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
DUCKS          21 17 130 132 -0.009 19.286    7  0.031    8  0.037   21 -0.036   10 0.5117    1  1.326    2  0.296   32 -0.367
OILERS         19 20 132 131 -0.006 19.768   17 -0.009   17 -0.014   10  0.011   17 0.4971    2  1.270    3  0.266   29 -0.244
MAPLE LEAFS    17 20 122 126 -0.051 18.145   22 -0.040   22 -0.048   22 -0.036   22 0.4854    3  1.245    6  0.187   31 -0.259
SENATORS       18 19 124 120 -0.019 18.564   19 -0.014   19 -0.018   13  0.006   20 0.4943    4  1.232    4  0.212   26 -0.199
CANADIENS      20 17 123 124 -0.033 18.374   13  0.017   11  0.020   15 -0.005   15 0.5034    5  1.224    5  0.190   27 -0.199
PANTHERS       20 17 119 118  0.021 19.168    9  0.030    9  0.037   11  0.009    9 0.5118    6  1.210    7  0.187   25 -0.169
SHARKS         18 20 115 132  0.029 19.947   16 -0.007   16 -0.011   27 -0.081   19 0.4955    7  1.209   11  0.094   30 -0.257
BRUINS         20 19 123 130  0.016 20.176   14  0.013   14  0.016   17 -0.021   13 0.5066    8  1.186   10  0.126   24 -0.168
RED WINGS      22 17 122 127 -0.040 19.303    8  0.031    7  0.038   23 -0.044    7 0.5134    9  1.168   12  0.080   23 -0.167
CANUCKS        15 22 106 128  0.004 19.102   29 -0.067   28 -0.072   31 -0.104   28 0.4788   10  1.166   18  0.018   28 -0.225
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PENGUINS       15 21 110 119 -0.034 17.893   28 -0.067   29 -0.073   19 -0.030   29 0.4769   11  1.137   16  0.054   21 -0.115
BLUE JACKETS   15 21 108 125  0.013 18.672   26 -0.054   26 -0.059   30 -0.086   24 0.4816   12  1.132   20 -0.008   22 -0.165
SABRES         19 18 116 118 -0.001 18.874   15  0.007   15  0.009   16 -0.021   14 0.5042   13  1.124   17  0.048   19 -0.089
HURRICANES     23 14 126 108  0.018 19.006    3  0.097    3  0.099    6  0.077    3 0.5325   14  1.123    9  0.144   15  0.010
JETS           15 21 106 111  0.008 18.528   27 -0.055   27 -0.062   20 -0.034   27 0.4791   15  1.100   19  0.005   17 -0.072
STARS          25 14 139 105 -0.013 19.448    2  0.109    2  0.107    2  0.146    2 0.5326   16  1.093    8  0.176   10  0.116
PREDATORS      16 21 105 124  0.010 19.173   23 -0.043   23 -0.048   28 -0.081   23 0.4836   17  1.090   21 -0.055   20 -0.108
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 19 115 110  0.012 18.448   20 -0.015   20 -0.019    8  0.046   16 0.4973   18  1.077   15  0.057   14  0.036
AVALANCHE      28  9 148  85  0.006 18.577    1  0.227    1  0.200    1  0.303    1 0.5645   19  1.068    1  0.302    3  0.303
CAPITALS       20 18 121 106 -0.002 19.231   12  0.018   12  0.019    5  0.082   11 0.5078   20  1.054   14  0.064   12  0.099
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LIGHTNING      21 16 121  97  0.019 18.992    5  0.051    5  0.056    3  0.107    5 0.5196   21  1.034   13  0.066    8  0.148
BLUES          15 24  98 133 -0.054 19.183   32 -0.111   32 -0.110   32 -0.134   32 0.4664   22  1.026   28 -0.185   18 -0.084
BLACKHAWKS     14 23 103 117 -0.035 18.432   31 -0.102   31 -0.105   25 -0.069   31 0.4674   23  1.026   25 -0.120   16 -0.018
MAMMOTH        18 21 116 112  0.007 19.972   21 -0.024   21 -0.029   14 -0.000   21 0.4925   24  0.979   23 -0.106   11  0.105
FLYERS         19 17 111 102 -0.003 18.258   11  0.018   13  0.019    9  0.033   12 0.5074   25  0.942   24 -0.115    6  0.181
FLAMES         16 22 101 115 -0.040 18.871   30 -0.069   30 -0.075   29 -0.082   30 0.4751   26  0.942   29 -0.230   13  0.066
DEVILS         20 18 106 114  0.048 20.149   10  0.028   10  0.036   18 -0.022    8 0.5121   27  0.940   27 -0.172    9  0.128
ISLANDERS      21 17 109 104  0.047 20.006    6  0.048    6  0.055    7  0.048    6 0.5191   28  0.896   26 -0.151    5  0.246
WILD           23 16 121 102 -0.000 19.694    4  0.065    4  0.070    4  0.104    4 0.5197   29  0.896   22 -0.095    2  0.304
KRAKEN         15 20  89 107 -0.013 17.765   25 -0.053   25 -0.058   26 -0.075   26 0.4807   30  0.846   30 -0.328    7  0.178
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RANGERS        19 21 104 107  0.017 20.766   18 -0.012   18 -0.015   24 -0.052   18 0.4963   31  0.748   31 -0.408    4  0.303
KINGS          16 21  97  97 -0.010 18.695   24 -0.049   24 -0.056   12  0.008   25 0.4814   32  0.686   32 -0.411    1  0.426

