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      61 27 329 216 -0.019 43.235    1  0.309    1  0.311    1  0.407    1 0.5440   19  1.062    1  0.377    1  0.437
HURRICANES     60 29 317 248  0.010 44.973    2  0.293    2  0.297    2  0.235    2 0.5433   10  1.127    2  0.284    6  0.185
SABRES         55 34 312 255  0.014 45.160    3  0.229    3  0.206    3  0.211    3 0.5308    8  1.144    4  0.281    7  0.142
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.018 45.337    4  0.193    4  0.169    4  0.205    4 0.5264   17  1.082    6  0.200    3  0.211
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.263    6  0.161    6  0.150    5  0.153    6 0.5213   21  1.054   11  0.113    4  0.193
WILD           50 40 303 269  0.012 45.623    7  0.095    7  0.098    6  0.142    7 0.5140   12  1.120    7  0.183    9  0.102
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.018 43.864   12  0.028   13  0.029    7  0.115   12 0.5058   13  1.118   10  0.154   10  0.077
CANADIENS      52 38 301 275  0.037 46.594    5  0.164    5  0.153    8  0.112    5 0.5227    9  1.132    8  0.167   12  0.057
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.002 41.339   10  0.035   11  0.037    9  0.088    9 0.5069   15  1.108   12  0.113   11  0.063
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.008 44.605   17 -0.001   18 -0.015   10  0.078   17 0.4990    3  1.248    3  0.282   25 -0.126
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.033 45.472    8  0.068    8  0.076   11  0.077    8 0.5122   16  1.106   13  0.100   13  0.054
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 44 46 292 272 -0.024 44.498   20 -0.018   20 -0.035   12  0.044   20 0.4946   18  1.079   17  0.035   14  0.054
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.005   15  0.013   15  0.010   13  0.042   16 0.5005   14  1.117   14  0.078   18  0.006
FLYERS         47 44 269 264  0.027 46.891    9  0.036    9  0.044   14  0.025   11 0.5067   31  0.923   24 -0.167    2  0.218
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.037 43.097   21 -0.026   21 -0.044   15  0.017   21 0.4945    2  1.261    5  0.239   27 -0.205
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.010 41.737   18 -0.005   19 -0.016   16 -0.011   18 0.4988   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.022
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.005 41.588   11  0.033   10  0.040   17 -0.029   10 0.5069   29  0.948   25 -0.193    8  0.135
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.009 41.754   16  0.008   16  0.004   18 -0.052   15 0.5012   22  1.037   21 -0.113   17  0.008
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.021 40.792   24 -0.079   24 -0.093   19 -0.068   24 0.4857   23  1.027   22 -0.139   19  0.004
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.013 41.907   26 -0.128   26 -0.131   20 -0.069   25 0.4812   25  1.016   23 -0.154   16  0.017
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.005 43.399   29 -0.163   29 -0.160   21 -0.084   28 0.4765   32  0.847   31 -0.358    5  0.191
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.012 41.893   19 -0.006   17 -0.014   22 -0.084   19 0.4985    6  1.193   16  0.048   28 -0.216
DUCKS          48 42 303 313 -0.026 44.634   13  0.027   12  0.034   23 -0.090   14 0.5045    1  1.280    9  0.156   30 -0.336
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.013 41.136   23 -0.055   23 -0.070   24 -0.100   23 0.4892   11  1.121   20 -0.058   26 -0.142
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.013 41.964   14  0.022   14  0.025   25 -0.117   13 0.5046   27  0.996   27 -0.225   20 -0.008
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.011 41.223   25 -0.123   25 -0.127   26 -0.123   26 0.4807   24  1.022   26 -0.200   23 -0.045
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.025 40.796   28 -0.162   28 -0.158   27 -0.143   29 0.4765   26  0.997   28 -0.250   22 -0.035
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.012 41.983   30 -0.177   30 -0.172   28 -0.147   30 0.4752    4  1.242   15  0.049   31 -0.343
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.026 40.784   22 -0.046   22 -0.058   29 -0.176   22 0.4912    5  1.214   18 -0.017   29 -0.336
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.021 40.978   27 -0.160   27 -0.155   30 -0.194   27 0.4769   30  0.931   32 -0.376   21 -0.012
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 -0.017 41.136   31 -0.245   31 -0.252   31 -0.228   31 0.4623   28  0.985   30 -0.350   24 -0.107
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.022 41.181   32 -0.319   32 -0.335   32 -0.395   32 0.4503    7  1.160   29 -0.303   32 -0.486

