895   19 -0.009   19 -0.009   20 -0.033   17 0.4987    9  1.184   10  0.118   25 -0.184
KINGS          14 15  80  77  0.026 14.966   17 -0.002   17 -0.007   10  0.039   18 0.4976   32  0.738   30 -0.319    1  0.398
SHARKS         14 16  86  99  0.054 15.999   18 -0.008   18 -0.008   25 -0.061   19 0.4971   14  1.109   18 -0.004   20 -0.118
JETS           14 14  85  85 -0.048 13.733   20 -0.012   20 -0.013   22 -0.041   20 0.4943   11  1.140   15  0.055   21 -0.137
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAPLE LEAFS    14 15  97  93 -0.052 14.087   21 -0.025   22 -0.028   13  0.008   21 0.4920    6  1.200    5  0.179   23 -0.163
SENATORS       13 15  87  92 -0.009 14.164   22 -0.025   21 -0.028   21 -0.035   22 0.4918    7  1.187    9  0.121   26 -0.190
BLUE JACKETS   13 16  90  99  0.020 15.061   23 -0.028   23 -0.031   24 -0.057   23 0.4891   12  1.138   16  0.036   22 -0.149
MAMMOTH        14 17  93  90 -0.005 15.665   24 -0.033   24 -0.038   15  0.002   24 0.4877   22  1.016   21 -0.053   13  0.056
OILERS         13 16  96 102 -0.019 14.546   25 -0.039   25 -0.044   18 -0.029   25 0.4868    2  1.285    2  0.255   32 -0.312
KRAKEN         11 16  67  83 -0.020 13.599   26 -0.067   26 -0.069   27 -0.080   26 0.4770   30  0.798   32 -0.377    6  0.217
BLACKHAWKS     12 17  86  91 -0.047 14.211   27 -0.073   27 -0.076   19 -0.030   27 0.4745   17  1.076   19 -0.013   17 -0.047
SABRES         11 18  88 103  0.002 14.900   28 -0.085   28 -0.086   28 -0.089   28 0.4714    5  1.202   13  0.086   28 -0.263
CANUCKS        11 19  85 108 -0.001 15.499   29 -0.095   29 -0.095   31 -0.135   29 0.4666    8  1.186   17  0.018   29 -0.288
PREDATORS      10 18  74 100 -0.017 14.253   30 -0.105   30 -0.104   32 -0.136   30 0.4641   15  1.084   25 -0.109   24 -0.163
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         12 19  79  92 -0.079 14.873   31 -0.108   31 -0.108   29 -0.101   31 0.4635   28  0.878   29 -0.312   12  0.109
BLUES          11 19  77 104 -0.046 14.823   32 -0.111   32 -0.111   30 -0.117   32 0.4635   18  1.048   26 -0.134   19 -0.100

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          18 11 107  95  0.014 14.827    3  0.085    3  0.089   11  0.036    3 0.5299    1  1.327    1  0.375   31 -0.304
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 14 14  86  81  0.007 14.222   15  0.007   15  0.000    8  0.047   15 0.5022   24  1.001   20 -0.026   11  0.119
KINGS          14 15  80  77  0.026 14.966   17 -0.002   17 -0.007   10  0.039   18 0.4976   32  0.738   30 -0.319    1  0.398
SHARKS         14 16  86  99  0.054 15.999   18 -0.008   18 -0.008   25 -0.061   19 0.4971   14  1.109   18 -0.004   20 -0.118
OILERS         13 16  96 102 -0.019 14.546   25 -0.039   25 -0.044   18 -0.029   25 0.4868    2  1.285    2  0.255   32 -0.312
KRAKEN         11 16  67  83 -0.020 13.599   26 -0.067   26 -0.069   27 -0.080   26 0.4770   30  0.798   32 -0.377    6  0.217
CANUCKS        11 19  85 108 -0.001 15.499   29 -0.095   29 -0.095   31 -0.135   29 0.4666    8  1.186   17  0.018   29 -0.288
FLAMES         12 19  79  92 -0.079 14.873   31 -0.108   31 -0.108   29 -0.101   31 0.4635   28  0.878   29 -0.312   12  0.109

