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      33 12 182 103  0.000 22.276    1  0.266    1  0.251    1  0.399    1 0.5577   21  1.056    1  0.371    1  0.426
LIGHTNING      28 16 158 115  0.022 22.337    2  0.161    2  0.151    2  0.200    2 0.5366   13  1.113    4  0.242    7  0.159
HURRICANES     28 18 158 139  0.016 23.404    3  0.128    3  0.125    6  0.091    3 0.5293    9  1.158    6  0.189   16 -0.006
RED WINGS      28 19 149 145 -0.025 23.276    4  0.087    4  0.094   16  0.002    4 0.5215   18  1.094   17  0.020   17 -0.015
STARS          27 19 160 130 -0.016 22.750    5  0.081    5  0.086    3  0.148    5 0.5197   15  1.103    8  0.177    9  0.119
ISLANDERS      25 20 134 125  0.036 23.308    6  0.067    6  0.075    7  0.061    6 0.5176   28  0.924   23 -0.119    3  0.242
CANADIENS      26 20 157 151 -0.010 23.025    7  0.057    7  0.065   12  0.022    7 0.5138    4  1.228    5  0.209   27 -0.166
WILD           26 21 148 130 -0.016 23.297    8  0.043    8  0.050    4  0.105   11 0.5095   26  0.963   19 -0.033    4  0.242
PANTHERS       24 21 139 145  0.024 23.199    9  0.039    9  0.046   18 -0.016    8 0.5113    8  1.160   14  0.083   24 -0.116
BRUINS         25 21 152 146 -0.004 23.137   10  0.038   10  0.045   10  0.027    9 0.5110    7  1.185    9  0.158   23 -0.104
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SABRES         24 20 143 138 -0.013 22.000   11  0.034   11  0.041   15  0.005   10 0.5105   10  1.157   13  0.102   21 -0.092
SHARKS         23 22 143 162  0.026 23.347   12  0.018   12  0.024   28 -0.100   14 0.5030    2  1.273   10  0.147   31 -0.346
DEVILS         23 23 123 143  0.051 24.304   13  0.017   13  0.023   23 -0.074   12 0.5055   27  0.939   27 -0.237   12  0.090
MAPLE LEAFS    23 22 152 143 -0.017 22.372   14  0.007   14  0.006    8  0.046   13 0.5030    6  1.188    7  0.182   20 -0.090
CAPITALS       23 23 150 133 -0.006 23.018   15  0.001   15 -0.004    5  0.092   16 0.5004   16  1.098   12  0.116   13  0.069
FLYERS         22 22 133 132 -0.007 22.100   17 -0.002   16 -0.004   17 -0.007   15 0.5012   24  0.980   24 -0.124   10  0.111
OILERS         23 23 156 153 -0.008 23.065   16 -0.001   17 -0.005   11  0.027   17 0.4982    3  1.270    3  0.270   29 -0.216
MAMMOTH        22 24 139 130 -0.012 23.002   18 -0.022   18 -0.029   14  0.012   18 0.4950   25  0.976   22 -0.109    8  0.134
DUCKS          21 24 150 168  0.010 23.055   19 -0.029   19 -0.032   26 -0.097   20 0.4932    1  1.364    2  0.274   32 -0.468
PREDATORS      21 24 125 148 -0.001 22.923   21 -0.030   20 -0.034   29 -0.118   23 0.4898   20  1.065   25 -0.135   22 -0.101
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 21 23 144 136 -0.025 21.713   20 -0.029   21 -0.036    9  0.043   19 0.4944   14  1.107   15  0.077   14  0.009
KRAKEN         21 23 123 128 -0.029 21.751   22 -0.030   22 -0.037   20 -0.024   22 0.4914   30  0.884   29 -0.250    5  0.201
PENGUINS       21 23 140 135 -0.036 21.566   23 -0.032   23 -0.039   13  0.020   21 0.4931   19  1.090   16  0.034   15  0.007
SENATORS       20 24 141 148 -0.002 22.240   24 -0.042   24 -0.049   21 -0.036   24 0.4881    5  1.220   11  0.141   28 -0.212
RANGERS        20 27 122 139  0.031 24.486   25 -0.060   25 -0.068   27 -0.098   25 0.4858   31  0.844   32 -0.367    6  0.171
BLUE JACKETS   19 26 135 153  0.031 23.413   26 -0.063   26 -0.070   25 -0.086   26 0.4840   12  1.117   20 -0.040   25 -0.132
KINGS          19 26 120 128  0.022 23.165   27 -0.067   27 -0.074   19 -0.017   27 0.4813   32  0.780   31 -0.353    2  0.320
FLAMES         19 26 116 135 -0.040 22.144   28 -0.097   28 -0.100   30 -0.120   28 0.4764   29  0.892   30 -0.337   11  0.096
BLACKHAWKS     19 27 130 146 -0.031 22.788   29 -0.101   29 -0.106   24 -0.083   29 0.4747   23  1.024   26 -0.149   18 -0.017
JETS           17 27 130 138 -0.001 22.296   30 -0.117   30 -0.121   22 -0.055   30 0.4705   17  1.098   18 -0.032   19 -0.078
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CANUCKS        16 29 124 164 -0.003 22.979   31 -0.160   31 -0.154   32 -0.197   31 0.4666   11  1.157   21 -0.101   30 -0.293
BLUES          17 29 114 161 -0.037 22.809   32 -0.163   32 -0.157   31 -0.187   32 0.4646   22  1.036   28 -0.239   26 -0.136