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 44 46 292 272 -0.024 44.498   20 -0.018   20 -0.035   12  0.044   20 0.4946   18  1.079   17  0.035   14  0.054
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.037 43.097   21 -0.026   21 -0.044   15  0.017   21 0.4945    2  1.261    5  0.239   27 -0.205
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.005 43.399   29 -0.163   29 -0.160   21 -0.084   28 0.4765   32  0.847   31 -0.358    5  0.191
DUCKS          48 42 303 313 -0.026 44.634   13  0.027   12  0.034   23 -0.090   14 0.5045    1  1.280    9  0.156   30 -0.336
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.025 40.796   28 -0.162   28 -0.158   27 -0.143   29 0.4765   26  0.997   28 -0.250   22 -0.035
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.026 40.784   22 -0.046   22 -0.058   29 -0.176   22 0.4912    5  1.214   18 -0.017   29 -0.336
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.021 40.978   27 -0.160   27 -0.155   30 -0.194   27 0.4769   30  0.931   32 -0.376   21 -0.012
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.022 41.181   32 -0.319   32 -0.335   32 -0.395   32 0.4503    7  1.160   29 -0.303   32 -0.486

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      61 27 329 216 -0.019 43.235    1  0.309    1  0.311    1  0.407    1 0.5440   19  1.062    1  0.377    1  0.437
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.263    6  0.161    6  0.150    5  0.153    6 0.5213   21  1.054   11  0.113    4  0.193
WILD           50 40 303 269  0.012 45.623    7  0.095    7  0.098    6  0.142    7 0.5140   12  1.120    7  0.183    9  0.102
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.005   15  0.013   15  0.010   13  0.042   16 0.5005   14  1.117   14  0.078   18  0.006
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.021 40.792   24 -0.079   24 -0.093   19 -0.068   24 0.4857   23  1.027   22 -0.139   19  0.004
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.013 41.136   23 -0.055   23 -0.070   24 -0.100   23 0.4892   11  1.121   20 -0.058   26 -0.142
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.011 41.223   25 -0.123   25 -0.127   26 -0.123   26 0.4807   24  1.022   26 -0.200   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.017 41.136   31 -0.245   31 -0.252   31 -0.228   31 0.4623   28  0.985   30 -0.350   24 -0.107

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     60 29 317 248  0.010 44.973    2  0.293    2  0.297    2  0.235    2 0.5433   10  1.127    2  0.284    6  0.185
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.002 41.339   10  0.035   11  0.037    9  0.088    9 0.5069   15  1.108   12  0.113   11  0.063
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.008 44.605   17 -0.001   18 -0.015   10  0.078   17 0.4990    3  1.248    3  0.282   25 -0.126
FLYERS         47 44 269 264  0.027 46.891    9  0.036    9  0.044   14  0.025   11 0.5067   31  0.923   24 -0.167    2  0.218
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.010 41.737   18 -0.005   19 -0.016   16 -0.011   18 0.4988   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.022
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.005 41.588   11  0.033   10  0.040   17 -0.029   10 0.5069   29  0.948   25 -0.193    8  0.135
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.013 41.907   26 -0.128   26 -0.131   20 -0.069   25 0.4812   25  1.016   23 -0.154   16  0.017
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.013 41.964   14  0.022   14  0.025   25 -0.117   13 0.5046   27  0.996   27 -0.225   20 -0.008

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
SABRES         55 34 312 255  0.014 45.160    3  0.229    3  0.206    3  0.211    3 0.5308    8  1.144    4  0.281    7  0.142
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.018 45.337    4  0.193    4  0.169    4  0.205    4 0.5264   17  1.082    6  0.200    3  0.211
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.018 43.864   12  0.028   13  0.029    7  0.115   12 0.5058   13  1.118   10  0.154   10  0.077
CANADIENS      52 38 301 275  0.037 46.594    5  0.164    5  0.153    8  0.112    5 0.5227    9  1.132    8  0.167   12  0.057
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.033 45.472    8  0.068    8  0.076   11  0.077    8 0.5122   16  1.106   13  0.100   13  0.054
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.009 41.754   16  0.008   16  0.004   18 -0.052   15 0.5012   22  1.037   21 -0.113   17  0.008
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.012 41.893   19 -0.006   17 -0.014   22 -0.084   19 0.4985    6  1.193   16  0.048   28 -0.216
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.012 41.983   30 -0.177   30 -0.172   28 -0.147   30 0.4752    4  1.242   15  0.049   31 -0.343

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     364 324 0.529    1  0.074
CENTRAL DIVISION      347 335 0.509    2  0.036
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 352 326 0.519    3  0.034
PACIFIC DIVISION      302 380 0.443    4 -0.169

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: Fri May  8 05:30:09 2026
games through: Thu May  7 2026

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