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      58 27 310 207 -0.018 41.603    1  0.281    1  0.285    1  0.382    1 0.5417   23  1.022    1  0.302    1  0.463
HURRICANES     56 29 303 243  0.010 42.824    2  0.263    2  0.264    3  0.206    2 0.5397   10  1.145    3  0.274    8  0.137
SABRES         52 33 297 249  0.014 42.960    3  0.209    3  0.190    4  0.183    3 0.5290    8  1.159    4  0.269    9  0.096
LIGHTNING      51 34 298 240  0.015 42.979    5  0.190    5  0.170    2  0.209    4 0.5269   11  1.121    6  0.248    5  0.170
STARS          52 33 288 237 -0.003 42.368    4  0.197    4  0.178    5  0.172    5 0.5260   19  1.058   11  0.133    2  0.210
CANADIENS      50 35 292 264  0.026 43.433    6  0.170    6  0.159    8  0.113    6 0.5241    7  1.170    7  0.213   18  0.013
BRUINS         46 39 280 259  0.027 43.473    8  0.069    7  0.082    9  0.100    7 0.5133   13  1.118   10  0.136   12  0.064
WILD           47 38 283 249 -0.003 42.388    7  0.070    8  0.081    6  0.134    8 0.5121   17  1.084   12  0.127    7  0.140
FLYERS         46 39 261 247  0.017 43.213    9  0.062    9  0.076   13  0.054    9 0.5116   29  0.968   21 -0.089    4  0.198
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.006 41.270   10  0.032   12  0.040   10  0.090   10 0.5072   15  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.074
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.009 41.519   12  0.032   10  0.043   17 -0.025   11 0.5072   30  0.944   25 -0.196    6  0.146
SENATORS       44 41 281 253  0.017 43.130   11  0.032   13  0.039    7  0.123   12 0.5071   14  1.114    9  0.153   10  0.092
MAMMOTH        45 40 277 248 -0.009 42.304   13  0.030   11  0.040   12  0.062   13 0.5053   16  1.099   14  0.074   13  0.050
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.016 41.864   14  0.019   14  0.028   25 -0.112   14 0.5048   27  0.992   27 -0.229   20  0.004
DUCKS          45 40 289 300 -0.027 41.944   15  0.019   15  0.028   23 -0.091   15 0.5039    1  1.309    8  0.191   31 -0.374
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.013 41.688   16  0.006   16  0.008   18 -0.048   16 0.5015   21  1.032   22 -0.116   17  0.020
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.013 41.638   17 -0.006   18 -0.012   16 -0.008   17 0.4990   20  1.056   19 -0.048   15  0.033
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.015 41.802   18 -0.006   17 -0.011   22 -0.080   18 0.4988    6  1.189   16  0.044   27 -0.204
PENGUINS       41 44 297 279  0.011 42.993   19 -0.009   19 -0.021   11  0.074   19 0.4977    3  1.267    2  0.301   26 -0.153
OILERS         42 43 294 285 -0.032 41.591   20 -0.016   20 -0.030   15  0.023   20 0.4957    2  1.272    5  0.256   28 -0.210
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.023 40.691   22 -0.044   21 -0.054   29 -0.171   21 0.4914    5  1.212   18 -0.017   29 -0.325
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 40 45 273 259 -0.020 41.985   21 -0.041   22 -0.060   14  0.033   22 0.4904   18  1.082   17  0.024   14  0.042
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.009 41.049   23 -0.052   23 -0.065   24 -0.095   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.057   25 -0.134
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.017 40.727   24 -0.075   24 -0.088   19 -0.063   24 0.4861   22  1.026   23 -0.139   19  0.013
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.016 41.821   26 -0.122   26 -0.126   20 -0.065   25 0.4814   25  1.011   24 -0.158   16  0.029
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.007 41.136   25 -0.118   25 -0.121   26 -0.118   26 0.4810   24  1.021   26 -0.200   23 -0.036
KINGS          35 50 229 255 -0.008 42.568   27 -0.152   28 -0.149   21 -0.071   27 0.4774   32  0.846   31 -0.349    3  0.208
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.017 40.890   28 -0.156   27 -0.149   30 -0.188   28 0.4772   31  0.929   32 -0.376   21 -0.001
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.021 40.709   29 -0.157   29 -0.152   27 -0.138   29 0.4767   26  0.995   28 -0.251   22 -0.025
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.015 41.888   30 -0.174   30 -0.166   28 -0.142   30 0.4755    4  1.237   15  0.045   30 -0.329
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 -0.013 41.059   31 -0.242   31 -0.244   31 -0.222   31 0.4627   28  0.984   30 -0.346   24 -0.097
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.018 41.100   32 -0.309   32 -0.326   32 -0.386   32 0.4506    9  1.158   29 -0.301   32 -0.472

