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      22  9 124  72  0.008 15.435    1  0.189    1  0.176    1  0.319    1 0.5537   20  1.048    2  0.296    2  0.343
STARS          21 11 111  85 -0.016 15.792    2  0.131    2  0.126    3  0.145    2 0.5355   19  1.063    7  0.140   10  0.151
HURRICANES     19 11 101  85  0.030 15.433    3  0.121    3  0.119    5  0.089    3 0.5347   14  1.106   10  0.136   15  0.042
DUCKS          19 12 113 103  0.031 16.066    4  0.102    4  0.104   12  0.033    4 0.5297    1  1.320    1  0.356   31 -0.291
BRUINS         19 13 107  99  0.037 16.613    5  0.090    5  0.093    8  0.057    5 0.5284   11  1.164    4  0.176   18 -0.063
ISLANDERS      18 14  97  91  0.096 17.352    6  0.081    6  0.085    6  0.078    6 0.5256   26  0.998   19 -0.004    9  0.160
LIGHTNING      18 13 102  80  0.050 16.152    7  0.078    7  0.081    4  0.135    7 0.5251   23  1.014   14  0.071    8  0.199
CAPITALS       18 13 105  78  0.025 15.790    8  0.073    8  0.073    2  0.178    8 0.5227   25  1.008   11  0.107    5  0.249
DEVILS         17 14  92 100  0.063 16.562    9  0.059    9  0.063   19 -0.024    9 0.5197   15  1.086   17 -0.001   17 -0.046
FLYERS         16 13  87  81 -0.028 14.368   11  0.031   11  0.032   13  0.001   10 0.5104   27  0.896   28 -0.197    7  0.200
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
WILD           17 14  90  83 -0.007 15.531   10  0.036   10  0.037    7  0.065   11 0.5093   29  0.873   27 -0.158    4  0.288
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 15 15  93  88  0.018 15.364   13  0.006   13  0.005    9  0.056   12 0.5045   24  1.011   20 -0.011   11  0.124
RED WINGS      17 15 100 109 -0.068 15.447   14  0.002   14  0.004   25 -0.084   13 0.5029    6  1.201   13  0.083   28 -0.251
CANADIENS      16 14  97 107 -0.029 14.959   12  0.016   12  0.018   23 -0.063   14 0.5022    2  1.255    5  0.175   32 -0.300
PANTHERS       15 15  94  99  0.002 15.291   15 -0.001   15  0.001   21 -0.035   15 0.5012    5  1.205    9  0.137   25 -0.208
SHARKS         15 17  90 105  0.051 17.014   16 -0.008   16 -0.008   24 -0.081   16 0.4974   17  1.073   25 -0.075   19 -0.087
RANGERS        15 17  83  84  0.042 16.808   17 -0.012   17 -0.013   17 -0.019   17 0.4950   31  0.748   31 -0.374    3  0.336
PENGUINS       14 15  90  85 -0.024 14.350   18 -0.017   18 -0.022   10  0.052   18 0.4944   18  1.064   15  0.048   13  0.055
SENATORS       14 16  96  99 -0.012 15.113   20 -0.030   20 -0.031   20 -0.029   19 0.4930    4  1.217    6  0.158   26 -0.217
KINGS          14 16  82  80  0.018 15.382   19 -0.018   19 -0.023   11  0.037   20 0.4924   32  0.734   30 -0.332    1  0.406
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS           14 16  91  95 -0.026 14.977   21 -0.034   21 -0.035   22 -0.056   21 0.4886    7  1.181   12  0.085   24 -0.197
MAPLE LEAFS    14 16  99  96 -0.062 14.451   22 -0.045   22 -0.048   14  0.001   22 0.4879    9  1.178    8  0.138   20 -0.135
OILERS         14 17 103 107 -0.037 15.285   23 -0.052   23 -0.055   18 -0.023   23 0.4860    3  1.254    3  0.212   29 -0.258
MAMMOTH        14 18  96  94 -0.011 16.093   24 -0.054   24 -0.057   15 -0.006   24 0.4840   22  1.023   24 -0.059   14  0.047
BLUE JACKETS   13 18  94 109  0.013 16.036   25 -0.060   25 -0.063   28 -0.096   25 0.4814   12  1.145   18 -0.002   23 -0.191
KRAKEN         12 16  70  85 -0.026 14.013   26 -0.062   26 -0.064   26 -0.087   26 0.4807   30  0.799   32 -0.389    6  0.216
SABRES         13 18  95 108 -0.011 15.732   28 -0.068   28 -0.071   27 -0.092   27 0.4790    8  1.180   16  0.047   27 -0.231
BLACKHAWKS     13 17  89  91 -0.046 14.668   27 -0.066   27 -0.070   16 -0.009   28 0.4788   21  1.046   22 -0.035   16  0.017
PREDATORS      12 18  85 105 -0.011 15.270   29 -0.080   29 -0.083   29 -0.116   29 0.4732   13  1.120   23 -0.052   21 -0.181
CANUCKS        11 20  87 111 -0.012 15.870   30 -0.123   30 -0.122   31 -0.157   30 0.4620   10  1.167   21 -0.034   30 -0.280
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         12 20  82  96 -0.081 15.329   31 -0.133   31 -0.134   30 -0.117   31 0.4607   28  0.886   29 -0.326   12  0.092
BLUES          11 21  81 116 -0.055 15.736   32 -0.152   32 -0.151   32 -0.170   32 0.4572   16  1.083   26 -0.151   22 -0.189

