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         34 37 245 244 -0.021 35.150   20 -0.029   22 -0.042   16  0.001   20 0.4930    1  1.309    4  0.291   29 -0.289
DUCKS          39 31 235 242  0.004 35.421    9  0.070    8  0.082   19 -0.057    8 0.5133    2  1.288    8  0.206   30 -0.320
CANADIENS      38 31 244 228  0.014 35.023   10  0.069   10  0.079   11  0.069   10 0.5128    3  1.265    3  0.301   26 -0.163
SHARKS         32 36 208 243  0.007 34.628   21 -0.030   20 -0.037   29 -0.149   21 0.4930    4  1.221   15  0.025   31 -0.323
MAPLE LEAFS    29 42 221 250  0.019 36.399   25 -0.115   25 -0.119   23 -0.080   25 0.4803    5  1.205   13  0.073   28 -0.233
PENGUINS       35 35 241 219 -0.004 34.996   16  0.005   16 -0.001    7  0.098   17 0.5005    6  1.184    7  0.225   22 -0.028
HURRICANES     45 25 250 206  0.000 35.053    2  0.213    2  0.204    5  0.153    2 0.5347    7  1.179    6  0.273   14  0.033
SENATORS       37 33 236 214 -0.003 35.037   13  0.032   13  0.039    8  0.091   13 0.5069    8  1.171    9  0.201   21 -0.018
SABRES         44 27 251 207  0.007 35.737    4  0.187    3  0.176    4  0.172    4 0.5307    9  1.166    5  0.275   11  0.068
LIGHTNING      43 26 251 192  0.004 34.550    3  0.187    4  0.175    2  0.226    3 0.5316   10  1.165    2  0.328    8  0.124
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRUINS         39 31 234 217  0.002 35.197    8  0.072    9  0.081    9  0.081    7 0.5142   11  1.159   10  0.176   20 -0.013
PANTHERS       34 35 206 229  0.015 35.250   18 -0.001   17 -0.002   22 -0.078   16 0.5008   12  1.158   17  0.015   27 -0.171
PREDATORS      33 37 209 232 -0.000 35.376   22 -0.032   21 -0.041   24 -0.095   22 0.4911   13  1.134   20 -0.032   25 -0.159
BLUE JACKETS   37 33 228 215  0.004 35.286   12  0.033   12  0.042   13  0.043   12 0.5075   14  1.118   12  0.086   17 -0.001
CANUCKS        21 48 179 257 -0.015 34.718   32 -0.277   32 -0.287   32 -0.319   32 0.4512   15  1.112   28 -0.283   32 -0.355
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 39 224 221 -0.007 35.535   23 -0.061   23 -0.075   15  0.002   23 0.4878   16  1.092   18  0.014   18 -0.010
AVALANCHE      46 23 257 175  0.008 34.534    1  0.245    1  0.242    1  0.354    1 0.5415   17  1.074    1  0.343    1  0.364
CAPITALS       35 36 220 208  0.003 35.726   19 -0.004   19 -0.010   12  0.065   18 0.5000   18  1.047   16  0.022    9  0.107
STARS          43 27 240 190 -0.015 34.598    5  0.162    5  0.154    3  0.180    5 0.5254   19  1.042   11  0.131    2  0.228
WILD           40 31 233 202 -0.011 35.253    7  0.074    7  0.083    6  0.125    9 0.5130   20  1.033   14  0.065    4  0.185
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RANGERS        28 43 199 226  0.018 36.396   29 -0.144   29 -0.140   27 -0.123   28 0.4765   21  1.016   26 -0.203   24 -0.042
MAMMOTH        37 34 223 198  0.006 35.815   14  0.027   14  0.033   10  0.070   14 0.5056   22  1.014   19 -0.013    6  0.152
JETS           29 41 199 219 -0.015 34.943   26 -0.130   26 -0.130   25 -0.096   26 0.4776   23  1.011   25 -0.182   19 -0.010
BLUES          28 41 181 225 -0.019 34.380   30 -0.148   30 -0.143   28 -0.131   30 0.4753   24  1.000   27 -0.230   23 -0.032
KRAKEN         31 38 196 213 -0.031 33.960   24 -0.079   24 -0.091   20 -0.069   24 0.4849   25  0.993   23 -0.176   13  0.037
FLYERS         34 35 202 211  0.012 35.129   17 -0.001   18 -0.004   18 -0.037   19 0.4992   26  0.961   24 -0.180   10  0.107
RED WINGS      38 32 205 208  0.009 35.515   11  0.054   11  0.067   17 -0.006   11 0.5115   27  0.958   21 -0.153    7  0.141
BLACKHAWKS     26 44 183 225 -0.004 35.334   31 -0.195   31 -0.185   30 -0.155   31 0.4671   28  0.944   30 -0.318   16  0.008
DEVILS         35 34 187 209  0.012 35.225   15  0.012   15  0.017   26 -0.112   15 0.5035   29  0.935   29 -0.285   12  0.062
ISLANDERS      40 31 206 202  0.001 35.736    6  0.080    6  0.090   14  0.018    6 0.5161   30  0.931   22 -0.159    3  0.194
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         29 41 177 217 -0.028 34.643   28 -0.142   28 -0.138   31 -0.185   29 0.4764   31  0.898   32 -0.400   15  0.029
KINGS          28 42 187 213  0.012 35.671   27 -0.136   27 -0.135   21 -0.071   27 0.4770   32  0.866   31 -0.320    5  0.178

