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
OILERS         38 37 261 251 -0.021 36.995   19 -0.002   19 -0.003   13  0.035   19 0.4995    1  1.285    4  0.287   28 -0.217
DUCKS          41 33 249 256 -0.008 37.046   10  0.059   10  0.074   19 -0.064   10 0.5113    2  1.279   10  0.180   30 -0.308
CANADIENS      43 31 262 234  0.023 37.692    5  0.138    5  0.134    6  0.124    5 0.5217    3  1.219    3  0.290   23 -0.041
PENGUINS       38 37 263 238  0.009 37.828   15  0.014   15  0.016    7  0.113   14 0.5033    4  1.219    5  0.278   24 -0.051
SHARKS         34 38 220 257  0.001 36.428   21 -0.032   21 -0.040   29 -0.155   21 0.4926    5  1.217   17  0.007   31 -0.317
MAPLE LEAFS    32 43 235 264  0.017 38.312   24 -0.089   23 -0.099   23 -0.082   23 0.4848    6  1.208   12  0.069   29 -0.233
BRUINS         43 32 256 233  0.011 37.905    7  0.114    7  0.115    9  0.101    7 0.5190    7  1.177    8  0.211   20 -0.010
SENATORS       38 36 247 230  0.007 37.283   12  0.019   13  0.024   10  0.081   13 0.5044    8  1.172    9  0.185   22 -0.023
HURRICANES     47 27 263 218  0.005 37.136    2  0.216    2  0.204    5  0.154    2 0.5337    9  1.171    6  0.258   13  0.051
PANTHERS       36 38 222 247  0.012 37.664   20 -0.011   20 -0.013   25 -0.090   20 0.4988   10  1.166   18  0.006   27 -0.187
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SABRES         46 29 263 221  0.008 37.742    4  0.189    4  0.175    3  0.162    4 0.5296   11  1.164    7  0.256   10  0.068
LIGHTNING      46 28 268 207  0.003 36.987    3  0.197    3  0.181    2  0.226    3 0.5309   12  1.159    2  0.314    6  0.138
PREDATORS      34 40 220 246 -0.002 37.303   22 -0.050   22 -0.062   27 -0.109   22 0.4886   13  1.127   20 -0.062   26 -0.157
CANUCKS        21 52 187 277 -0.021 36.517   32 -0.318   32 -0.330   32 -0.364   32 0.4465   14  1.122   29 -0.322   32 -0.406
AVALANCHE      49 24 277 185  0.000 36.251    1  0.259    1  0.256    1  0.373    1 0.5414   15  1.095    1  0.382    1  0.365
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 33 42 236 236 -0.015 37.241   23 -0.087   24 -0.100   16 -0.013   24 0.4838   16  1.091   19 -0.009   21 -0.016
BLUE JACKETS   38 37 239 231  0.005 37.815   16  0.009   16  0.013   14  0.025   17 0.5028   17  1.087   15  0.024   15  0.025
CAPITALS       38 37 238 223  0.003 37.688   17  0.008   17  0.010   11  0.065   15 0.5030   18  1.087   14  0.063   11  0.066
STARS          44 31 255 209 -0.011 37.151    6  0.126    6  0.123    4  0.162    6 0.5194   19  1.063   11  0.132    2  0.192
WILD           41 33 242 216 -0.004 36.909    9  0.066    9  0.077    8  0.113    9 0.5117   20  1.051   13  0.068    5  0.158
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAMMOTH        38 36 235 212  0.003 37.189   14  0.016   14  0.021   12  0.061   16 0.5029   21  1.049   16  0.014    9  0.108
RANGERS        31 44 215 233  0.008 38.042   27 -0.122   27 -0.124   24 -0.090   27 0.4803   22  1.012   25 -0.181   18  0.001
JETS           32 42 213 228 -0.006 37.118   25 -0.095   25 -0.103   20 -0.070   26 0.4824   23  1.003   24 -0.171   14  0.031
BLUES          31 42 195 232 -0.028 35.999   28 -0.127   28 -0.128   26 -0.105   28 0.4789   24  0.980   27 -0.233   17  0.024
KRAKEN         32 41 206 227 -0.021 36.182   26 -0.097   26 -0.105   22 -0.080   25 0.4833   25  0.975   26 -0.214   12  0.054
FLYERS         37 37 220 225  0.013 37.616   18  0.004   18  0.008   18 -0.020   18 0.5010   26  0.973   22 -0.155    8  0.116
BLACKHAWKS     27 48 195 248 -0.010 37.654   31 -0.224   31 -0.217   31 -0.194   31 0.4640   27  0.973   30 -0.330   25 -0.058
DEVILS         38 36 205 227  0.011 37.655   13  0.017   12  0.026   28 -0.112   12 0.5049   28  0.972   28 -0.249   16  0.025
RED WINGS      39 35 216 223  0.016 37.682   11  0.036   11  0.050   17 -0.017   11 0.5084   29  0.969   23 -0.157    7  0.123
ISLANDERS      42 34 222 221  0.004 38.292    8  0.068    8  0.080   15  0.013    8 0.5136   30  0.960   21 -0.137    4  0.164
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         31 43 191 234 -0.031 36.499   29 -0.146   29 -0.139   30 -0.193   29 0.4772   31  0.925   32 -0.383   19 -0.002
KINGS          29 44 195 222  0.002 36.840   30 -0.155   30 -0.151   21 -0.074   30 0.4751   32  0.862   31 -0.334    3  0.185