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
SHARKS         23 22 143 162  0.026 23.347   12  0.018   12  0.024   28 -0.100   14 0.5030    2  1.273   10  0.147   31 -0.346
OILERS         23 23 156 153 -0.008 23.065   16 -0.001   17 -0.005   11  0.027   17 0.4982    3  1.270    3  0.270   29 -0.216
DUCKS          21 24 150 168  0.010 23.055   19 -0.029   19 -0.032   26 -0.097   20 0.4932    1  1.364    2  0.274   32 -0.468
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 21 23 144 136 -0.025 21.713   20 -0.029   21 -0.036    9  0.043   19 0.4944   14  1.107   15  0.077   14  0.009
KRAKEN         21 23 123 128 -0.029 21.751   22 -0.030   22 -0.037   20 -0.024   22 0.4914   30  0.884   29 -0.250    5  0.201
KINGS          19 26 120 128  0.022 23.165   27 -0.067   27 -0.074   19 -0.017   27 0.4813   32  0.780   31 -0.353    2  0.320
FLAMES         19 26 116 135 -0.040 22.144   28 -0.097   28 -0.100   30 -0.120   28 0.4764   29  0.892   30 -0.337   11  0.096
CANUCKS        16 29 124 164 -0.003 22.979   31 -0.160   31 -0.154   32 -0.197   31 0.4666   11  1.157   21 -0.101   30 -0.293

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      33 12 182 103  0.000 22.276    1  0.266    1  0.251    1  0.399    1 0.5577   21  1.056    1  0.371    1  0.426
STARS          27 19 160 130 -0.016 22.750    5  0.081    5  0.086    3  0.148    5 0.5197   15  1.103    8  0.177    9  0.119
WILD           26 21 148 130 -0.016 23.297    8  0.043    8  0.050    4  0.105   11 0.5095   26  0.963   19 -0.033    4  0.242
MAMMOTH        22 24 139 130 -0.012 23.002   18 -0.022   18 -0.029   14  0.012   18 0.4950   25  0.976   22 -0.109    8  0.134
PREDATORS      21 24 125 148 -0.001 22.923   21 -0.030   20 -0.034   29 -0.118   23 0.4898   20  1.065   25 -0.135   22 -0.101
BLACKHAWKS     19 27 130 146 -0.031 22.788   29 -0.101   29 -0.106   24 -0.083   29 0.4747   23  1.024   26 -0.149   18 -0.017
JETS           17 27 130 138 -0.001 22.296   30 -0.117   30 -0.121   22 -0.055   30 0.4705   17  1.098   18 -0.032   19 -0.078
BLUES          17 29 114 161 -0.037 22.809   32 -0.163   32 -0.157   31 -0.187   32 0.4646   22  1.036   28 -0.239   26 -0.136

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     28 18 158 139  0.016 23.404    3  0.128    3  0.125    6  0.091    3 0.5293    9  1.158    6  0.189   16 -0.006
ISLANDERS      25 20 134 125  0.036 23.308    6  0.067    6  0.075    7  0.061    6 0.5176   28  0.924   23 -0.119    3  0.242
DEVILS         23 23 123 143  0.051 24.304   13  0.017   13  0.023   23 -0.074   12 0.5055   27  0.939   27 -0.237   12  0.090
CAPITALS       23 23 150 133 -0.006 23.018   15  0.001   15 -0.004    5  0.092   16 0.5004   16  1.098   12  0.116   13  0.069
FLYERS         22 22 133 132 -0.007 22.100   17 -0.002   16 -0.004   17 -0.007   15 0.5012   24  0.980   24 -0.124   10  0.111
PENGUINS       21 23 140 135 -0.036 21.566   23 -0.032   23 -0.039   13  0.020   21 0.4931   19  1.090   16  0.034   15  0.007
RANGERS        20 27 122 139  0.031 24.486   25 -0.060   25 -0.068   27 -0.098   25 0.4858   31  0.844   32 -0.367    6  0.171
BLUE JACKETS   19 26 135 153  0.031 23.413   26 -0.063   26 -0.070   25 -0.086   26 0.4840   12  1.117   20 -0.040   25 -0.132

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      28 16 158 115  0.022 22.337    2  0.161    2  0.151    2  0.200    2 0.5366   13  1.113    4  0.242    7  0.159
RED WINGS      28 19 149 145 -0.025 23.276    4  0.087    4  0.094   16  0.002    4 0.5215   18  1.094   17  0.020   17 -0.015
CANADIENS      26 20 157 151 -0.010 23.025    7  0.057    7  0.065   12  0.022    7 0.5138    4  1.228    5  0.209   27 -0.166
PANTHERS       24 21 139 145  0.024 23.199    9  0.039    9  0.046   18 -0.016    8 0.5113    8  1.160   14  0.083   24 -0.116
BRUINS         25 21 152 146 -0.004 23.137   10  0.038   10  0.045   10  0.027    9 0.5110    7  1.185    9  0.158   23 -0.104
SABRES         24 20 143 138 -0.013 22.000   11  0.034   11  0.041   15  0.005   10 0.5105   10  1.157   13  0.102   21 -0.092
MAPLE LEAFS    23 22 152 143 -0.017 22.372   14  0.007   14  0.006    8  0.046   13 0.5030    6  1.188    7  0.182   20 -0.090
SENATORS       20 24 141 148 -0.002 22.240   24 -0.042   24 -0.049   21 -0.036   24 0.4881    5  1.220   11  0.141   28 -0.212

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     198 163 0.548    1  0.059
CENTRAL DIVISION      182 183 0.499    2  0.046
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 181 182 0.499    3  0.001
PACIFIC DIVISION      163 196 0.454    4 -0.113

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.054 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: Tue Jan 13 05:30:09 2026
games through: Mon Jan 12 2026

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