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      40 19 225 148 -0.005 29.081    1  0.241    1  0.232    1  0.360    1 0.5441   18  1.091    1  0.369    1  0.350
LIGHTNING      38 20 209 153  0.006 28.963    2  0.213    2  0.203    2  0.240    2 0.5397   17  1.097    4  0.256    3  0.223
STARS          37 23 206 164 -0.030 29.206    4  0.142    4  0.138    3  0.158    4 0.5253   21  1.056   11  0.124    5  0.191
HURRICANES     38 22 208 171 -0.004 29.837    3  0.183    3  0.174    4  0.147    3 0.5331   14  1.121    8  0.193   12  0.101
PENGUINS       31 28 203 173 -0.037 28.599   13  0.014   14  0.015    5  0.126   13 0.5036   13  1.131   10  0.184   13  0.067
WILD           35 26 204 179 -0.015 30.104    9  0.082    9  0.089    6  0.109    8 0.5153   19  1.080   14  0.105   11  0.114
SABRES         35 25 206 181  0.015 30.335    5  0.116    5  0.117    7  0.107    5 0.5226    9  1.179    6  0.226   19 -0.013
CANADIENS      33 26 208 193  0.024 30.098    8  0.083    8  0.090    8  0.077   10 0.5144    3  1.247    3  0.284   24 -0.131
BRUINS         33 26 200 187  0.004 29.631   10  0.071   10  0.079    9  0.066    9 0.5151    6  1.203    7  0.217   22 -0.084
MAMMOTH        31 29 190 167  0.004 30.112   12  0.020   12  0.023   10  0.064   12 0.5051   22  1.019   19 -0.013    7  0.141
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAPITALS       31 31 197 186 -0.005 30.918   17 -0.004   18 -0.005   11  0.059   16 0.5014   15  1.098   15  0.078   15  0.041
SENATORS       29 30 197 188  0.011 29.818   18 -0.004   19 -0.006   12  0.046   19 0.4991    7  1.200    9  0.192   23 -0.099
ISLANDERS      35 26 182 172  0.008 30.773    7  0.096    7  0.102   13  0.045    6 0.5197   27  0.949   21 -0.113    4  0.202
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 28 32 199 191 -0.023 29.534   23 -0.045   23 -0.057   14  0.027   23 0.4905   11  1.158   13  0.120   20 -0.066
OILERS         29 32 215 206 -0.033 29.773   22 -0.039   22 -0.051   15  0.027   22 0.4907    1  1.319    2  0.330   29 -0.277
RED WINGS      35 26 182 183  0.010 30.894    6  0.097    6  0.104   16 -0.004    7 0.5188   25  0.984   22 -0.123   10  0.114
BLUE JACKETS   30 29 189 189  0.009 29.850   14  0.009   13  0.016   17 -0.005   15 0.5028   12  1.142   17  0.068   21 -0.077
KRAKEN         29 31 171 176 -0.030 29.416   21 -0.031   21 -0.039   18 -0.020   20 0.4933   28  0.937   25 -0.191    6  0.150
FLYERS         28 32 177 188  0.015 30.559   20 -0.029   20 -0.035   19 -0.040   21 0.4930   24  1.005   23 -0.133   14  0.053
MAPLE LEAFS    27 34 195 211  0.008 30.890   25 -0.060   25 -0.070   20 -0.045   24 0.4867    4  1.216   12  0.122   27 -0.212
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS       30 30 185 200  0.024 30.780   15  0.006   15  0.013   21 -0.050   14 0.5029    8  1.181   16  0.072   26 -0.171
DUCKS          33 26 199 206 -0.002 29.672   11  0.065   11  0.077   22 -0.059   11 0.5135    2  1.311    5  0.234   32 -0.351
KINGS          24 36 155 179  0.014 30.575   26 -0.122   26 -0.124   23 -0.074   26 0.4764   32  0.799   30 -0.395    2  0.248
JETS           23 36 168 184 -0.006 29.596   29 -0.147   29 -0.148   24 -0.085   28 0.4730   23  1.018   24 -0.163   18 -0.008
SHARKS         29 29 179 202  0.008 29.474   16  0.000   16  0.005   25 -0.114   18 0.4996    5  1.215   18  0.051   30 -0.279
PREDATORS      27 33 177 207  0.005 30.452   24 -0.054   24 -0.062   26 -0.127   25 0.4864   10  1.161   20 -0.031   28 -0.224
BLACKHAWKS     23 37 161 192 -0.015 29.948   30 -0.164   30 -0.161   27 -0.132   30 0.4695   26  0.974   27 -0.261   17 -0.002
DEVILS         29 31 151 182  0.033 31.104   19 -0.007   17 -0.004   28 -0.133   17 0.4999   30  0.851   31 -0.400    9  0.134
RANGERS        23 37 160 190  0.038 31.228   27 -0.135   27 -0.133   29 -0.141   27 0.4760   29  0.933   29 -0.317   16  0.035
FLAMES         24 35 148 175 -0.037 28.911   28 -0.144   28 -0.141   30 -0.146   29 0.4729   31  0.832   32 -0.432    8  0.140
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          22 38 156 208 -0.014 30.013   31 -0.190   31 -0.183   31 -0.179   31 0.4655   20  1.070   26 -0.196   25 -0.163
CANUCKS        18 42 153 224 -0.007 30.352   32 -0.263   32 -0.268   32 -0.305   32 0.4514   16  1.098   28 -0.287   31 -0.322