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      21  8 115  66  0.012 14.490    1  0.173    1  0.162    1  0.282    1 0.5573   21  1.035    3  0.249    3  0.315
STARS          20 10 105  77 -0.022 14.712    2  0.114    2  0.114    3  0.143    2 0.5378   20  1.035   12  0.111    8  0.175
WILD           16 14  85  81 -0.012 15.003   11  0.020   11  0.020    9  0.043   11 0.5056   29  0.849   28 -0.200    4  0.285
JETS           14 14  85  85 -0.048 13.733   20 -0.012   20 -0.013   22 -0.041   20 0.4943   11  1.140   15  0.055   21 -0.137
MAMMOTH        14 17  93  90 -0.005 15.665   24 -0.033   24 -0.038   15  0.002   24 0.4877   22  1.016   21 -0.053   13  0.056
BLACKHAWKS     12 17  86  91 -0.047 14.211   27 -0.073   27 -0.076   19 -0.030   27 0.4745   17  1.076   19 -0.013   17 -0.047
PREDATORS      10 18  74 100 -0.017 14.253   30 -0.105   30 -0.104   32 -0.136   30 0.4641   15  1.084   25 -0.109   24 -0.163
BLUES          11 19  77 104 -0.046 14.823   32 -0.111   32 -0.111   30 -0.117   32 0.4635   18  1.048   26 -0.134   19 -0.100

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     17 11  94  82  0.019 14.333    4  0.077    4  0.080    6  0.057    4 0.5279   10  1.143    6  0.157   16 -0.042
CAPITALS       18 12 103  75  0.020 15.236    5  0.076    5  0.076    2  0.165    5 0.5264   19  1.040    7  0.139    7  0.191
DEVILS         16 13  84  89  0.059 15.447    8  0.050    7  0.055   16 -0.015    7 0.5203   23  1.012   24 -0.074   15  0.045
ISLANDERS      16 14  87  85  0.093 16.269    9  0.048    8  0.051    7  0.052    8 0.5185   25  0.971   23 -0.055    9  0.159
FLYERS         15 12  81  77 -0.032 13.369   10  0.028   10  0.028   17 -0.015   10 0.5107   27  0.932   27 -0.166   10  0.137
PENGUINS       14 13  85  77 -0.016 13.427   13  0.010   13  0.007    5  0.065   13 0.5031   16  1.077   14  0.082   14  0.047
RANGERS        15 16  83  81  0.042 16.265   16  0.003   16 -0.001   14  0.002   16 0.4991   31  0.773   31 -0.321    2  0.325
BLUE JACKETS   13 16  90  99  0.020 15.061   23 -0.028   23 -0.031   24 -0.057   23 0.4891   12  1.138   16  0.036   22 -0.149

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         17 13  96  94  0.046 15.740    6  0.060    6  0.062   12  0.027    6 0.5222   13  1.135   11  0.117   18 -0.062
LIGHTNING      16 13  88  75  0.056 15.233    7  0.051    9  0.051    4  0.085    9 0.5176   26  0.942   22 -0.055    5  0.226
RED WINGS      16 14  95 102 -0.064 14.526   14  0.008   14  0.005   26 -0.064   12 0.5035    4  1.216    8  0.129   27 -0.256
CANADIENS      15 13  92  99 -0.041 13.826   12  0.015   12  0.013   23 -0.048   14 0.5027    3  1.256    4  0.197   30 -0.292
PANTHERS       14 14  88  90 -0.032 13.895   19 -0.009   19 -0.009   20 -0.033   17 0.4987    9  1.184   10  0.118   25 -0.184
MAPLE LEAFS    14 15  97  93 -0.052 14.087   21 -0.025   22 -0.028   13  0.008   21 0.4920    6  1.200    5  0.179   23 -0.163
SENATORS       13 15  87  92 -0.009 14.164   22 -0.025   21 -0.028   21 -0.035   22 0.4918    7  1.187    9  0.121   26 -0.190
SABRES         11 18  88 103  0.002 14.900   28 -0.085   28 -0.086   28 -0.089   28 0.4714    5  1.202   13  0.086   28 -0.263

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 124 107 0.537    1  0.085
CENTRAL DIVISION      118 117 0.502    2  0.042
ATLANTIC DIVISION     116 115 0.502    3 -0.047
PACIFIC DIVISION      107 126 0.459    4 -0.090

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Dec  9 05:30:10 2025
games through: Mon Dec  8 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.