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
OILERS         38 37 261 251 -0.021 36.995   19 -0.002   19 -0.003   13  0.035   19 0.4995    1  1.285    4  0.287   28 -0.217
DUCKS          41 33 249 256 -0.008 37.046   10  0.059   10  0.074   19 -0.064   10 0.5113    2  1.279   10  0.180   30 -0.308
SHARKS         34 38 220 257  0.001 36.428   21 -0.032   21 -0.040   29 -0.155   21 0.4926    5  1.217   17  0.007   31 -0.317
CANUCKS        21 52 187 277 -0.021 36.517   32 -0.318   32 -0.330   32 -0.364   32 0.4465   14  1.122   29 -0.322   32 -0.406
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 33 42 236 236 -0.015 37.241   23 -0.087   24 -0.100   16 -0.013   24 0.4838   16  1.091   19 -0.009   21 -0.016
KRAKEN         32 41 206 227 -0.021 36.182   26 -0.097   26 -0.105   22 -0.080   25 0.4833   25  0.975   26 -0.214   12  0.054
FLAMES         31 43 191 234 -0.031 36.499   29 -0.146   29 -0.139   30 -0.193   29 0.4772   31  0.925   32 -0.383   19 -0.002
KINGS          29 44 195 222  0.002 36.840   30 -0.155   30 -0.151   21 -0.074   30 0.4751   32  0.862   31 -0.334    3  0.185

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
PREDATORS      34 40 220 246 -0.002 37.303   22 -0.050   22 -0.062   27 -0.109   22 0.4886   13  1.127   20 -0.062   26 -0.157
AVALANCHE      49 24 277 185  0.000 36.251    1  0.259    1  0.256    1  0.373    1 0.5414   15  1.095    1  0.382    1  0.365
STARS          44 31 255 209 -0.011 37.151    6  0.126    6  0.123    4  0.162    6 0.5194   19  1.063   11  0.132    2  0.192
WILD           41 33 242 216 -0.004 36.909    9  0.066    9  0.077    8  0.113    9 0.5117   20  1.051   13  0.068    5  0.158
MAMMOTH        38 36 235 212  0.003 37.189   14  0.016   14  0.021   12  0.061   16 0.5029   21  1.049   16  0.014    9  0.108
JETS           32 42 213 228 -0.006 37.118   25 -0.095   25 -0.103   20 -0.070   26 0.4824   23  1.003   24 -0.171   14  0.031
BLUES          31 42 195 232 -0.028 35.999   28 -0.127   28 -0.128   26 -0.105   28 0.4789   24  0.980   27 -0.233   17  0.024
BLACKHAWKS     27 48 195 248 -0.010 37.654   31 -0.224   31 -0.217   31 -0.194   31 0.4640   27  0.973   30 -0.330   25 -0.058

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       38 37 263 238  0.009 37.828   15  0.014   15  0.016    7  0.113   14 0.5033    4  1.219    5  0.278   24 -0.051
HURRICANES     47 27 263 218  0.005 37.136    2  0.216    2  0.204    5  0.154    2 0.5337    9  1.171    6  0.258   13  0.051
BLUE JACKETS   38 37 239 231  0.005 37.815   16  0.009   16  0.013   14  0.025   17 0.5028   17  1.087   15  0.024   15  0.025
CAPITALS       38 37 238 223  0.003 37.688   17  0.008   17  0.010   11  0.065   15 0.5030   18  1.087   14  0.063   11  0.066
RANGERS        31 44 215 233  0.008 38.042   27 -0.122   27 -0.124   24 -0.090   27 0.4803   22  1.012   25 -0.181   18  0.001
FLYERS         37 37 220 225  0.013 37.616   18  0.004   18  0.008   18 -0.020   18 0.5010   26  0.973   22 -0.155    8  0.116
DEVILS         38 36 205 227  0.011 37.655   13  0.017   12  0.026   28 -0.112   12 0.5049   28  0.972   28 -0.249   16  0.025
ISLANDERS      42 34 222 221  0.004 38.292    8  0.068    8  0.080   15  0.013    8 0.5136   30  0.960   21 -0.137    4  0.164

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
CANADIENS      43 31 262 234  0.023 37.692    5  0.138    5  0.134    6  0.124    5 0.5217    3  1.219    3  0.290   23 -0.041
MAPLE LEAFS    32 43 235 264  0.017 38.312   24 -0.089   23 -0.099   23 -0.082   23 0.4848    6  1.208   12  0.069   29 -0.233
BRUINS         43 32 256 233  0.011 37.905    7  0.114    7  0.115    9  0.101    7 0.5190    7  1.177    8  0.211   20 -0.010
SENATORS       38 36 247 230  0.007 37.283   12  0.019   13  0.024   10  0.081   13 0.5044    8  1.172    9  0.185   22 -0.023
PANTHERS       36 38 222 247  0.012 37.664   20 -0.011   20 -0.013   25 -0.090   20 0.4988   10  1.166   18  0.006   27 -0.187
SABRES         46 29 263 221  0.008 37.742    4  0.189    4  0.175    3  0.162    4 0.5296   11  1.164    7  0.256   10  0.068
LIGHTNING      46 28 268 207  0.003 36.987    3  0.197    3  0.181    2  0.226    3 0.5309   12  1.159    2  0.314    6  0.138
RED WINGS      39 35 216 223  0.016 37.682   11  0.036   11  0.050   17 -0.017   11 0.5084   29  0.969   23 -0.157    7  0.123

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     323 272 0.543    1  0.091
CENTRAL DIVISION      296 296 0.500    2  0.041
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 309 289 0.517    3  0.027
PACIFIC DIVISION      259 330 0.440    4 -0.163

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.052 points in main ratings (0.079 for semineutral)
     0.006 points in improved RPI (0.008 for semineutral)
Average of 1.00 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed Apr  1 05:30:08 2026
games through: Tue Mar 31 2026

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