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      44 22 249 170  0.006 32.912    1  0.237    1  0.227    1  0.340    1 0.5416   17  1.102    1  0.359    1  0.322
LIGHTNING      40 25 231 182  0.010 32.670    3  0.168    4  0.157    2  0.194    3 0.5308   13  1.145    4  0.264    8  0.123
STARS          42 25 235 184 -0.023 32.781    4  0.167    3  0.158    3  0.179    5 0.5278   18  1.080   10  0.169    3  0.188
HURRICANES     42 24 234 192 -0.005 32.822    2  0.191    2  0.180    4  0.148    2 0.5331    9  1.164    6  0.243   13  0.053
WILD           38 30 226 196 -0.005 33.839    7  0.064    7  0.076    5  0.130    8 0.5125   20  1.054   13  0.090    5  0.171
SABRES         41 26 235 200  0.008 33.701    5  0.163    5  0.155    6  0.128    4 0.5286    7  1.183    5  0.248   17  0.009
PENGUINS       34 33 230 204 -0.011 33.231   17  0.005   17  0.006    7  0.110   17 0.5015   11  1.156    8  0.196   15  0.025
SENATORS       34 32 225 205 -0.002 32.983   14  0.016   14  0.019    8  0.085   14 0.5038    6  1.189    7  0.212   23 -0.041
MAMMOTH        35 33 214 191  0.011 34.341   12  0.018   12  0.025    9  0.065   12 0.5045   22  1.017   19 -0.020    6  0.149
CANADIENS      36 30 233 220  0.013 33.412   10  0.055   10  0.068   10  0.063   11 0.5111    3  1.264    3  0.287   25 -0.162
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRUINS         37 30 222 211  0.002 33.622    8  0.057    9  0.070   11  0.056    7 0.5129   10  1.163   11  0.150   22 -0.037
CAPITALS       33 35 212 203 -0.005 33.959   19 -0.016   19 -0.024   12  0.044   19 0.4977   19  1.071   18  0.023   12  0.064
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 31 36 220 209 -0.011 33.289   22 -0.044   22 -0.057   13  0.040   22 0.4902   14  1.126   14  0.087   20 -0.008
OILERS         33 35 238 232 -0.018 33.614   20 -0.021   20 -0.030   14  0.026   20 0.4943    1  1.312    2  0.315   29 -0.263
ISLANDERS      38 29 197 191 -0.006 33.484    6  0.073    6  0.087   15  0.014    6 0.5167   29  0.946   21 -0.152    4  0.180
BLUE JACKETS   34 32 212 208  0.004 33.249   13  0.016   13  0.023   16  0.013   13 0.5042   15  1.117   16  0.049   21 -0.022
RED WINGS      37 31 200 203  0.008 34.390   11  0.050   11  0.065   17 -0.008   10 0.5119   27  0.963   22 -0.155    7  0.138
KRAKEN         31 35 191 199 -0.033 32.312   23 -0.047   23 -0.059   18 -0.035   23 0.4894   25  0.982   23 -0.160    9  0.091
FLYERS         31 35 191 205  0.016 33.656   21 -0.024   21 -0.032   19 -0.052   21 0.4935   26  0.969   25 -0.192   10  0.088
KINGS          28 39 180 201  0.014 34.112   27 -0.093   27 -0.103   20 -0.053   27 0.4815   32  0.853   31 -0.322    2  0.215
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAPLE LEAFS    29 39 215 238  0.011 34.557   25 -0.082   25 -0.092   21 -0.063   25 0.4838    5  1.212   12  0.094   28 -0.220
DUCKS          37 30 223 233  0.005 33.895    9  0.056    8  0.072   22 -0.068    9 0.5122    2  1.284    9  0.183   31 -0.320
PANTHERS       33 33 199 220  0.018 33.741   16  0.006   16  0.010   23 -0.071   16 0.5032    8  1.164   17  0.024   26 -0.166
JETS           28 38 188 202 -0.016 32.833   28 -0.102   28 -0.109   24 -0.077   28 0.4801   24  0.996   24 -0.186   14  0.033
RANGERS        28 39 190 209  0.021 34.343   26 -0.090   26 -0.099   25 -0.094   26 0.4823   23  1.001   26 -0.198   18  0.009
SHARKS         32 33 204 229  0.011 33.087   18 -0.005   18 -0.004   26 -0.104   18 0.4984    4  1.228   15  0.073   30 -0.281
DEVILS         34 33 180 204  0.011 34.107   15  0.009   15  0.016   27 -0.116   15 0.5037   30  0.924   30 -0.307   11  0.074
PREDATORS      29 37 195 225  0.006 33.500   24 -0.067   24 -0.077   28 -0.119   24 0.4842   12  1.147   20 -0.046   27 -0.192
BLUES          27 40 177 222 -0.009 33.572   29 -0.138   29 -0.135   29 -0.131   29 0.4753   21  1.020   27 -0.211   24 -0.050
BLACKHAWKS     25 41 175 213 -0.013 33.005   31 -0.179   31 -0.169   30 -0.151   31 0.4680   28  0.961   29 -0.300   19 -0.001
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         26 41 167 212 -0.022 33.251   30 -0.175   30 -0.163   31 -0.199   30 0.4703   31  0.909   32 -0.407   16  0.009
CANUCKS        20 46 171 246 -0.011 33.240   32 -0.267   32 -0.271   32 -0.304   32 0.4511   16  1.105   28 -0.284   32 -0.325