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         34 37 245 244 -0.021 35.150   20 -0.029   22 -0.042   16  0.001   20 0.4930    1  1.309    4  0.291   29 -0.289
DUCKS          39 31 235 242  0.004 35.421    9  0.070    8  0.082   19 -0.057    8 0.5133    2  1.288    8  0.206   30 -0.320
SHARKS         32 36 208 243  0.007 34.628   21 -0.030   20 -0.037   29 -0.149   21 0.4930    4  1.221   15  0.025   31 -0.323
CANUCKS        21 48 179 257 -0.015 34.718   32 -0.277   32 -0.287   32 -0.319   32 0.4512   15  1.112   28 -0.283   32 -0.355
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 39 224 221 -0.007 35.535   23 -0.061   23 -0.075   15  0.002   23 0.4878   16  1.092   18  0.014   18 -0.010
KRAKEN         31 38 196 213 -0.031 33.960   24 -0.079   24 -0.091   20 -0.069   24 0.4849   25  0.993   23 -0.176   13  0.037
FLAMES         29 41 177 217 -0.028 34.643   28 -0.142   28 -0.138   31 -0.185   29 0.4764   31  0.898   32 -0.400   15  0.029
KINGS          28 42 187 213  0.012 35.671   27 -0.136   27 -0.135   21 -0.071   27 0.4770   32  0.866   31 -0.320    5  0.178

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      33 37 209 232 -0.000 35.376   22 -0.032   21 -0.041   24 -0.095   22 0.4911   13  1.134   20 -0.032   25 -0.159
AVALANCHE      46 23 257 175  0.008 34.534    1  0.245    1  0.242    1  0.354    1 0.5415   17  1.074    1  0.343    1  0.364
STARS          43 27 240 190 -0.015 34.598    5  0.162    5  0.154    3  0.180    5 0.5254   19  1.042   11  0.131    2  0.228
WILD           40 31 233 202 -0.011 35.253    7  0.074    7  0.083    6  0.125    9 0.5130   20  1.033   14  0.065    4  0.185
MAMMOTH        37 34 223 198  0.006 35.815   14  0.027   14  0.033   10  0.070   14 0.5056   22  1.014   19 -0.013    6  0.152
JETS           29 41 199 219 -0.015 34.943   26 -0.130   26 -0.130   25 -0.096   26 0.4776   23  1.011   25 -0.182   19 -0.010
BLUES          28 41 181 225 -0.019 34.380   30 -0.148   30 -0.143   28 -0.131   30 0.4753   24  1.000   27 -0.230   23 -0.032
BLACKHAWKS     26 44 183 225 -0.004 35.334   31 -0.195   31 -0.185   30 -0.155   31 0.4671   28  0.944   30 -0.318   16  0.008

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       35 35 241 219 -0.004 34.996   16  0.005   16 -0.001    7  0.098   17 0.5005    6  1.184    7  0.225   22 -0.028
HURRICANES     45 25 250 206  0.000 35.053    2  0.213    2  0.204    5  0.153    2 0.5347    7  1.179    6  0.273   14  0.033
BLUE JACKETS   37 33 228 215  0.004 35.286   12  0.033   12  0.042   13  0.043   12 0.5075   14  1.118   12  0.086   17 -0.001
CAPITALS       35 36 220 208  0.003 35.726   19 -0.004   19 -0.010   12  0.065   18 0.5000   18  1.047   16  0.022    9  0.107
RANGERS        28 43 199 226  0.018 36.396   29 -0.144   29 -0.140   27 -0.123   28 0.4765   21  1.016   26 -0.203   24 -0.042
FLYERS         34 35 202 211  0.012 35.129   17 -0.001   18 -0.004   18 -0.037   19 0.4992   26  0.961   24 -0.180   10  0.107
DEVILS         35 34 187 209  0.012 35.225   15  0.012   15  0.017   26 -0.112   15 0.5035   29  0.935   29 -0.285   12  0.062
ISLANDERS      40 31 206 202  0.001 35.736    6  0.080    6  0.090   14  0.018    6 0.5161   30  0.931   22 -0.159    3  0.194

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      38 31 244 228  0.014 35.023   10  0.069   10  0.079   11  0.069   10 0.5128    3  1.265    3  0.301   26 -0.163
MAPLE LEAFS    29 42 221 250  0.019 36.399   25 -0.115   25 -0.119   23 -0.080   25 0.4803    5  1.205   13  0.073   28 -0.233
SENATORS       37 33 236 214 -0.003 35.037   13  0.032   13  0.039    8  0.091   13 0.5069    8  1.171    9  0.201   21 -0.018
SABRES         44 27 251 207  0.007 35.737    4  0.187    3  0.176    4  0.172    4 0.5307    9  1.166    5  0.275   11  0.068
LIGHTNING      43 26 251 192  0.004 34.550    3  0.187    4  0.175    2  0.226    3 0.5316   10  1.165    2  0.328    8  0.124
BRUINS         39 31 234 217  0.002 35.197    8  0.072    9  0.081    9  0.081    7 0.5142   11  1.159   10  0.176   20 -0.013
PANTHERS       34 35 206 229  0.015 35.250   18 -0.001   17 -0.002   22 -0.078   16 0.5008   12  1.158   17  0.015   27 -0.171
RED WINGS      38 32 205 208  0.009 35.515   11  0.054   11  0.067   17 -0.006   11 0.5115   27  0.958   21 -0.153    7  0.141

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     302 257 0.540    1  0.089
CENTRAL DIVISION      282 278 0.504    2  0.046
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 289 272 0.515    3  0.020
PACIFIC DIVISION      246 312 0.441    4 -0.158

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.049 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 24 05:30:08 2026
games through: Mon Mar 23 2026

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