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      53 27 297 202 -0.007 39.418    1  0.252    1  0.252    1  0.371    1 0.5382   19  1.066    1  0.341    1  0.402
LIGHTNING      50 31 288 227  0.016 40.851    3  0.207    3  0.193    2  0.225    3 0.5309   12  1.135    4  0.278    4  0.171
HURRICANES     52 29 294 239  0.008 40.672    2  0.235    2  0.230    3  0.187    2 0.5355    6  1.193    3  0.314   12  0.060
SABRES         50 31 285 237  0.010 40.739    4  0.205    4  0.193    4  0.183    4 0.5301    9  1.162    5  0.271    8  0.095
STARS          49 32 275 223 -0.011 40.027    5  0.169    5  0.159    5  0.178    6 0.5235   21  1.050   11  0.129    2  0.228
SENATORS       43 38 275 245  0.012 40.858    9  0.048    9  0.057    6  0.132    9 0.5095   10  1.161    8  0.218   13  0.046
WILD           45 36 269 238 -0.008 40.185    7  0.070    8  0.081    7  0.123    8 0.5118   17  1.083   12  0.113    7  0.133
CANADIENS      48 33 281 252  0.018 41.055    6  0.166    6  0.158    8  0.116    5 0.5244    7  1.184    6  0.232   21  0.001
PENGUINS       41 40 288 261  0.012 40.864   15  0.015   17  0.018    9  0.112   15 0.5035    2  1.252    2  0.315   24 -0.091
BRUINS         44 37 268 250  0.023 41.283    8  0.070    7  0.081   10  0.088    7 0.5131   13  1.130   10  0.135   15  0.040
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAPITALS       42 39 261 243  0.007 40.752   14  0.025   14  0.032   11  0.087   13 0.5059   14  1.111   13  0.112   11  0.063
MAMMOTH        42 38 260 232 -0.006 39.837   13  0.027   13  0.034   12  0.063   14 0.5049   18  1.083   15  0.053    9  0.074
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 38 43 261 249 -0.018 40.000   22 -0.043   23 -0.060   13  0.028   23 0.4904   16  1.088   16  0.025   17  0.032
OILERS         40 41 276 268 -0.019 39.960   20 -0.014   20 -0.022   14  0.028   20 0.4962    3  1.247    7  0.225   27 -0.170
FLYERS         42 39 246 241  0.015 41.097   11  0.031   12  0.038   15  0.018   12 0.5062   29  0.977   22 -0.118    5  0.153
BLUE JACKETS   40 41 252 251  0.015 41.132   18  0.001   18 -0.000   16 -0.001   18 0.5008   20  1.065   18 -0.033   16  0.032
ISLANDERS      43 38 232 239  0.008 40.926   10  0.041   10  0.053   17 -0.020   10 0.5086   30  0.953   24 -0.183    6  0.143
RED WINGS      41 40 240 250  0.016 41.194   16  0.014   15  0.020   18 -0.023   16 0.5033   22  1.015   21 -0.114   10  0.068
KINGS          35 45 221 240 -0.017 39.679   25 -0.102   26 -0.109   19 -0.054   25 0.4828   32  0.868   30 -0.311    3  0.204
RANGERS        33 48 234 248  0.014 41.198   27 -0.139   28 -0.136   20 -0.074   27 0.4795   25  1.005   23 -0.177   18  0.030
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          35 45 219 250 -0.018 39.665   26 -0.104   25 -0.109   21 -0.076   26 0.4828   27  0.989   26 -0.198   14  0.046
PREDATORS      38 43 243 264 -0.006 40.598   21 -0.040   22 -0.053   22 -0.090   22 0.4910   15  1.110   20 -0.067   26 -0.112
JETS           35 45 227 249 -0.004 40.138   24 -0.094   24 -0.100   23 -0.092   24 0.4836   24  1.007   25 -0.193   20  0.009
DEVILS         42 39 230 250  0.016 41.294   12  0.028   11  0.039   24 -0.094   11 0.5064   26  0.997   27 -0.207   19  0.018
PANTHERS       39 42 243 275  0.020 41.411   19 -0.012   19 -0.017   25 -0.098   19 0.4977    8  1.172   17  0.002   28 -0.199
DUCKS          42 38 266 281 -0.029 39.352   17  0.012   16  0.019   26 -0.106   17 0.5028    1  1.280    9  0.136   31 -0.347
KRAKEN         34 46 225 257 -0.027 39.429   28 -0.140   27 -0.136   27 -0.120   28 0.4789   23  1.015   28 -0.211   23 -0.029
MAPLE LEAFS    32 49 252 296  0.015 41.306   30 -0.165   30 -0.156   28 -0.133   29 0.4768    4  1.244   14  0.060   30 -0.327
SHARKS         38 42 243 286 -0.018 39.823   23 -0.043   21 -0.050   29 -0.176   21 0.4918    5  1.203   19 -0.036   29 -0.316
FLAMES         33 47 208 255 -0.019 39.763   29 -0.160   29 -0.150   30 -0.192   30 0.4767   31  0.939   32 -0.371   22 -0.014
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     28 53 208 273 -0.009 40.689   31 -0.248   31 -0.250   31 -0.229   31 0.4610   28  0.979   31 -0.362   25 -0.096
CANUCKS        24 56 211 307 -0.016 40.103   32 -0.312   32 -0.327   32 -0.373   32 0.4499   11  1.157   29 -0.292   32 -0.454

