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      58 27 310 207 -0.018 41.592    1  0.279    1  0.286    1  0.383    1 0.5417   23  1.022    1  0.303    1  0.463
LIGHTNING      51 33 296 237  0.013 42.379    4  0.197    4  0.179    2  0.211    4 0.5283   11  1.130    5  0.261    5  0.161
HURRICANES     56 29 303 243  0.011 42.816    2  0.262    2  0.265    3  0.206    2 0.5397   10  1.145    3  0.275    8  0.137
SABRES         52 33 297 249  0.014 42.952    3  0.207    3  0.190    4  0.183    3 0.5291    9  1.159    4  0.270    9  0.096
STARS          52 33 288 237 -0.003 42.358    5  0.195    5  0.178    5  0.172    5 0.5260   19  1.058   11  0.134    2  0.209
WILD           47 38 283 249 -0.003 42.379    7  0.072    8  0.082    6  0.134    8 0.5121   17  1.084   12  0.129    7  0.140
SENATORS       44 41 281 253  0.017 43.121   11  0.033   12  0.039    7  0.123   12 0.5071   14  1.114    9  0.153   10  0.092
CANADIENS      49 35 289 262  0.024 42.839    6  0.159    6  0.149    8  0.110    6 0.5228    7  1.178    7  0.222   20 -0.001
BRUINS         46 39 280 259  0.027 43.465    8  0.071    7  0.082    9  0.100    7 0.5133   13  1.118   10  0.136   12  0.064
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.006 41.262   10  0.033   11  0.040   10  0.090   10 0.5072   15  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.074
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PENGUINS       41 44 297 279  0.011 42.986   19 -0.009   20 -0.021   11  0.074   19 0.4977    2  1.267    2  0.302   26 -0.153
MAMMOTH        44 40 273 246 -0.009 41.813   13  0.024   13  0.031   12  0.055   14 0.5041   16  1.100   14  0.068   14  0.042
FLYERS         46 39 261 247  0.017 43.205    9  0.064    9  0.077   13  0.055    9 0.5116   29  0.967   21 -0.089    4  0.198
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 40 44 271 255 -0.021 41.407   21 -0.034   21 -0.052   14  0.039   21 0.4916   18  1.083   17  0.032   13  0.047
OILERS         42 42 290 278 -0.031 41.089   20 -0.009   19 -0.020   15  0.032   20 0.4970    3  1.258    6  0.247   27 -0.183
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.013 41.630   17 -0.005   18 -0.012   16 -0.008   17 0.4990   20  1.056   19 -0.047   15  0.032
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.009 41.511   12  0.033   10  0.043   17 -0.025   11 0.5072   30  0.944   25 -0.195    6  0.145
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.013 41.682   16  0.007   16  0.008   18 -0.048   16 0.5016   21  1.032   22 -0.116   17  0.020
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.017 40.716   24 -0.075   24 -0.088   19 -0.063   24 0.4861   22  1.026   23 -0.138   18  0.012
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.016 41.813   26 -0.122   26 -0.126   20 -0.065   25 0.4815   25  1.011   24 -0.158   16  0.029
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          35 50 229 255 -0.008 42.558   27 -0.152   28 -0.149   21 -0.071   27 0.4774   32  0.846   31 -0.349    3  0.208
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.015 41.796   18 -0.005   17 -0.011   22 -0.080   18 0.4989    6  1.189   16  0.045   28 -0.204
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.009 41.038   23 -0.052   23 -0.065   23 -0.095   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.056   25 -0.135
DUCKS          44 40 282 296 -0.026 41.466   15  0.014   15  0.019   24 -0.100   15 0.5027    1  1.295    8  0.165   31 -0.365
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.016 41.857   14  0.020   14  0.028   25 -0.112   13 0.5048   27  0.991   27 -0.228   19  0.004
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.007 41.129   25 -0.118   25 -0.121   26 -0.118   26 0.4810   24  1.022   26 -0.199   23 -0.037
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.021 40.704   29 -0.158   29 -0.152   27 -0.138   29 0.4768   26  0.995   28 -0.249   22 -0.026
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.015 41.880   30 -0.175   30 -0.166   28 -0.142   30 0.4755    4  1.237   15  0.045   30 -0.329
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.023 40.687   22 -0.044   22 -0.054   29 -0.171   22 0.4915    5  1.213   18 -0.015   29 -0.327
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.017 40.886   28 -0.156   27 -0.148   30 -0.188   28 0.4772   31  0.930   32 -0.375   21 -0.002
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 -0.013 41.048   31 -0.244   31 -0.244   31 -0.222   31 0.4627   28  0.985   30 -0.346   24 -0.098
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.018 41.093   32 -0.312   32 -0.326   32 -0.386   32 0.4506    8  1.159   29 -0.300   32 -0.473