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
DUCKS          21 17 130 132 -0.009 19.286    7  0.031    8  0.037   21 -0.036   10 0.5117    1  1.326    2  0.296   32 -0.367
OILERS         19 20 132 131 -0.006 19.768   17 -0.009   17 -0.014   10  0.011   17 0.4971    2  1.270    3  0.266   29 -0.244
SHARKS         18 20 115 132  0.029 19.947   16 -0.007   16 -0.011   27 -0.081   19 0.4955    7  1.209   11  0.094   30 -0.257
CANUCKS        15 22 106 128  0.004 19.102   29 -0.067   28 -0.072   31 -0.104   28 0.4788   10  1.166   18  0.018   28 -0.225
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 19 115 110  0.012 18.448   20 -0.015   20 -0.019    8  0.046   16 0.4973   18  1.077   15  0.057   14  0.036
FLAMES         16 22 101 115 -0.040 18.871   30 -0.069   30 -0.075   29 -0.082   30 0.4751   26  0.942   29 -0.230   13  0.066
KRAKEN         15 20  89 107 -0.013 17.765   25 -0.053   25 -0.058   26 -0.075   26 0.4807   30  0.846   30 -0.328    7  0.178
KINGS          16 21  97  97 -0.010 18.695   24 -0.049   24 -0.056   12  0.008   25 0.4814   32  0.686   32 -0.411    1  0.426

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
JETS           15 21 106 111  0.008 18.528   27 -0.055   27 -0.062   20 -0.034   27 0.4791   15  1.100   19  0.005   17 -0.072
STARS          25 14 139 105 -0.013 19.448    2  0.109    2  0.107    2  0.146    2 0.5326   16  1.093    8  0.176   10  0.116
PREDATORS      16 21 105 124  0.010 19.173   23 -0.043   23 -0.048   28 -0.081   23 0.4836   17  1.090   21 -0.055   20 -0.108
AVALANCHE      28  9 148  85  0.006 18.577    1  0.227    1  0.200    1  0.303    1 0.5645   19  1.068    1  0.302    3  0.303
BLUES          15 24  98 133 -0.054 19.183   32 -0.111   32 -0.110   32 -0.134   32 0.4664   22  1.026   28 -0.185   18 -0.084
BLACKHAWKS     14 23 103 117 -0.035 18.432   31 -0.102   31 -0.105   25 -0.069   31 0.4674   23  1.026   25 -0.120   16 -0.018
MAMMOTH        18 21 116 112  0.007 19.972   21 -0.024   21 -0.029   14 -0.000   21 0.4925   24  0.979   23 -0.106   11  0.105
WILD           23 16 121 102 -0.000 19.694    4  0.065    4  0.070    4  0.104    4 0.5197   29  0.896   22 -0.095    2  0.304

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
PENGUINS       15 21 110 119 -0.034 17.893   28 -0.067   29 -0.073   19 -0.030   29 0.4769   11  1.137   16  0.054   21 -0.115
BLUE JACKETS   15 21 108 125  0.013 18.672   26 -0.054   26 -0.059   30 -0.086   24 0.4816   12  1.132   20 -0.008   22 -0.165
HURRICANES     23 14 126 108  0.018 19.006    3  0.097    3  0.099    6  0.077    3 0.5325   14  1.123    9  0.144   15  0.010
CAPITALS       20 18 121 106 -0.002 19.231   12  0.018   12  0.019    5  0.082   11 0.5078   20  1.054   14  0.064   12  0.099
FLYERS         19 17 111 102 -0.003 18.258   11  0.018   13  0.019    9  0.033   12 0.5074   25  0.942   24 -0.115    6  0.181
DEVILS         20 18 106 114  0.048 20.149   10  0.028   10  0.036   18 -0.022    8 0.5121   27  0.940   27 -0.172    9  0.128
ISLANDERS      21 17 109 104  0.047 20.006    6  0.048    6  0.055    7  0.048    6 0.5191   28  0.896   26 -0.151    5  0.246
RANGERS        19 21 104 107  0.017 20.766   18 -0.012   18 -0.015   24 -0.052   18 0.4963   31  0.748   31 -0.408    4  0.303

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
MAPLE LEAFS    17 20 122 126 -0.051 18.145   22 -0.040   22 -0.048   22 -0.036   22 0.4854    3  1.245    6  0.187   31 -0.259
SENATORS       18 19 124 120 -0.019 18.564   19 -0.014   19 -0.018   13  0.006   20 0.4943    4  1.232    4  0.212   26 -0.199
CANADIENS      20 17 123 124 -0.033 18.374   13  0.017   11  0.020   15 -0.005   15 0.5034    5  1.224    5  0.190   27 -0.199
PANTHERS       20 17 119 118  0.021 19.168    9  0.030    9  0.037   11  0.009    9 0.5118    6  1.210    7  0.187   25 -0.169
BRUINS         20 19 123 130  0.016 20.176   14  0.013   14  0.016   17 -0.021   13 0.5066    8  1.186   10  0.126   24 -0.168
RED WINGS      22 17 122 127 -0.040 19.303    8  0.031    7  0.038   23 -0.044    7 0.5134    9  1.168   12  0.080   23 -0.167
SABRES         19 18 116 118 -0.001 18.874   15  0.007   15  0.009   16 -0.021   14 0.5042   13  1.124   17  0.048   19 -0.089
LIGHTNING      21 16 121  97  0.019 18.992    5  0.051    5  0.056    3  0.107    5 0.5196   21  1.034   13  0.066    8  0.148

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      154 149 0.508    1  0.067
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 152 147 0.508    2  0.016
ATLANTIC DIVISION     157 143 0.523    3  0.001
PACIFIC DIVISION      137 161 0.460    4 -0.094

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.042 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: Sun Dec 28 05:30:14 2025
games through: Sat Dec 27 2025

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