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 38 43 261 249 -0.018 40.000   22 -0.043   23 -0.060   13  0.028   23 0.4904   16  1.088   16  0.025   17  0.032
OILERS         40 41 276 268 -0.019 39.960   20 -0.014   20 -0.022   14  0.028   20 0.4962    3  1.247    7  0.225   27 -0.170
KINGS          35 45 221 240 -0.017 39.679   25 -0.102   26 -0.109   19 -0.054   25 0.4828   32  0.868   30 -0.311    3  0.204
DUCKS          42 38 266 281 -0.029 39.352   17  0.012   16  0.019   26 -0.106   17 0.5028    1  1.280    9  0.136   31 -0.347
KRAKEN         34 46 225 257 -0.027 39.429   28 -0.140   27 -0.136   27 -0.120   28 0.4789   23  1.015   28 -0.211   23 -0.029
SHARKS         38 42 243 286 -0.018 39.823   23 -0.043   21 -0.050   29 -0.176   21 0.4918    5  1.203   19 -0.036   29 -0.316
FLAMES         33 47 208 255 -0.019 39.763   29 -0.160   29 -0.150   30 -0.192   30 0.4767   31  0.939   32 -0.371   22 -0.014
CANUCKS        24 56 211 307 -0.016 40.103   32 -0.312   32 -0.327   32 -0.373   32 0.4499   11  1.157   29 -0.292   32 -0.454

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      53 27 297 202 -0.007 39.418    1  0.252    1  0.252    1  0.371    1 0.5382   19  1.066    1  0.341    1  0.402
STARS          49 32 275 223 -0.011 40.027    5  0.169    5  0.159    5  0.178    6 0.5235   21  1.050   11  0.129    2  0.228
WILD           45 36 269 238 -0.008 40.185    7  0.070    8  0.081    7  0.123    8 0.5118   17  1.083   12  0.113    7  0.133
MAMMOTH        42 38 260 232 -0.006 39.837   13  0.027   13  0.034   12  0.063   14 0.5049   18  1.083   15  0.053    9  0.074
BLUES          35 45 219 250 -0.018 39.665   26 -0.104   25 -0.109   21 -0.076   26 0.4828   27  0.989   26 -0.198   14  0.046
PREDATORS      38 43 243 264 -0.006 40.598   21 -0.040   22 -0.053   22 -0.090   22 0.4910   15  1.110   20 -0.067   26 -0.112
JETS           35 45 227 249 -0.004 40.138   24 -0.094   24 -0.100   23 -0.092   24 0.4836   24  1.007   25 -0.193   20  0.009
BLACKHAWKS     28 53 208 273 -0.009 40.689   31 -0.248   31 -0.250   31 -0.229   31 0.4610   28  0.979   31 -0.362   25 -0.096

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     52 29 294 239  0.008 40.672    2  0.235    2  0.230    3  0.187    2 0.5355    6  1.193    3  0.314   12  0.060
PENGUINS       41 40 288 261  0.012 40.864   15  0.015   17  0.018    9  0.112   15 0.5035    2  1.252    2  0.315   24 -0.091
CAPITALS       42 39 261 243  0.007 40.752   14  0.025   14  0.032   11  0.087   13 0.5059   14  1.111   13  0.112   11  0.063
FLYERS         42 39 246 241  0.015 41.097   11  0.031   12  0.038   15  0.018   12 0.5062   29  0.977   22 -0.118    5  0.153
BLUE JACKETS   40 41 252 251  0.015 41.132   18  0.001   18 -0.000   16 -0.001   18 0.5008   20  1.065   18 -0.033   16  0.032
ISLANDERS      43 38 232 239  0.008 40.926   10  0.041   10  0.053   17 -0.020   10 0.5086   30  0.953   24 -0.183    6  0.143
RANGERS        33 48 234 248  0.014 41.198   27 -0.139   28 -0.136   20 -0.074   27 0.4795   25  1.005   23 -0.177   18  0.030
DEVILS         42 39 230 250  0.016 41.294   12  0.028   11  0.039   24 -0.094   11 0.5064   26  0.997   27 -0.207   19  0.018

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      50 31 288 227  0.016 40.851    3  0.207    3  0.193    2  0.225    3 0.5309   12  1.135    4  0.278    4  0.171
SABRES         50 31 285 237  0.010 40.739    4  0.205    4  0.193    4  0.183    4 0.5301    9  1.162    5  0.271    8  0.095
SENATORS       43 38 275 245  0.012 40.858    9  0.048    9  0.057    6  0.132    9 0.5095   10  1.161    8  0.218   13  0.046
CANADIENS      48 33 281 252  0.018 41.055    6  0.166    6  0.158    8  0.116    5 0.5244    7  1.184    6  0.232   21  0.001
BRUINS         44 37 268 250  0.023 41.283    8  0.070    7  0.081   10  0.088    7 0.5131   13  1.130   10  0.135   15  0.040
RED WINGS      41 40 240 250  0.016 41.194   16  0.014   15  0.020   18 -0.023   16 0.5033   22  1.015   21 -0.114   10  0.068
PANTHERS       39 42 243 275  0.020 41.411   19 -0.012   19 -0.017   25 -0.098   19 0.4977    8  1.172   17  0.002   28 -0.199
MAPLE LEAFS    32 49 252 296  0.015 41.306   30 -0.165   30 -0.156   28 -0.133   29 0.4768    4  1.244   14  0.060   30 -0.327

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     347 301 0.535    1  0.085
CENTRAL DIVISION      325 319 0.505    2  0.042
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 335 313 0.517    3  0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION      284 358 0.442    4 -0.166

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.052 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: Tue Apr 14 05:30:09 2026
games through: Mon Apr 13 2026

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