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      59 27 315 208 -0.020 42.096    1  0.288    1  0.294    1  0.395    1 0.5423   23  1.023    1  0.315    1  0.474
HURRICANES     57 29 307 245  0.011 43.431    2  0.271    2  0.275    2  0.213    2 0.5407   10  1.144    4  0.281    7  0.145
LIGHTNING      52 34 301 242  0.016 43.593    4  0.200    4  0.180    3  0.213    4 0.5282   13  1.116    6  0.246    5  0.180
SABRES         53 33 303 250  0.014 43.513    3  0.218    3  0.199    4  0.199    3 0.5302    8  1.161    3  0.288    9  0.110
STARS          52 34 290 240 -0.001 43.017    5  0.187    5  0.170    5  0.171    5 0.5245   20  1.051   11  0.124    2  0.217
WILD           48 38 286 251 -0.002 42.998    7  0.085    7  0.091    6  0.136    7 0.5134   18  1.077   12  0.122    6  0.150
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.019 43.777   13  0.025   13  0.030    7  0.116   12 0.5059   14  1.114    9  0.146   10  0.086
CANADIENS      50 36 294 267  0.027 44.077    6  0.163    6  0.150    8  0.110    6 0.5227    7  1.165    7  0.205   18  0.015
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.004 41.304   10  0.035   11  0.039    9  0.090   10 0.5071   16  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.072
BRUINS         46 40 281 265  0.029 44.156    8  0.064    8  0.074   10  0.084    8 0.5119   11  1.122   10  0.124   12  0.044
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PENGUINS       43 44 304 283  0.011 44.056   17  0.004   17 -0.003   11  0.084   17 0.5005    3  1.263    2  0.306   26 -0.138
MAMMOTH        45 41 281 253 -0.010 42.855   14  0.024   14  0.030   12  0.059   15 0.5036   15  1.107   14  0.082   13  0.037
FLYERS         46 41 265 254  0.019 44.391    9  0.048    9  0.058   13  0.044    9 0.5086   29  0.963   21 -0.104    4  0.193
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 41 45 278 263 -0.019 42.570   21 -0.033   21 -0.051   14  0.034   21 0.4919   17  1.090   17  0.036   14  0.033
OILERS         42 44 297 289 -0.033 42.117   20 -0.024   20 -0.041   15  0.020   20 0.4944    2  1.267    5  0.247   28 -0.207
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.012 41.685   18 -0.005   19 -0.013   16 -0.009   18 0.4990   19  1.056   19 -0.048   15  0.031
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.007 41.553   11  0.033   10  0.042   17 -0.026   11 0.5071   30  0.944   25 -0.197    8  0.144
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.011 41.717   16  0.008   16  0.007   18 -0.050   16 0.5015   21  1.033   22 -0.117   17  0.018
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.018 40.764   24 -0.077   24 -0.090   19 -0.065   24 0.4860   22  1.026   23 -0.140   19  0.011
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.015 41.863   26 -0.125   26 -0.128   20 -0.066   25 0.4814   25  1.011   24 -0.159   16  0.027
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  0.014 41.847   19 -0.006   18 -0.012   21 -0.081   19 0.4988    6  1.189   16  0.043   27 -0.206
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.003 43.325   29 -0.161   29 -0.157   22 -0.082   29 0.4766   32  0.848   31 -0.358    3  0.195
DUCKS          46 40 293 303 -0.028 42.464   12  0.026   12  0.036   23 -0.091   13 0.5050    1  1.305    8  0.186   31 -0.368
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.010 41.092   23 -0.053   23 -0.067   24 -0.097   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.058   25 -0.136
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.015 41.912   15  0.020   15  0.027   25 -0.114   14 0.5048   27  0.992   27 -0.229   20  0.002
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.008 41.180   25 -0.121   25 -0.123   26 -0.120   26 0.4809   24  1.022   26 -0.200   23 -0.039
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.022 40.743   28 -0.159   28 -0.155   27 -0.140   28 0.4767   26  0.995   28 -0.252   22 -0.028
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.014 41.931   30 -0.175   30 -0.168   28 -0.144   30 0.4754    4  1.238   15  0.044   30 -0.332
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.024 40.731   22 -0.046   22 -0.056   29 -0.173   22 0.4914    5  1.212   18 -0.018   29 -0.328
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.018 40.925   27 -0.158   27 -0.151   30 -0.191   27 0.4771   31  0.929   32 -0.378   21 -0.004
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 -0.014 41.097   31 -0.243   31 -0.247   31 -0.224   31 0.4626   28  0.984   30 -0.349   24 -0.100
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.020 41.135   32 -0.314   32 -0.330   32 -0.390   32 0.4505    9  1.159   29 -0.304   32 -0.476

