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      43 19 238 155  0.007 30.960    1  0.267    1  0.267    1  0.380    1 0.5491   18  1.083    1  0.373    1  0.386
LIGHTNING      39 23 223 172  0.009 31.195    2  0.188    3  0.177    2  0.211    2 0.5337   13  1.142    4  0.278    8  0.145
STARS          39 24 220 173 -0.022 30.930    5  0.154    5  0.149    3  0.178    5 0.5262   19  1.073   10  0.159    3  0.196
HURRICANES     40 23 224 183 -0.010 31.285    3  0.188    2  0.179    4  0.153    3 0.5326    9  1.166    6  0.249   13  0.057
WILD           37 27 215 185  0.004 32.147    6  0.103    6  0.108    5  0.142    6 0.5183   20  1.064   12  0.112    6  0.172
SABRES         39 25 225 193  0.015 32.465    4  0.164    4  0.158    6  0.133    4 0.5287    6  1.199    5  0.272   18 -0.006
PENGUINS       32 31 213 188 -0.034 30.781   17 -0.004   17 -0.007    7  0.099   17 0.4997   15  1.113   11  0.130   11  0.068
MAMMOTH        34 30 203 176  0.007 32.284   12  0.041   12  0.045    8  0.085   12 0.5087   22  1.001   19 -0.019    5  0.189
SENATORS       32 31 214 198  0.003 31.716   13  0.014   13  0.013    9  0.075   14 0.5021    7  1.198    7  0.213   22 -0.062
BRUINS         35 28 212 200  0.007 31.827    9  0.071    9  0.078   10  0.069    9 0.5139    8  1.190    9  0.196   21 -0.058
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CANADIENS      34 28 222 209  0.020 31.641   10  0.068   11  0.076   11  0.069   11 0.5120    3  1.290    3  0.327   26 -0.189
CAPITALS       32 33 207 195 -0.009 32.441   19 -0.012   19 -0.017   12  0.054   18 0.4988   17  1.097   16  0.065   15  0.043
OILERS         31 33 227 218 -0.027 31.503   20 -0.029   20 -0.037   13  0.029   20 0.4933    1  1.324    2  0.333   30 -0.276
ISLANDERS      36 28 188 183  0.003 32.309    8  0.076    8  0.087   14  0.019    7 0.5169   29  0.941   21 -0.154    4  0.192
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 29 35 209 205 -0.016 31.833   24 -0.062   24 -0.073   15  0.010   23 0.4881   14  1.142   15  0.076   20 -0.055
BLUE JACKETS   32 31 204 203 -0.001 31.727   14  0.010   14  0.011   16 -0.001   15 0.5017   12  1.154   14  0.081   23 -0.083
RED WINGS      36 28 189 190  0.005 32.376    7  0.077    7  0.089   17 -0.003    8 0.5156   28  0.959   22 -0.156    7  0.150
KRAKEN         29 33 177 186 -0.032 30.478   22 -0.053   22 -0.062   18 -0.036   22 0.4890   27  0.961   25 -0.187   10  0.114
PANTHERS       31 32 191 210  0.021 32.374   16  0.000   16  0.001   19 -0.065   16 0.5015   10  1.166   18  0.031   25 -0.161
KINGS          26 37 168 190  0.015 32.221   26 -0.107   26 -0.110   20 -0.065   26 0.4799   32  0.841   30 -0.348    2  0.218
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS           26 36 178 189 -0.011 31.053   27 -0.112   27 -0.115   21 -0.068   27 0.4793   24  0.992   24 -0.183   14  0.046
FLYERS         29 34 183 200  0.011 32.134   21 -0.040   21 -0.047   22 -0.071   21 0.4909   23  1.001   23 -0.176   16  0.033
DUCKS          35 28 211 221  0.002 31.913   11  0.066   10  0.076   23 -0.072   10 0.5129    2  1.301    8  0.201   32 -0.346
MAPLE LEAFS    27 37 202 226  0.005 32.476   25 -0.098   25 -0.103   24 -0.075   25 0.4816    4  1.224   13  0.096   28 -0.245
SHARKS         30 31 189 212  0.001 30.930   18 -0.010   18 -0.009   25 -0.114   19 0.4972    5  1.205   17  0.033   29 -0.261
PREDATORS      28 35 187 216  0.014 32.283   23 -0.059   23 -0.067   26 -0.117   24 0.4864   11  1.159   20 -0.029   27 -0.205
DEVILS         32 32 166 192  0.018 32.876   15  0.005   15  0.010   27 -0.124   13 0.5028   31  0.867   31 -0.379    9  0.131
RANGERS        25 38 175 200  0.026 32.554   28 -0.126   28 -0.126   28 -0.124   28 0.4782   25  0.981   27 -0.252   17  0.003
BLACKHAWKS     24 40 172 207 -0.016 32.025   31 -0.189   31 -0.180   29 -0.141   31 0.4671   26  0.978   28 -0.272   19 -0.011
BLUES          25 38 166 212 -0.013 31.604   29 -0.153   29 -0.147   30 -0.147   29 0.4734   21  1.039   26 -0.206   24 -0.088
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         25 38 158 196 -0.024 31.318   30 -0.162   30 -0.153   31 -0.179   30 0.4715   30  0.881   32 -0.418   12  0.060
CANUCKS        19 45 165 238 -0.006 32.489   32 -0.278   32 -0.283   32 -0.305   32 0.4503   16  1.100   29 -0.292   31 -0.319

