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      63 31 345 238 -0.009 46.638    2  0.276    2  0.280    1  0.367    2 0.5389   19  1.074    1  0.349    1  0.384
HURRICANES     62 30 325 258  0.010 46.576    1  0.287    1  0.297    2  0.219    1 0.5435   12  1.120    4  0.258    6  0.180
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.390    5  0.189    5  0.167    3  0.203    4 0.5263   17  1.080    7  0.193    3  0.213
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.024 48.643    3  0.205    3  0.183    4  0.188    3 0.5277    7  1.163    2  0.280   10  0.095
STARS          52 36 294 249 -0.000 44.199    6  0.161    6  0.146    5  0.149    6 0.5209   21  1.053   12  0.107    4  0.191
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.023 47.533    7  0.094    7  0.091    6  0.147    7 0.5130   10  1.124    8  0.191    9  0.104
CANADIENS      57 41 334 299  0.053 51.342    4  0.192    4  0.172    7  0.147    5 0.5257    9  1.148    6  0.220   12  0.073
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.015 43.780   12  0.033   12  0.026    8  0.111   11 0.5056   13  1.118    9  0.148   11  0.074
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 50 47 321 287 -0.014 48.260   14  0.022   15  0.016    9  0.090   14 0.5023   18  1.076   14  0.076    8  0.105
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.265    9  0.039   10  0.034   10  0.084    9 0.5066   15  1.107   11  0.107   13  0.061
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.517   18 -0.003   19 -0.018   11  0.074   18 0.4986    3  1.248    3  0.276   25 -0.128
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.028 45.337    8  0.070    8  0.071   12  0.072    8 0.5117   16  1.104   13  0.091   14  0.053
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.058   16  0.012   16  0.010   13  0.041   17 0.5007   14  1.116   15  0.076   18  0.007
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.025 47.386   11  0.034   11  0.032   14  0.022   12 0.5054   31  0.916   24 -0.179    2  0.222
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 42.996   21 -0.027   21 -0.047   15  0.014   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.234   27 -0.207
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.658   19 -0.007   20 -0.018   16 -0.014   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.048   15  0.021
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.515   10  0.037    9  0.036   17 -0.032   10 0.5066   29  0.947   25 -0.197    7  0.134
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.682   17  0.006   17  0.001   18 -0.055   16 0.5009   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.008
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.024 40.725   24 -0.079   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4854   23  1.027   22 -0.143   19  0.003
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.010 41.828   26 -0.128   26 -0.132   20 -0.071   25 0.4808   25  1.015   23 -0.158   16  0.016
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.009 41.812   20 -0.008   18 -0.017   21 -0.086   20 0.4982    6  1.193   17  0.044   28 -0.217
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.009 43.271   29 -0.164   29 -0.162   22 -0.087   29 0.4760   32  0.847   31 -0.364    5  0.189
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.015 41.054   23 -0.055   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4889   11  1.120   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.022 46.805   15  0.013   14  0.016   24 -0.109   15 0.5016    1  1.275   10  0.129   31 -0.348
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.010 41.886   13  0.026   13  0.022   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.229   20 -0.009
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.014 41.140   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4803   24  1.021   26 -0.205   23 -0.045
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.027 40.741   28 -0.161   28 -0.158   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.035
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.917   30 -0.177   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4749    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.341
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.730   22 -0.046   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4909    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.335
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.924   27 -0.159   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.011
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.019 41.070   31 -0.243   31 -0.251   31 -0.229   31 0.4620   28  0.985   30 -0.352   24 -0.106
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.103   32 -0.315   32 -0.334   32 -0.394   32 0.4499    8  1.160   29 -0.305   32 -0.482

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 50 47 321 287 -0.014 48.260   14  0.022   15  0.016    9  0.090   14 0.5023   18  1.076   14  0.076    8  0.105
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 42.996   21 -0.027   21 -0.047   15  0.014   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.234   27 -0.207
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.009 43.271   29 -0.164   29 -0.162   22 -0.087   29 0.4760   32  0.847   31 -0.364    5  0.189
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.022 46.805   15  0.013   14  0.016   24 -0.109   15 0.5016    1  1.275   10  0.129   31 -0.348
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.027 40.741   28 -0.161   28 -0.158   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.035
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.730   22 -0.046   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4909    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.335
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.924   27 -0.159   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.011
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.103   32 -0.315   32 -0.334   32 -0.394   32 0.4499    8  1.160   29 -0.305   32 -0.482

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      63 31 345 238 -0.009 46.638    2  0.276    2  0.280    1  0.367    2 0.5389   19  1.074    1  0.349    1  0.384
STARS          52 36 294 249 -0.000 44.199    6  0.161    6  0.146    5  0.149    6 0.5209   21  1.053   12  0.107    4  0.191
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.023 47.533    7  0.094    7  0.091    6  0.147    7 0.5130   10  1.124    8  0.191    9  0.104
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.058   16  0.012   16  0.010   13  0.041   17 0.5007   14  1.116   15  0.076   18  0.007
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.024 40.725   24 -0.079   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4854   23  1.027   22 -0.143   19  0.003
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.015 41.054   23 -0.055   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4889   11  1.120   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.014 41.140   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4803   24  1.021   26 -0.205   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.019 41.070   31 -0.243   31 -0.251   31 -0.229   31 0.4620   28  0.985   30 -0.352   24 -0.106

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     62 30 325 258  0.010 46.576    1  0.287    1  0.297    2  0.219    1 0.5435   12  1.120    4  0.258    6  0.180
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.265    9  0.039   10  0.034   10  0.084    9 0.5066   15  1.107   11  0.107   13  0.061
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.517   18 -0.003   19 -0.018   11  0.074   18 0.4986    3  1.248    3  0.276   25 -0.128
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.025 47.386   11  0.034   11  0.032   14  0.022   12 0.5054   31  0.916   24 -0.179    2  0.222
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.658   19 -0.007   20 -0.018   16 -0.014   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.048   15  0.021
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.515   10  0.037    9  0.036   17 -0.032   10 0.5066   29  0.947   25 -0.197    7  0.134
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.010 41.828   26 -0.128   26 -0.132   20 -0.071   25 0.4808   25  1.015   23 -0.158   16  0.016
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.010 41.886   13  0.026   13  0.022   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.229   20 -0.009

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      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.390    5  0.189    5  0.167    3  0.203    4 0.5263   17  1.080    7  0.193    3  0.213
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.024 48.643    3  0.205    3  0.183    4  0.188    3 0.5277    7  1.163    2  0.280   10  0.095
CANADIENS      57 41 334 299  0.053 51.342    4  0.192    4  0.172    7  0.147    5 0.5257    9  1.148    6  0.220   12  0.073
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.015 43.780   12  0.033   12  0.026    8  0.111   11 0.5056   13  1.118    9  0.148   11  0.074
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.028 45.337    8  0.070    8  0.071   12  0.072    8 0.5117   16  1.104   13  0.091   14  0.053
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.682   17  0.006   17  0.001   18 -0.055   16 0.5009   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.008
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.009 41.812   20 -0.008   18 -0.017   21 -0.086   20 0.4982    6  1.193   17  0.044   28 -0.217
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.917   30 -0.177   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4749    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.341

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     371 331 0.528    1  0.074
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 354 328 0.519    2  0.029
CENTRAL DIVISION      350 341 0.507    3  0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION      309 384 0.446    4 -0.167

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.046 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: Mon May 25 05:30:10 2026
games through: Sun May 24 2026

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