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 31 36 220 209 -0.011 33.289   22 -0.044   22 -0.057   13  0.040   22 0.4902   14  1.126   14  0.087   20 -0.008
OILERS         33 35 238 232 -0.018 33.614   20 -0.021   20 -0.030   14  0.026   20 0.4943    1  1.312    2  0.315   29 -0.263
KRAKEN         31 35 191 199 -0.033 32.312   23 -0.047   23 -0.059   18 -0.035   23 0.4894   25  0.982   23 -0.160    9  0.091
KINGS          28 39 180 201  0.014 34.112   27 -0.093   27 -0.103   20 -0.053   27 0.4815   32  0.853   31 -0.322    2  0.215
DUCKS          37 30 223 233  0.005 33.895    9  0.056    8  0.072   22 -0.068    9 0.5122    2  1.284    9  0.183   31 -0.320
SHARKS         32 33 204 229  0.011 33.087   18 -0.005   18 -0.004   26 -0.104   18 0.4984    4  1.228   15  0.073   30 -0.281
FLAMES         26 41 167 212 -0.022 33.251   30 -0.175   30 -0.163   31 -0.199   30 0.4703   31  0.909   32 -0.407   16  0.009
CANUCKS        20 46 171 246 -0.011 33.240   32 -0.267   32 -0.271   32 -0.304   32 0.4511   16  1.105   28 -0.284   32 -0.325

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      44 22 249 170  0.006 32.912    1  0.237    1  0.227    1  0.340    1 0.5416   17  1.102    1  0.359    1  0.322
STARS          42 25 235 184 -0.023 32.781    4  0.167    3  0.158    3  0.179    5 0.5278   18  1.080   10  0.169    3  0.188
WILD           38 30 226 196 -0.005 33.839    7  0.064    7  0.076    5  0.130    8 0.5125   20  1.054   13  0.090    5  0.171
MAMMOTH        35 33 214 191  0.011 34.341   12  0.018   12  0.025    9  0.065   12 0.5045   22  1.017   19 -0.020    6  0.149
JETS           28 38 188 202 -0.016 32.833   28 -0.102   28 -0.109   24 -0.077   28 0.4801   24  0.996   24 -0.186   14  0.033
PREDATORS      29 37 195 225  0.006 33.500   24 -0.067   24 -0.077   28 -0.119   24 0.4842   12  1.147   20 -0.046   27 -0.192
BLUES          27 40 177 222 -0.009 33.572   29 -0.138   29 -0.135   29 -0.131   29 0.4753   21  1.020   27 -0.211   24 -0.050
BLACKHAWKS     25 41 175 213 -0.013 33.005   31 -0.179   31 -0.169   30 -0.151   31 0.4680   28  0.961   29 -0.300   19 -0.001

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     42 24 234 192 -0.005 32.822    2  0.191    2  0.180    4  0.148    2 0.5331    9  1.164    6  0.243   13  0.053
PENGUINS       34 33 230 204 -0.011 33.231   17  0.005   17  0.006    7  0.110   17 0.5015   11  1.156    8  0.196   15  0.025
CAPITALS       33 35 212 203 -0.005 33.959   19 -0.016   19 -0.024   12  0.044   19 0.4977   19  1.071   18  0.023   12  0.064
ISLANDERS      38 29 197 191 -0.006 33.484    6  0.073    6  0.087   15  0.014    6 0.5167   29  0.946   21 -0.152    4  0.180
BLUE JACKETS   34 32 212 208  0.004 33.249   13  0.016   13  0.023   16  0.013   13 0.5042   15  1.117   16  0.049   21 -0.022
FLYERS         31 35 191 205  0.016 33.656   21 -0.024   21 -0.032   19 -0.052   21 0.4935   26  0.969   25 -0.192   10  0.088
RANGERS        28 39 190 209  0.021 34.343   26 -0.090   26 -0.099   25 -0.094   26 0.4823   23  1.001   26 -0.198   18  0.009
DEVILS         34 33 180 204  0.011 34.107   15  0.009   15  0.016   27 -0.116   15 0.5037   30  0.924   30 -0.307   11  0.074

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      40 25 231 182  0.010 32.670    3  0.168    4  0.157    2  0.194    3 0.5308   13  1.145    4  0.264    8  0.123
SABRES         41 26 235 200  0.008 33.701    5  0.163    5  0.155    6  0.128    4 0.5286    7  1.183    5  0.248   17  0.009
SENATORS       34 32 225 205 -0.002 32.983   14  0.016   14  0.019    8  0.085   14 0.5038    6  1.189    7  0.212   23 -0.041
CANADIENS      36 30 233 220  0.013 33.412   10  0.055   10  0.068   10  0.063   11 0.5111    3  1.264    3  0.287   25 -0.162
BRUINS         37 30 222 211  0.002 33.622    8  0.057    9  0.070   11  0.056    7 0.5129   10  1.163   11  0.150   22 -0.037
RED WINGS      37 31 200 203  0.008 34.390   11  0.050   11  0.065   17 -0.008   10 0.5119   27  0.963   22 -0.155    7  0.138
MAPLE LEAFS    29 39 215 238  0.011 34.557   25 -0.082   25 -0.092   21 -0.063   25 0.4838    5  1.212   12  0.094   28 -0.220
PANTHERS       33 33 199 220  0.018 33.741   16  0.006   16  0.010   23 -0.071   16 0.5032    8  1.164   17  0.024   26 -0.166

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     287 246 0.538    1  0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION      268 266 0.502    2  0.045
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 274 260 0.513    3  0.013
PACIFIC DIVISION      238 295 0.447    4 -0.136

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.053 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 17 05:30:07 2026
games through: Mon Mar 16 2026

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