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      50 26 287 196 -0.003 37.667    1  0.243    1  0.232    1  0.357    1 0.5377   16  1.110    1  0.379    1  0.336
HURRICANES     49 28 275 228  0.006 38.729    2  0.221    2  0.207    4  0.159    2 0.5341    7  1.181    4  0.270   13  0.048
LIGHTNING      48 28 277 211  0.003 38.028    3  0.212    3  0.195    2  0.238    3 0.5332   12  1.154    3  0.316    5  0.161
SABRES         46 31 266 231  0.011 38.881    4  0.161    4  0.151    5  0.133    4 0.5257   11  1.163    7  0.222   14  0.045
CANADIENS      45 32 269 242  0.016 39.073    5  0.138    5  0.134    8  0.106    5 0.5222    6  1.200    6  0.242   23 -0.029
STARS          45 32 258 211 -0.005 38.353    6  0.124    6  0.122    3  0.165    6 0.5192   21  1.028   12  0.088    2  0.241
WILD           44 33 256 223 -0.007 38.309    7  0.095    7  0.101    6  0.132    7 0.5157   20  1.060   11  0.092    3  0.171
BRUINS         43 35 259 240  0.013 39.544    8  0.073    8  0.083   10  0.082    8 0.5141   14  1.133   10  0.132   17  0.032
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.007 39.439    9  0.045    9  0.061   16 -0.001    9 0.5105   28  0.962   23 -0.154    7  0.152
MAMMOTH        40 36 248 218 -0.003 38.021   10  0.027   13  0.036   11  0.077   14 0.5053   18  1.077   15  0.059    9  0.095
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SENATORS       40 37 258 238  0.010 38.926   11  0.026   14  0.035    9  0.090   12 0.5062   10  1.169    8  0.185   21 -0.006
RED WINGS      40 37 225 234  0.014 39.211   12  0.024   10  0.038   18 -0.025   11 0.5063   24  0.984   22 -0.153    8  0.104
DUCKS          41 36 257 271 -0.017 38.345   13  0.023   11  0.037   24 -0.091   13 0.5054    1  1.290    9  0.163   31 -0.345
DEVILS         40 37 218 234  0.013 39.252   14  0.022   12  0.036   22 -0.080   10 0.5065   25  0.977   26 -0.216   12  0.056
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.009 39.357   15  0.019   15  0.025    7  0.123   15 0.5049    3  1.252    2  0.326   25 -0.080
FLYERS         39 38 228 231  0.013 39.156   16  0.010   16  0.018   17 -0.011   16 0.5028   30  0.953   24 -0.176    6  0.153
CAPITALS       39 39 248 240  0.003 39.273   17 -0.000   17  0.000   12  0.042   17 0.5015   15  1.127   13  0.086   20 -0.002
OILERS         39 38 265 257 -0.025 37.920   18 -0.004   19 -0.005   13  0.025   19 0.4989    2  1.270    5  0.252   27 -0.201
BLUE JACKETS   38 39 241 238  0.008 38.969   19 -0.004   18 -0.005   15  0.006   18 0.4998   19  1.070   19 -0.021   16  0.033
PANTHERS       37 40 230 262  0.017 39.391   20 -0.016   20 -0.019   28 -0.102   20 0.4975    9  1.174   18 -0.000   28 -0.204
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SHARKS         36 39 231 267 -0.005 37.776   21 -0.025   21 -0.032   29 -0.146   21 0.4942    5  1.215   17  0.009   30 -0.301
PREDATORS      36 40 231 253 -0.003 38.288   22 -0.031   22 -0.041   26 -0.096   22 0.4920   13  1.146   20 -0.029   26 -0.163
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 35 42 247 240 -0.017 38.196   23 -0.062   23 -0.078   14  0.011   23 0.4873   17  1.099   16  0.020   19  0.002
JETS           33 43 215 232 -0.000 38.325   24 -0.086   24 -0.096   21 -0.074   24 0.4833   26  0.974   25 -0.213   10  0.066
BLUES          33 43 205 238 -0.021 37.712   25 -0.101   25 -0.108   23 -0.081   26 0.4820   27  0.969   27 -0.227   11  0.065
RANGERS        33 45 229 238  0.008 39.544   26 -0.102   26 -0.110   19 -0.056   25 0.4826   22  1.017   21 -0.146   15  0.034
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.249   27 -0.113   27 -0.117   25 -0.095   27 0.4816    4  1.224   14  0.071   29 -0.262
KRAKEN         32 43 210 237 -0.024 37.134   28 -0.120   28 -0.123   27 -0.101   28 0.4799   23  0.984   28 -0.229   18  0.027
FLAMES         32 44 199 243 -0.029 37.571   29 -0.137   29 -0.134   31 -0.189   29 0.4781   31  0.947   32 -0.360   22 -0.017
KINGS          31 45 208 234 -0.005 38.167   30 -0.139   30 -0.139   20 -0.074   30 0.4768   32  0.888   30 -0.310    4  0.162
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     28 49 200 253 -0.007 38.758   31 -0.218   31 -0.208   30 -0.188   31 0.4651   29  0.962   31 -0.341   24 -0.034
CANUCKS        22 54 201 295 -0.011 38.369   32 -0.305   32 -0.319   32 -0.357   32 0.4477    8  1.179   29 -0.248   32 -0.465

