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  9 118  70  0.005 14.909    1  0.160    1  0.152    1  0.284    1 0.5511   20  1.040    2  0.255    3  0.313
CAPITALS       18 12 103  75  0.022 15.233    5  0.082    5  0.080    2  0.172    5 0.5266   21  1.037    7  0.139    7  0.204
STARS          21 10 109  80 -0.024 15.175    2  0.132    2  0.129    3  0.151    2 0.5401   19  1.045    9  0.129    8  0.174
LIGHTNING      17 13  94  76  0.054 15.699    8  0.064    9  0.065    4  0.114    8 0.5215   26  0.945   21 -0.025    5  0.252
HURRICANES     18 11  98  83  0.015 14.768    4  0.094    4  0.094    5  0.076    4 0.5306   12  1.125    6  0.150   16  0.002
PENGUINS       14 14  88  81 -0.009 14.001   14  0.002   15 -0.004    6  0.066   13 0.5002   17  1.070   13  0.074   13  0.059
ISLANDERS      17 14  92  89  0.097 16.851    7  0.066    8  0.068    7  0.058    9 0.5214   25  0.998   20 -0.020   10  0.137
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 14 15  90  86  0.014 14.809   18 -0.006   18 -0.010    8  0.049   15 0.4989   22  1.032   17  0.010   12  0.087
WILD           16 14  85  81 -0.013 14.983   11  0.022   11  0.020    9  0.044   11 0.5053   29  0.849   28 -0.200    4  0.289
DUCKS          19 11 111  98  0.024 15.438    3  0.106    3  0.108   10  0.043    3 0.5332    1  1.319    1  0.369   29 -0.283
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRUINS         18 13 101  96  0.037 16.121    6  0.074    6  0.075   11  0.040    6 0.5246   11  1.141    8  0.135   18 -0.055
KINGS          14 15  80  77  0.023 14.914   17 -0.004   17 -0.008   12  0.040   18 0.4968   32  0.736   30 -0.323    1  0.402
MAPLE LEAFS    14 15  97  93 -0.053 14.068   21 -0.028   21 -0.030   13  0.008   20 0.4923    5  1.204    4  0.182   24 -0.166
FLYERS         16 12  85  78 -0.035 13.797   10  0.040   10  0.041   14  0.002   10 0.5146   27  0.921   27 -0.164    9  0.167
RANGERS        15 16  83  81  0.041 16.238   15  0.002   14 -0.001   15  0.001   17 0.4984   31  0.773   31 -0.324    2  0.327
MAMMOTH        14 17  93  90 -0.013 15.568   22 -0.040   23 -0.042   16 -0.002   23 0.4869   24  1.015   24 -0.060   14  0.057
DEVILS         17 13  88  92  0.055 15.916    9  0.062    7  0.069   17 -0.011    7 0.5234   23  1.024   23 -0.059   15  0.037
PANTHERS       14 14  88  90 -0.023 13.990   16 -0.003   16 -0.007   18 -0.030   14 0.4998    9  1.183   12  0.117   25 -0.178
BLACKHAWKS     12 17  86  91 -0.047 14.202   28 -0.078   28 -0.079   19 -0.031   28 0.4744   16  1.074   19 -0.019   17 -0.044
OILERS         13 17  99 106 -0.030 14.910   25 -0.057   25 -0.062   20 -0.037   25 0.4817    2  1.276    3  0.232   31 -0.306
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SENATORS       13 16  90  96 -0.010 14.655   23 -0.040   22 -0.042   21 -0.041   22 0.4887    6  1.196   10  0.123   26 -0.205
JETS           14 15  88  89 -0.034 14.375   20 -0.023   20 -0.023   22 -0.043   21 0.4917   10  1.154   15  0.068   22 -0.153
RED WINGS      16 14  95 102 -0.064 14.526   12  0.010   12  0.006   23 -0.066   12 0.5040    4  1.214   11  0.122   28 -0.254
CANADIENS      15 14  93 105 -0.036 14.406   13  0.007   13  0.002   24 -0.074   16 0.4984    3  1.259    5  0.173   32 -0.321
BLUE JACKETS   13 17  91 103  0.024 15.639   24 -0.042   24 -0.044   25 -0.074   24 0.4863   13  1.121   18 -0.005   21 -0.144
SHARKS         14 17  87 103  0.053 16.524   19 -0.021   19 -0.020   26 -0.081   19 0.4935   14  1.099   22 -0.038   19 -0.123
KRAKEN         11 16  67  83 -0.030 13.488   26 -0.074   26 -0.075   27 -0.087   26 0.4757   30  0.797   32 -0.387    6  0.213
SABRES         12 18  92 106  0.000 15.369   27 -0.076   27 -0.077   28 -0.090   27 0.4755    7  1.194   14  0.072   27 -0.252
FLAMES         12 19  79  92 -0.079 14.865   31 -0.112   31 -0.113   29 -0.105   31 0.4633   28  0.876   29 -0.322   11  0.111
PREDATORS      11 18  78 103  0.007 15.018   29 -0.087   29 -0.086   30 -0.128   29 0.4710   15  1.089   25 -0.098   23 -0.158
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          11 20  79 109 -0.045 15.334   32 -0.128   32 -0.128   31 -0.136   32 0.4610   18  1.054   26 -0.147   20 -0.125
CANUCKS        11 19  85 108 -0.004 15.448   30 -0.102   30 -0.101   32 -0.142   30 0.4660    8  1.187   16  0.011   30 -0.295