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 41 45 278 263 -0.019 42.570   21 -0.033   21 -0.051   14  0.034   21 0.4919   17  1.090   17  0.036   14  0.033
OILERS         42 44 297 289 -0.033 42.117   20 -0.024   20 -0.041   15  0.020   20 0.4944    2  1.267    5  0.247   28 -0.207
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.003 43.325   29 -0.161   29 -0.157   22 -0.082   29 0.4766   32  0.848   31 -0.358    3  0.195
DUCKS          46 40 293 303 -0.028 42.464   12  0.026   12  0.036   23 -0.091   13 0.5050    1  1.305    8  0.186   31 -0.368
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.022 40.743   28 -0.159   28 -0.155   27 -0.140   28 0.4767   26  0.995   28 -0.252   22 -0.028
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.024 40.731   22 -0.046   22 -0.056   29 -0.173   22 0.4914    5  1.212   18 -0.018   29 -0.328
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.018 40.925   27 -0.158   27 -0.151   30 -0.191   27 0.4771   31  0.929   32 -0.378   21 -0.004
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.020 41.135   32 -0.314   32 -0.330   32 -0.390   32 0.4505    9  1.159   29 -0.304   32 -0.476

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      59 27 315 208 -0.020 42.096    1  0.288    1  0.294    1  0.395    1 0.5423   23  1.023    1  0.315    1  0.474
STARS          52 34 290 240 -0.001 43.017    5  0.187    5  0.170    5  0.171    5 0.5245   20  1.051   11  0.124    2  0.217
WILD           48 38 286 251 -0.002 42.998    7  0.085    7  0.091    6  0.136    7 0.5134   18  1.077   12  0.122    6  0.150
MAMMOTH        45 41 281 253 -0.010 42.855   14  0.024   14  0.030   12  0.059   15 0.5036   15  1.107   14  0.082   13  0.037
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.018 40.764   24 -0.077   24 -0.090   19 -0.065   24 0.4860   22  1.026   23 -0.140   19  0.011
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.010 41.092   23 -0.053   23 -0.067   24 -0.097   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.058   25 -0.136
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.008 41.180   25 -0.121   25 -0.123   26 -0.120   26 0.4809   24  1.022   26 -0.200   23 -0.039
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.014 41.097   31 -0.243   31 -0.247   31 -0.224   31 0.4626   28  0.984   30 -0.349   24 -0.100

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     57 29 307 245  0.011 43.431    2  0.271    2  0.275    2  0.213    2 0.5407   10  1.144    4  0.281    7  0.145
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.004 41.304   10  0.035   11  0.039    9  0.090   10 0.5071   16  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.072
PENGUINS       43 44 304 283  0.011 44.056   17  0.004   17 -0.003   11  0.084   17 0.5005    3  1.263    2  0.306   26 -0.138
FLYERS         46 41 265 254  0.019 44.391    9  0.048    9  0.058   13  0.044    9 0.5086   29  0.963   21 -0.104    4  0.193
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.012 41.685   18 -0.005   19 -0.013   16 -0.009   18 0.4990   19  1.056   19 -0.048   15  0.031
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.007 41.553   11  0.033   10  0.042   17 -0.026   11 0.5071   30  0.944   25 -0.197    8  0.144
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.015 41.863   26 -0.125   26 -0.128   20 -0.066   25 0.4814   25  1.011   24 -0.159   16  0.027
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.015 41.912   15  0.020   15  0.027   25 -0.114   14 0.5048   27  0.992   27 -0.229   20  0.002

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      52 34 301 242  0.016 43.593    4  0.200    4  0.180    3  0.213    4 0.5282   13  1.116    6  0.246    5  0.180
SABRES         53 33 303 250  0.014 43.513    3  0.218    3  0.199    4  0.199    3 0.5302    8  1.161    3  0.288    9  0.110
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.019 43.777   13  0.025   13  0.030    7  0.116   12 0.5059   14  1.114    9  0.146   10  0.086
CANADIENS      50 36 294 267  0.027 44.077    6  0.163    6  0.150    8  0.110    6 0.5227    7  1.165    7  0.205   18  0.015
BRUINS         46 40 281 265  0.029 44.156    8  0.064    8  0.074   10  0.084    8 0.5119   11  1.122   10  0.124   12  0.044
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.011 41.717   16  0.008   16  0.007   18 -0.050   16 0.5015   21  1.033   22 -0.117   17  0.018
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.014 41.847   19 -0.006   18 -0.012   21 -0.081   19 0.4988    6  1.189   16  0.043   27 -0.206
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.014 41.931   30 -0.175   30 -0.168   28 -0.144   30 0.4754    4  1.238   15  0.044   30 -0.332

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     358 318 0.530    1  0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION      343 329 0.510    2  0.042
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 348 322 0.519    3  0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION      296 376 0.440    4 -0.170

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.052 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 Apr 28 05:30:12 2026
games through: Mon Apr 27 2026

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