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          19 12 113 103  0.031 16.066    4  0.102    4  0.104   12  0.033    4 0.5297    1  1.320    1  0.356   31 -0.291
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 15 15  93  88  0.018 15.364   13  0.006   13  0.005    9  0.056   12 0.5045   24  1.011   20 -0.011   11  0.124
SHARKS         15 17  90 105  0.051 17.014   16 -0.008   16 -0.008   24 -0.081   16 0.4974   17  1.073   25 -0.075   19 -0.087
KINGS          14 16  82  80  0.018 15.382   19 -0.018   19 -0.023   11  0.037   20 0.4924   32  0.734   30 -0.332    1  0.406
OILERS         14 17 103 107 -0.037 15.285   23 -0.052   23 -0.055   18 -0.023   23 0.4860    3  1.254    3  0.212   29 -0.258
KRAKEN         12 16  70  85 -0.026 14.013   26 -0.062   26 -0.064   26 -0.087   26 0.4807   30  0.799   32 -0.389    6  0.216
CANUCKS        11 20  87 111 -0.012 15.870   30 -0.123   30 -0.122   31 -0.157   30 0.4620   10  1.167   21 -0.034   30 -0.280
FLAMES         12 20  82  96 -0.081 15.329   31 -0.133   31 -0.134   30 -0.117   31 0.4607   28  0.886   29 -0.326   12  0.092

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      22  9 124  72  0.008 15.435    1  0.189    1  0.176    1  0.319    1 0.5537   20  1.048    2  0.296    2  0.343
STARS          21 11 111  85 -0.016 15.792    2  0.131    2  0.126    3  0.145    2 0.5355   19  1.063    7  0.140   10  0.151
WILD           17 14  90  83 -0.007 15.531   10  0.036   10  0.037    7  0.065   11 0.5093   29  0.873   27 -0.158    4  0.288
JETS           14 16  91  95 -0.026 14.977   21 -0.034   21 -0.035   22 -0.056   21 0.4886    7  1.181   12  0.085   24 -0.197
MAMMOTH        14 18  96  94 -0.011 16.093   24 -0.054   24 -0.057   15 -0.006   24 0.4840   22  1.023   24 -0.059   14  0.047
BLACKHAWKS     13 17  89  91 -0.046 14.668   27 -0.066   27 -0.070   16 -0.009   28 0.4788   21  1.046   22 -0.035   16  0.017
PREDATORS      12 18  85 105 -0.011 15.270   29 -0.080   29 -0.083   29 -0.116   29 0.4732   13  1.120   23 -0.052   21 -0.181
BLUES          11 21  81 116 -0.055 15.736   32 -0.152   32 -0.151   32 -0.170   32 0.4572   16  1.083   26 -0.151   22 -0.189

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     19 11 101  85  0.030 15.433    3  0.121    3  0.119    5  0.089    3 0.5347   14  1.106   10  0.136   15  0.042
ISLANDERS      18 14  97  91  0.096 17.352    6  0.081    6  0.085    6  0.078    6 0.5256   26  0.998   19 -0.004    9  0.160
CAPITALS       18 13 105  78  0.025 15.790    8  0.073    8  0.073    2  0.178    8 0.5227   25  1.008   11  0.107    5  0.249
DEVILS         17 14  92 100  0.063 16.562    9  0.059    9  0.063   19 -0.024    9 0.5197   15  1.086   17 -0.001   17 -0.046
FLYERS         16 13  87  81 -0.028 14.368   11  0.031   11  0.032   13  0.001   10 0.5104   27  0.896   28 -0.197    7  0.200
RANGERS        15 17  83  84  0.042 16.808   17 -0.012   17 -0.013   17 -0.019   17 0.4950   31  0.748   31 -0.374    3  0.336
PENGUINS       14 15  90  85 -0.024 14.350   18 -0.017   18 -0.022   10  0.052   18 0.4944   18  1.064   15  0.048   13  0.055
BLUE JACKETS   13 18  94 109  0.013 16.036   25 -0.060   25 -0.063   28 -0.096   25 0.4814   12  1.145   18 -0.002   23 -0.191

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
BRUINS         19 13 107  99  0.037 16.613    5  0.090    5  0.093    8  0.057    5 0.5284   11  1.164    4  0.176   18 -0.063
LIGHTNING      18 13 102  80  0.050 16.152    7  0.078    7  0.081    4  0.135    7 0.5251   23  1.014   14  0.071    8  0.199
RED WINGS      17 15 100 109 -0.068 15.447   14  0.002   14  0.004   25 -0.084   13 0.5029    6  1.201   13  0.083   28 -0.251
CANADIENS      16 14  97 107 -0.029 14.959   12  0.016   12  0.018   23 -0.063   14 0.5022    2  1.255    5  0.175   32 -0.300
PANTHERS       15 15  94  99  0.002 15.291   15 -0.001   15  0.001   21 -0.035   15 0.5012    5  1.205    9  0.137   25 -0.208
SENATORS       14 16  96  99 -0.012 15.113   20 -0.030   20 -0.031   20 -0.029   19 0.4930    4  1.217    6  0.158   26 -0.217
MAPLE LEAFS    14 16  99  96 -0.062 14.451   22 -0.045   22 -0.048   14  0.001   22 0.4879    9  1.178    8  0.138   20 -0.135
SABRES         13 18  95 108 -0.011 15.732   28 -0.068   28 -0.071   27 -0.092   27 0.4790    8  1.180   16  0.047   27 -0.231

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 130 115 0.531    1  0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION      124 124 0.500    2  0.045
ATLANTIC DIVISION     126 120 0.512    3 -0.032
PACIFIC DIVISION      112 133 0.457    4 -0.096

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.043 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 Dec 12 05:30:13 2025
games through: Thu Dec 11 2025

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