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          45 40 289 300 -0.027 41.944   15  0.019   15  0.028   23 -0.091   15 0.5039    1  1.309    8  0.191   31 -0.374
OILERS         42 43 294 285 -0.032 41.591   20 -0.016   20 -0.030   15  0.023   20 0.4957    2  1.272    5  0.256   28 -0.210
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.023 40.691   22 -0.044   21 -0.054   29 -0.171   21 0.4914    5  1.212   18 -0.017   29 -0.325
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 40 45 273 259 -0.020 41.985   21 -0.041   22 -0.060   14  0.033   22 0.4904   18  1.082   17  0.024   14  0.042
KINGS          35 50 229 255 -0.008 42.568   27 -0.152   28 -0.149   21 -0.071   27 0.4774   32  0.846   31 -0.349    3  0.208
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.017 40.890   28 -0.156   27 -0.149   30 -0.188   28 0.4772   31  0.929   32 -0.376   21 -0.001
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.021 40.709   29 -0.157   29 -0.152   27 -0.138   29 0.4767   26  0.995   28 -0.251   22 -0.025
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.018 41.100   32 -0.309   32 -0.326   32 -0.386   32 0.4506    9  1.158   29 -0.301   32 -0.472

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      58 27 310 207 -0.018 41.603    1  0.281    1  0.285    1  0.382    1 0.5417   23  1.022    1  0.302    1  0.463
STARS          52 33 288 237 -0.003 42.368    4  0.197    4  0.178    5  0.172    5 0.5260   19  1.058   11  0.133    2  0.210
WILD           47 38 283 249 -0.003 42.388    7  0.070    8  0.081    6  0.134    8 0.5121   17  1.084   12  0.127    7  0.140
MAMMOTH        45 40 277 248 -0.009 42.304   13  0.030   11  0.040   12  0.062   13 0.5053   16  1.099   14  0.074   13  0.050
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.009 41.049   23 -0.052   23 -0.065   24 -0.095   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.057   25 -0.134
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.017 40.727   24 -0.075   24 -0.088   19 -0.063   24 0.4861   22  1.026   23 -0.139   19  0.013
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.007 41.136   25 -0.118   25 -0.121   26 -0.118   26 0.4810   24  1.021   26 -0.200   23 -0.036
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.013 41.059   31 -0.242   31 -0.244   31 -0.222   31 0.4627   28  0.984   30 -0.346   24 -0.097

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     56 29 303 243  0.010 42.824    2  0.263    2  0.264    3  0.206    2 0.5397   10  1.145    3  0.274    8  0.137
FLYERS         46 39 261 247  0.017 43.213    9  0.062    9  0.076   13  0.054    9 0.5116   29  0.968   21 -0.089    4  0.198
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.006 41.270   10  0.032   12  0.040   10  0.090   10 0.5072   15  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.074
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.009 41.519   12  0.032   10  0.043   17 -0.025   11 0.5072   30  0.944   25 -0.196    6  0.146
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.016 41.864   14  0.019   14  0.028   25 -0.112   14 0.5048   27  0.992   27 -0.229   20  0.004
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.013 41.638   17 -0.006   18 -0.012   16 -0.008   17 0.4990   20  1.056   19 -0.048   15  0.033
PENGUINS       41 44 297 279  0.011 42.993   19 -0.009   19 -0.021   11  0.074   19 0.4977    3  1.267    2  0.301   26 -0.153
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.016 41.821   26 -0.122   26 -0.126   20 -0.065   25 0.4814   25  1.011   24 -0.158   16  0.029

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         52 33 297 249  0.014 42.960    3  0.209    3  0.190    4  0.183    3 0.5290    8  1.159    4  0.269    9  0.096
LIGHTNING      51 34 298 240  0.015 42.979    5  0.190    5  0.170    2  0.209    4 0.5269   11  1.121    6  0.248    5  0.170
CANADIENS      50 35 292 264  0.026 43.433    6  0.170    6  0.159    8  0.113    6 0.5241    7  1.170    7  0.213   18  0.013
BRUINS         46 39 280 259  0.027 43.473    8  0.069    7  0.082    9  0.100    7 0.5133   13  1.118   10  0.136   12  0.064
SENATORS       44 41 281 253  0.017 43.130   11  0.032   13  0.039    7  0.123   12 0.5071   14  1.114    9  0.153   10  0.092
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.013 41.688   16  0.006   16  0.008   18 -0.048   16 0.5015   21  1.032   22 -0.116   17  0.020
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.015 41.802   18 -0.006   17 -0.011   22 -0.080   18 0.4988    6  1.189   16  0.044   27 -0.204
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.015 41.888   30 -0.174   30 -0.166   28 -0.142   30 0.4755    4  1.237   15  0.045   30 -0.329

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     356 315 0.531    1  0.078
CENTRAL DIVISION      341 327 0.510    2  0.041
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 345 320 0.519    3  0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION      294 374 0.440    4 -0.168

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.055 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: Sat Apr 25 05:30:09 2026
games through: Fri Apr 24 2026

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