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          41 36 257 271 -0.017 38.345   13  0.023   11  0.037   24 -0.091   13 0.5054    1  1.290    9  0.163   31 -0.345
OILERS         39 38 265 257 -0.025 37.920   18 -0.004   19 -0.005   13  0.025   19 0.4989    2  1.270    5  0.252   27 -0.201
SHARKS         36 39 231 267 -0.005 37.776   21 -0.025   21 -0.032   29 -0.146   21 0.4942    5  1.215   17  0.009   30 -0.301
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 35 42 247 240 -0.017 38.196   23 -0.062   23 -0.078   14  0.011   23 0.4873   17  1.099   16  0.020   19  0.002
KRAKEN         32 43 210 237 -0.024 37.134   28 -0.120   28 -0.123   27 -0.101   28 0.4799   23  0.984   28 -0.229   18  0.027
FLAMES         32 44 199 243 -0.029 37.571   29 -0.137   29 -0.134   31 -0.189   29 0.4781   31  0.947   32 -0.360   22 -0.017
KINGS          31 45 208 234 -0.005 38.167   30 -0.139   30 -0.139   20 -0.074   30 0.4768   32  0.888   30 -0.310    4  0.162
CANUCKS        22 54 201 295 -0.011 38.369   32 -0.305   32 -0.319   32 -0.357   32 0.4477    8  1.179   29 -0.248   32 -0.465

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      50 26 287 196 -0.003 37.667    1  0.243    1  0.232    1  0.357    1 0.5377   16  1.110    1  0.379    1  0.336
STARS          45 32 258 211 -0.005 38.353    6  0.124    6  0.122    3  0.165    6 0.5192   21  1.028   12  0.088    2  0.241
WILD           44 33 256 223 -0.007 38.309    7  0.095    7  0.101    6  0.132    7 0.5157   20  1.060   11  0.092    3  0.171
MAMMOTH        40 36 248 218 -0.003 38.021   10  0.027   13  0.036   11  0.077   14 0.5053   18  1.077   15  0.059    9  0.095
PREDATORS      36 40 231 253 -0.003 38.288   22 -0.031   22 -0.041   26 -0.096   22 0.4920   13  1.146   20 -0.029   26 -0.163
JETS           33 43 215 232 -0.000 38.325   24 -0.086   24 -0.096   21 -0.074   24 0.4833   26  0.974   25 -0.213   10  0.066
BLUES          33 43 205 238 -0.021 37.712   25 -0.101   25 -0.108   23 -0.081   26 0.4820   27  0.969   27 -0.227   11  0.065
BLACKHAWKS     28 49 200 253 -0.007 38.758   31 -0.218   31 -0.208   30 -0.188   31 0.4651   29  0.962   31 -0.341   24 -0.034

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     49 28 275 228  0.006 38.729    2  0.221    2  0.207    4  0.159    2 0.5341    7  1.181    4  0.270   13  0.048
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.007 39.439    9  0.045    9  0.061   16 -0.001    9 0.5105   28  0.962   23 -0.154    7  0.152
DEVILS         40 37 218 234  0.013 39.252   14  0.022   12  0.036   22 -0.080   10 0.5065   25  0.977   26 -0.216   12  0.056
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.009 39.357   15  0.019   15  0.025    7  0.123   15 0.5049    3  1.252    2  0.326   25 -0.080
FLYERS         39 38 228 231  0.013 39.156   16  0.010   16  0.018   17 -0.011   16 0.5028   30  0.953   24 -0.176    6  0.153
CAPITALS       39 39 248 240  0.003 39.273   17 -0.000   17  0.000   12  0.042   17 0.5015   15  1.127   13  0.086   20 -0.002
BLUE JACKETS   38 39 241 238  0.008 38.969   19 -0.004   18 -0.005   15  0.006   18 0.4998   19  1.070   19 -0.021   16  0.033
RANGERS        33 45 229 238  0.008 39.544   26 -0.102   26 -0.110   19 -0.056   25 0.4826   22  1.017   21 -0.146   15  0.034

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      48 28 277 211  0.003 38.028    3  0.212    3  0.195    2  0.238    3 0.5332   12  1.154    3  0.316    5  0.161
SABRES         46 31 266 231  0.011 38.881    4  0.161    4  0.151    5  0.133    4 0.5257   11  1.163    7  0.222   14  0.045
CANADIENS      45 32 269 242  0.016 39.073    5  0.138    5  0.134    8  0.106    5 0.5222    6  1.200    6  0.242   23 -0.029
BRUINS         43 35 259 240  0.013 39.544    8  0.073    8  0.083   10  0.082    8 0.5141   14  1.133   10  0.132   17  0.032
SENATORS       40 37 258 238  0.010 38.926   11  0.026   14  0.035    9  0.090   12 0.5062   10  1.169    8  0.185   21 -0.006
RED WINGS      40 37 225 234  0.014 39.211   12  0.024   10  0.038   18 -0.025   11 0.5063   24  0.984   22 -0.153    8  0.104
PANTHERS       37 40 230 262  0.017 39.391   20 -0.016   20 -0.019   28 -0.102   20 0.4975    9  1.174   18 -0.000   28 -0.204
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.249   27 -0.113   27 -0.117   25 -0.095   27 0.4816    4  1.224   14  0.071   29 -0.262

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     331 285 0.537    1  0.078
CENTRAL DIVISION      309 302 0.506    2  0.052
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 320 300 0.516    3  0.033
PACIFIC DIVISION      268 341 0.440    4 -0.166

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: Mon Apr  6 05:30:08 2026
games through: Sun Apr  5 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.