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 40 44 271 255 -0.021 41.407   21 -0.034   21 -0.052   14  0.039   21 0.4916   18  1.083   17  0.032   13  0.047
OILERS         42 42 290 278 -0.031 41.089   20 -0.009   19 -0.020   15  0.032   20 0.4970    3  1.258    6  0.247   27 -0.183
KINGS          35 50 229 255 -0.008 42.558   27 -0.152   28 -0.149   21 -0.071   27 0.4774   32  0.846   31 -0.349    3  0.208
DUCKS          44 40 282 296 -0.026 41.466   15  0.014   15  0.019   24 -0.100   15 0.5027    1  1.295    8  0.165   31 -0.365
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.021 40.704   29 -0.158   29 -0.152   27 -0.138   29 0.4768   26  0.995   28 -0.249   22 -0.026
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.023 40.687   22 -0.044   22 -0.054   29 -0.171   22 0.4915    5  1.213   18 -0.015   29 -0.327
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.017 40.886   28 -0.156   27 -0.148   30 -0.188   28 0.4772   31  0.930   32 -0.375   21 -0.002
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.018 41.093   32 -0.312   32 -0.326   32 -0.386   32 0.4506    8  1.159   29 -0.300   32 -0.473

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      58 27 310 207 -0.018 41.592    1  0.279    1  0.286    1  0.383    1 0.5417   23  1.022    1  0.303    1  0.463
STARS          52 33 288 237 -0.003 42.358    5  0.195    5  0.178    5  0.172    5 0.5260   19  1.058   11  0.134    2  0.209
WILD           47 38 283 249 -0.003 42.379    7  0.072    8  0.082    6  0.134    8 0.5121   17  1.084   12  0.129    7  0.140
MAMMOTH        44 40 273 246 -0.009 41.813   13  0.024   13  0.031   12  0.055   14 0.5041   16  1.100   14  0.068   14  0.042
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.017 40.716   24 -0.075   24 -0.088   19 -0.063   24 0.4861   22  1.026   23 -0.138   18  0.012
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.009 41.038   23 -0.052   23 -0.065   23 -0.095   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.056   25 -0.135
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.007 41.129   25 -0.118   25 -0.121   26 -0.118   26 0.4810   24  1.022   26 -0.199   23 -0.037
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.013 41.048   31 -0.244   31 -0.244   31 -0.222   31 0.4627   28  0.985   30 -0.346   24 -0.098

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     56 29 303 243  0.011 42.816    2  0.262    2  0.265    3  0.206    2 0.5397   10  1.145    3  0.275    8  0.137
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.006 41.262   10  0.033   11  0.040   10  0.090   10 0.5072   15  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.074
PENGUINS       41 44 297 279  0.011 42.986   19 -0.009   20 -0.021   11  0.074   19 0.4977    2  1.267    2  0.302   26 -0.153
FLYERS         46 39 261 247  0.017 43.205    9  0.064    9  0.077   13  0.055    9 0.5116   29  0.967   21 -0.089    4  0.198
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.013 41.630   17 -0.005   18 -0.012   16 -0.008   17 0.4990   20  1.056   19 -0.047   15  0.032
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.009 41.511   12  0.033   10  0.043   17 -0.025   11 0.5072   30  0.944   25 -0.195    6  0.145
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.016 41.813   26 -0.122   26 -0.126   20 -0.065   25 0.4815   25  1.011   24 -0.158   16  0.029
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.016 41.857   14  0.020   14  0.028   25 -0.112   13 0.5048   27  0.991   27 -0.228   19  0.004

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      51 33 296 237  0.013 42.379    4  0.197    4  0.179    2  0.211    4 0.5283   11  1.130    5  0.261    5  0.161
SABRES         52 33 297 249  0.014 42.952    3  0.207    3  0.190    4  0.183    3 0.5291    9  1.159    4  0.270    9  0.096
SENATORS       44 41 281 253  0.017 43.121   11  0.033   12  0.039    7  0.123   12 0.5071   14  1.114    9  0.153   10  0.092
CANADIENS      49 35 289 262  0.024 42.839    6  0.159    6  0.149    8  0.110    6 0.5228    7  1.178    7  0.222   20 -0.001
BRUINS         46 39 280 259  0.027 43.465    8  0.071    7  0.082    9  0.100    7 0.5133   13  1.118   10  0.136   12  0.064
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.013 41.682   16  0.007   16  0.008   18 -0.048   16 0.5016   21  1.032   22 -0.116   17  0.020
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.015 41.796   18 -0.005   17 -0.011   22 -0.080   18 0.4989    6  1.189   16  0.045   28 -0.204
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.015 41.880   30 -0.175   30 -0.166   28 -0.142   30 0.4755    4  1.237   15  0.045   30 -0.329

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     355 314 0.531    1  0.079
CENTRAL DIVISION      340 327 0.510    2  0.040
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 345 320 0.519    3  0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION      293 372 0.441    4 -0.167

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.054 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: Fri Apr 24 05:30:10 2026
games through: Thu Apr 23 2026

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