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 28 32 199 191 -0.023 29.534   23 -0.045   23 -0.057   14  0.027   23 0.4905   11  1.158   13  0.120   20 -0.066
OILERS         29 32 215 206 -0.033 29.773   22 -0.039   22 -0.051   15  0.027   22 0.4907    1  1.319    2  0.330   29 -0.277
KRAKEN         29 31 171 176 -0.030 29.416   21 -0.031   21 -0.039   18 -0.020   20 0.4933   28  0.937   25 -0.191    6  0.150
DUCKS          33 26 199 206 -0.002 29.672   11  0.065   11  0.077   22 -0.059   11 0.5135    2  1.311    5  0.234   32 -0.351
KINGS          24 36 155 179  0.014 30.575   26 -0.122   26 -0.124   23 -0.074   26 0.4764   32  0.799   30 -0.395    2  0.248
SHARKS         29 29 179 202  0.008 29.474   16  0.000   16  0.005   25 -0.114   18 0.4996    5  1.215   18  0.051   30 -0.279
FLAMES         24 35 148 175 -0.037 28.911   28 -0.144   28 -0.141   30 -0.146   29 0.4729   31  0.832   32 -0.432    8  0.140
CANUCKS        18 42 153 224 -0.007 30.352   32 -0.263   32 -0.268   32 -0.305   32 0.4514   16  1.098   28 -0.287   31 -0.322

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      40 19 225 148 -0.005 29.081    1  0.241    1  0.232    1  0.360    1 0.5441   18  1.091    1  0.369    1  0.350
STARS          37 23 206 164 -0.030 29.206    4  0.142    4  0.138    3  0.158    4 0.5253   21  1.056   11  0.124    5  0.191
WILD           35 26 204 179 -0.015 30.104    9  0.082    9  0.089    6  0.109    8 0.5153   19  1.080   14  0.105   11  0.114
MAMMOTH        31 29 190 167  0.004 30.112   12  0.020   12  0.023   10  0.064   12 0.5051   22  1.019   19 -0.013    7  0.141
JETS           23 36 168 184 -0.006 29.596   29 -0.147   29 -0.148   24 -0.085   28 0.4730   23  1.018   24 -0.163   18 -0.008
PREDATORS      27 33 177 207  0.005 30.452   24 -0.054   24 -0.062   26 -0.127   25 0.4864   10  1.161   20 -0.031   28 -0.224
BLACKHAWKS     23 37 161 192 -0.015 29.948   30 -0.164   30 -0.161   27 -0.132   30 0.4695   26  0.974   27 -0.261   17 -0.002
BLUES          22 38 156 208 -0.014 30.013   31 -0.190   31 -0.183   31 -0.179   31 0.4655   20  1.070   26 -0.196   25 -0.163

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     38 22 208 171 -0.004 29.837    3  0.183    3  0.174    4  0.147    3 0.5331   14  1.121    8  0.193   12  0.101
PENGUINS       31 28 203 173 -0.037 28.599   13  0.014   14  0.015    5  0.126   13 0.5036   13  1.131   10  0.184   13  0.067
CAPITALS       31 31 197 186 -0.005 30.918   17 -0.004   18 -0.005   11  0.059   16 0.5014   15  1.098   15  0.078   15  0.041
ISLANDERS      35 26 182 172  0.008 30.773    7  0.096    7  0.102   13  0.045    6 0.5197   27  0.949   21 -0.113    4  0.202
BLUE JACKETS   30 29 189 189  0.009 29.850   14  0.009   13  0.016   17 -0.005   15 0.5028   12  1.142   17  0.068   21 -0.077
FLYERS         28 32 177 188  0.015 30.559   20 -0.029   20 -0.035   19 -0.040   21 0.4930   24  1.005   23 -0.133   14  0.053
DEVILS         29 31 151 182  0.033 31.104   19 -0.007   17 -0.004   28 -0.133   17 0.4999   30  0.851   31 -0.400    9  0.134
RANGERS        23 37 160 190  0.038 31.228   27 -0.135   27 -0.133   29 -0.141   27 0.4760   29  0.933   29 -0.317   16  0.035

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      38 20 209 153  0.006 28.963    2  0.213    2  0.203    2  0.240    2 0.5397   17  1.097    4  0.256    3  0.223
SABRES         35 25 206 181  0.015 30.335    5  0.116    5  0.117    7  0.107    5 0.5226    9  1.179    6  0.226   19 -0.013
CANADIENS      33 26 208 193  0.024 30.098    8  0.083    8  0.090    8  0.077   10 0.5144    3  1.247    3  0.284   24 -0.131
BRUINS         33 26 200 187  0.004 29.631   10  0.071   10  0.079    9  0.066    9 0.5151    6  1.203    7  0.217   22 -0.084
SENATORS       29 30 197 188  0.011 29.818   18 -0.004   19 -0.006   12  0.046   19 0.4991    7  1.200    9  0.192   23 -0.099
RED WINGS      35 26 182 183  0.010 30.894    6  0.097    6  0.104   16 -0.004    7 0.5188   25  0.984   22 -0.123   10  0.114
MAPLE LEAFS    27 34 195 211  0.008 30.890   25 -0.060   25 -0.070   20 -0.045   24 0.4867    4  1.216   12  0.122   27 -0.212
PANTHERS       30 30 185 200  0.024 30.780   15  0.006   15  0.013   21 -0.050   14 0.5029    8  1.181   16  0.072   26 -0.171

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     260 217 0.545    1  0.087
CENTRAL DIVISION      238 241 0.497    2  0.031
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 245 236 0.509    3  0.011
PACIFIC DIVISION      214 263 0.449    4 -0.131

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.059 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: Tue Mar  3 05:30:06 2026
games through: Mon Mar  2 2026

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