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         31 33 227 218 -0.027 31.503   20 -0.029   20 -0.037   13  0.029   20 0.4933    1  1.324    2  0.333   30 -0.276
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 29 35 209 205 -0.016 31.833   24 -0.062   24 -0.073   15  0.010   23 0.4881   14  1.142   15  0.076   20 -0.055
KRAKEN         29 33 177 186 -0.032 30.478   22 -0.053   22 -0.062   18 -0.036   22 0.4890   27  0.961   25 -0.187   10  0.114
KINGS          26 37 168 190  0.015 32.221   26 -0.107   26 -0.110   20 -0.065   26 0.4799   32  0.841   30 -0.348    2  0.218
DUCKS          35 28 211 221  0.002 31.913   11  0.066   10  0.076   23 -0.072   10 0.5129    2  1.301    8  0.201   32 -0.346
SHARKS         30 31 189 212  0.001 30.930   18 -0.010   18 -0.009   25 -0.114   19 0.4972    5  1.205   17  0.033   29 -0.261
FLAMES         25 38 158 196 -0.024 31.318   30 -0.162   30 -0.153   31 -0.179   30 0.4715   30  0.881   32 -0.418   12  0.060
CANUCKS        19 45 165 238 -0.006 32.489   32 -0.278   32 -0.283   32 -0.305   32 0.4503   16  1.100   29 -0.292   31 -0.319

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      43 19 238 155  0.007 30.960    1  0.267    1  0.267    1  0.380    1 0.5491   18  1.083    1  0.373    1  0.386
STARS          39 24 220 173 -0.022 30.930    5  0.154    5  0.149    3  0.178    5 0.5262   19  1.073   10  0.159    3  0.196
WILD           37 27 215 185  0.004 32.147    6  0.103    6  0.108    5  0.142    6 0.5183   20  1.064   12  0.112    6  0.172
MAMMOTH        34 30 203 176  0.007 32.284   12  0.041   12  0.045    8  0.085   12 0.5087   22  1.001   19 -0.019    5  0.189
JETS           26 36 178 189 -0.011 31.053   27 -0.112   27 -0.115   21 -0.068   27 0.4793   24  0.992   24 -0.183   14  0.046
PREDATORS      28 35 187 216  0.014 32.283   23 -0.059   23 -0.067   26 -0.117   24 0.4864   11  1.159   20 -0.029   27 -0.205
BLACKHAWKS     24 40 172 207 -0.016 32.025   31 -0.189   31 -0.180   29 -0.141   31 0.4671   26  0.978   28 -0.272   19 -0.011
BLUES          25 38 166 212 -0.013 31.604   29 -0.153   29 -0.147   30 -0.147   29 0.4734   21  1.039   26 -0.206   24 -0.088

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     40 23 224 183 -0.010 31.285    3  0.188    2  0.179    4  0.153    3 0.5326    9  1.166    6  0.249   13  0.057
PENGUINS       32 31 213 188 -0.034 30.781   17 -0.004   17 -0.007    7  0.099   17 0.4997   15  1.113   11  0.130   11  0.068
CAPITALS       32 33 207 195 -0.009 32.441   19 -0.012   19 -0.017   12  0.054   18 0.4988   17  1.097   16  0.065   15  0.043
ISLANDERS      36 28 188 183  0.003 32.309    8  0.076    8  0.087   14  0.019    7 0.5169   29  0.941   21 -0.154    4  0.192
BLUE JACKETS   32 31 204 203 -0.001 31.727   14  0.010   14  0.011   16 -0.001   15 0.5017   12  1.154   14  0.081   23 -0.083
FLYERS         29 34 183 200  0.011 32.134   21 -0.040   21 -0.047   22 -0.071   21 0.4909   23  1.001   23 -0.176   16  0.033
DEVILS         32 32 166 192  0.018 32.876   15  0.005   15  0.010   27 -0.124   13 0.5028   31  0.867   31 -0.379    9  0.131
RANGERS        25 38 175 200  0.026 32.554   28 -0.126   28 -0.126   28 -0.124   28 0.4782   25  0.981   27 -0.252   17  0.003

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      39 23 223 172  0.009 31.195    2  0.188    3  0.177    2  0.211    2 0.5337   13  1.142    4  0.278    8  0.145
SABRES         39 25 225 193  0.015 32.465    4  0.164    4  0.158    6  0.133    4 0.5287    6  1.199    5  0.272   18 -0.006
SENATORS       32 31 214 198  0.003 31.716   13  0.014   13  0.013    9  0.075   14 0.5021    7  1.198    7  0.213   22 -0.062
BRUINS         35 28 212 200  0.007 31.827    9  0.071    9  0.078   10  0.069    9 0.5139    8  1.190    9  0.196   21 -0.058
CANADIENS      34 28 222 209  0.020 31.641   10  0.068   11  0.076   11  0.069   11 0.5120    3  1.290    3  0.327   26 -0.189
RED WINGS      36 28 189 190  0.005 32.376    7  0.077    7  0.089   17 -0.003    8 0.5156   28  0.959   22 -0.156    7  0.150
PANTHERS       31 32 191 210  0.021 32.374   16  0.000   16  0.001   19 -0.065   16 0.5015   10  1.166   18  0.031   25 -0.161
MAPLE LEAFS    27 37 202 226  0.005 32.476   25 -0.098   25 -0.103   24 -0.075   25 0.4816    4  1.224   13  0.096   28 -0.245

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     273 232 0.541    1  0.081
CENTRAL DIVISION      256 249 0.507    2  0.058
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 258 250 0.508    3  0.001
PACIFIC DIVISION      224 280 0.444    4 -0.141

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: Tue Mar 10 05:30:07 2026
games through: Mon Mar  9 2026

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