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 14 15  90  86  0.014 14.809   18 -0.006   18 -0.010    8  0.049   15 0.4989   22  1.032   17  0.010   12  0.087
DUCKS          19 11 111  98  0.024 15.438    3  0.106    3  0.108   10  0.043    3 0.5332    1  1.319    1  0.369   29 -0.283
KINGS          14 15  80  77  0.023 14.914   17 -0.004   17 -0.008   12  0.040   18 0.4968   32  0.736   30 -0.323    1  0.402
OILERS         13 17  99 106 -0.030 14.910   25 -0.057   25 -0.062   20 -0.037   25 0.4817    2  1.276    3  0.232   31 -0.306
SHARKS         14 17  87 103  0.053 16.524   19 -0.021   19 -0.020   26 -0.081   19 0.4935   14  1.099   22 -0.038   19 -0.123
KRAKEN         11 16  67  83 -0.030 13.488   26 -0.074   26 -0.075   27 -0.087   26 0.4757   30  0.797   32 -0.387    6  0.213
FLAMES         12 19  79  92 -0.079 14.865   31 -0.112   31 -0.113   29 -0.105   31 0.4633   28  0.876   29 -0.322   11  0.111
CANUCKS        11 19  85 108 -0.004 15.448   30 -0.102   30 -0.101   32 -0.142   30 0.4660    8  1.187   16  0.011   30 -0.295

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  9 118  70  0.005 14.909    1  0.160    1  0.152    1  0.284    1 0.5511   20  1.040    2  0.255    3  0.313
STARS          21 10 109  80 -0.024 15.175    2  0.132    2  0.129    3  0.151    2 0.5401   19  1.045    9  0.129    8  0.174
WILD           16 14  85  81 -0.013 14.983   11  0.022   11  0.020    9  0.044   11 0.5053   29  0.849   28 -0.200    4  0.289
MAMMOTH        14 17  93  90 -0.013 15.568   22 -0.040   23 -0.042   16 -0.002   23 0.4869   24  1.015   24 -0.060   14  0.057
BLACKHAWKS     12 17  86  91 -0.047 14.202   28 -0.078   28 -0.079   19 -0.031   28 0.4744   16  1.074   19 -0.019   17 -0.044
JETS           14 15  88  89 -0.034 14.375   20 -0.023   20 -0.023   22 -0.043   21 0.4917   10  1.154   15  0.068   22 -0.153
PREDATORS      11 18  78 103  0.007 15.018   29 -0.087   29 -0.086   30 -0.128   29 0.4710   15  1.089   25 -0.098   23 -0.158
BLUES          11 20  79 109 -0.045 15.334   32 -0.128   32 -0.128   31 -0.136   32 0.4610   18  1.054   26 -0.147   20 -0.125

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
CAPITALS       18 12 103  75  0.022 15.233    5  0.082    5  0.080    2  0.172    5 0.5266   21  1.037    7  0.139    7  0.204
HURRICANES     18 11  98  83  0.015 14.768    4  0.094    4  0.094    5  0.076    4 0.5306   12  1.125    6  0.150   16  0.002
PENGUINS       14 14  88  81 -0.009 14.001   14  0.002   15 -0.004    6  0.066   13 0.5002   17  1.070   13  0.074   13  0.059
ISLANDERS      17 14  92  89  0.097 16.851    7  0.066    8  0.068    7  0.058    9 0.5214   25  0.998   20 -0.020   10  0.137
FLYERS         16 12  85  78 -0.035 13.797   10  0.040   10  0.041   14  0.002   10 0.5146   27  0.921   27 -0.164    9  0.167
RANGERS        15 16  83  81  0.041 16.238   15  0.002   14 -0.001   15  0.001   17 0.4984   31  0.773   31 -0.324    2  0.327
DEVILS         17 13  88  92  0.055 15.916    9  0.062    7  0.069   17 -0.011    7 0.5234   23  1.024   23 -0.059   15  0.037
BLUE JACKETS   13 17  91 103  0.024 15.639   24 -0.042   24 -0.044   25 -0.074   24 0.4863   13  1.121   18 -0.005   21 -0.144

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      17 13  94  76  0.054 15.699    8  0.064    9  0.065    4  0.114    8 0.5215   26  0.945   21 -0.025    5  0.252
BRUINS         18 13 101  96  0.037 16.121    6  0.074    6  0.075   11  0.040    6 0.5246   11  1.141    8  0.135   18 -0.055
MAPLE LEAFS    14 15  97  93 -0.053 14.068   21 -0.028   21 -0.030   13  0.008   20 0.4923    5  1.204    4  0.182   24 -0.166
PANTHERS       14 14  88  90 -0.023 13.990   16 -0.003   16 -0.007   18 -0.030   14 0.4998    9  1.183   12  0.117   25 -0.178
SENATORS       13 16  90  96 -0.010 14.655   23 -0.040   22 -0.042   21 -0.041   22 0.4887    6  1.196   10  0.123   26 -0.205
RED WINGS      16 14  95 102 -0.064 14.526   12  0.010   12  0.006   23 -0.066   12 0.5040    4  1.214   11  0.122   28 -0.254
CANADIENS      15 14  93 105 -0.036 14.406   13  0.007   13  0.002   24 -0.074   16 0.4984    3  1.259    5  0.173   32 -0.321
SABRES         12 18  92 106  0.000 15.369   27 -0.076   27 -0.077   28 -0.090   27 0.4755    7  1.194   14  0.072   27 -0.252

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 128 109 0.540    1  0.092
CENTRAL DIVISION      120 120 0.500    2  0.039
ATLANTIC DIVISION     119 117 0.504    3 -0.043
PACIFIC DIVISION      108 129 0.456    4 -0.098

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed Dec 10 06:56:00 2025
games through: Tue Dec  9 2025

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