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      56 27 304 204 -0.014 40.661    1  0.267    1  0.273    1  0.383    1 0.5404   21  1.032    2  0.312    1  0.453
HURRICANES     54 29 298 240  0.009 41.691    2  0.248    2  0.249    3  0.202    2 0.5377    9  1.164    3  0.293    8  0.110
SABRES         51 32 292 244  0.013 41.839    3  0.207    3  0.193    4  0.184    3 0.5296    8  1.166    4  0.278    9  0.090
LIGHTNING      50 33 293 235  0.013 41.840    4  0.187    4  0.172    2  0.212    4 0.5271   11  1.137    5  0.269    5  0.155
STARS          50 33 280 232 -0.005 41.229    5  0.173    5  0.161    5  0.164    6 0.5235   19  1.056   12  0.123    2  0.205
CANADIENS      49 34 287 259  0.022 42.208    6  0.169    6  0.159    8  0.112    5 0.5242    7  1.185    7  0.230   21 -0.006
WILD           47 36 278 241 -0.007 41.172    7  0.095    7  0.100    6  0.143    7 0.5147   18  1.082   11  0.133    6  0.153
BRUINS         45 38 275 254  0.023 42.271    8  0.072    8  0.081    9  0.101    8 0.5131   13  1.125    9  0.144   12  0.057
SENATORS       44 39 278 248  0.013 41.889    9  0.050   10  0.057    7  0.128    9 0.5094   12  1.133    8  0.181   11  0.076
FLYERS         44 39 253 245  0.018 42.187   10  0.049    9  0.059   15  0.031   10 0.5092   29  0.975   21 -0.106    4  0.168
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.007 41.251   11  0.036   12  0.041   11  0.092   11 0.5073   16  1.101   13  0.104   10  0.079
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.010 41.501   12  0.034   11  0.044   17 -0.024   12 0.5073   30  0.942   25 -0.198    7  0.151
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.018 41.869   13  0.020   13  0.030   25 -0.111   13 0.5050   27  0.989   27 -0.231   19  0.009
MAMMOTH        43 40 270 244 -0.008 41.276   14  0.017   14  0.023   12  0.053   15 0.5028   15  1.102   14  0.067   15  0.038
DUCKS          43 39 273 288 -0.028 40.395   15  0.011   15  0.020   24 -0.104   14 0.5028    1  1.284   10  0.143   31 -0.352
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.014 41.686   16  0.006   16  0.010   18 -0.046   16 0.5017   22  1.030   22 -0.119   17  0.027
PENGUINS       41 42 295 271  0.010 41.853   17  0.001   17 -0.003   10  0.100   17 0.5004    2  1.273    1  0.333   26 -0.132
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.015 41.643   18 -0.007   19 -0.010   16 -0.006   18 0.4992   20  1.054   19 -0.050   14  0.039
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.017 41.800   19 -0.007   18 -0.009   22 -0.078   19 0.4990    6  1.186   16  0.042   28 -0.198
OILERS         41 41 282 269 -0.026 40.228   20 -0.010   20 -0.016   14  0.040   20 0.4971    3  1.247    6  0.238   27 -0.158
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 40 43 269 252 -0.020 40.891   21 -0.029   21 -0.041   13  0.045   21 0.4931   17  1.085   17  0.039   13  0.051
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.021 40.692   22 -0.045   22 -0.053   29 -0.169   22 0.4916    5  1.212   18 -0.016   29 -0.322
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.008 41.042   23 -0.053   23 -0.064   23 -0.094   23 0.4897   14  1.120   20 -0.057   25 -0.130
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.016 40.712   24 -0.076   24 -0.087   19 -0.062   24 0.4862   23  1.025   23 -0.140   18  0.016
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.006 41.131   25 -0.118   25 -0.120   26 -0.116   26 0.4811   24  1.021   26 -0.200   23 -0.033
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.018 41.813   26 -0.122   26 -0.124   20 -0.063   25 0.4816   25  1.008   24 -0.161   16  0.035
KINGS          35 48 226 249 -0.018 41.161   27 -0.138   27 -0.137   21 -0.069   27 0.4789   32  0.856   30 -0.338    3  0.200
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.015 40.890   28 -0.155   28 -0.147   30 -0.187   28 0.4774   31  0.928   32 -0.376   20  0.003
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.019 40.709   29 -0.157   29 -0.151   27 -0.136   29 0.4769   26  0.994   28 -0.250   22 -0.022
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.017 41.885   30 -0.174   30 -0.164   28 -0.141   30 0.4757    4  1.235   15  0.042   30 -0.323
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 -0.012 41.052   31 -0.242   31 -0.243   31 -0.221   31 0.4628   28  0.984   31 -0.347   24 -0.094
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.017 41.095   32 -0.309   32 -0.325   32 -0.385   32 0.4507   10  1.158   29 -0.301   32 -0.469

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          43 39 273 288 -0.028 40.395   15  0.011   15  0.020   24 -0.104   14 0.5028    1  1.284   10  0.143   31 -0.352
OILERS         41 41 282 269 -0.026 40.228   20 -0.010   20 -0.016   14  0.040   20 0.4971    3  1.247    6  0.238   27 -0.158
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 40 43 269 252 -0.020 40.891   21 -0.029   21 -0.041   13  0.045   21 0.4931   17  1.085   17  0.039   13  0.051
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.021 40.692   22 -0.045   22 -0.053   29 -0.169   22 0.4916    5  1.212   18 -0.016   29 -0.322
KINGS          35 48 226 249 -0.018 41.161   27 -0.138   27 -0.137   21 -0.069   27 0.4789   32  0.856   30 -0.338    3  0.200
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.015 40.890   28 -0.155   28 -0.147   30 -0.187   28 0.4774   31  0.928   32 -0.376   20  0.003
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.019 40.709   29 -0.157   29 -0.151   27 -0.136   29 0.4769   26  0.994   28 -0.250   22 -0.022
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.017 41.095   32 -0.309   32 -0.325   32 -0.385   32 0.4507   10  1.158   29 -0.301   32 -0.469

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      56 27 304 204 -0.014 40.661    1  0.267    1  0.273    1  0.383    1 0.5404   21  1.032    2  0.312    1  0.453
STARS          50 33 280 232 -0.005 41.229    5  0.173    5  0.161    5  0.164    6 0.5235   19  1.056   12  0.123    2  0.205
WILD           47 36 278 241 -0.007 41.172    7  0.095    7  0.100    6  0.143    7 0.5147   18  1.082   11  0.133    6  0.153
MAMMOTH        43 40 270 244 -0.008 41.276   14  0.017   14  0.023   12  0.053   15 0.5028   15  1.102   14  0.067   15  0.038
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.008 41.042   23 -0.053   23 -0.064   23 -0.094   23 0.4897   14  1.120   20 -0.057   25 -0.130
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.016 40.712   24 -0.076   24 -0.087   19 -0.062   24 0.4862   23  1.025   23 -0.140   18  0.016
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.006 41.131   25 -0.118   25 -0.120   26 -0.116   26 0.4811   24  1.021   26 -0.200   23 -0.033
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.012 41.052   31 -0.242   31 -0.243   31 -0.221   31 0.4628   28  0.984   31 -0.347   24 -0.094

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     54 29 298 240  0.009 41.691    2  0.248    2  0.249    3  0.202    2 0.5377    9  1.164    3  0.293    8  0.110
FLYERS         44 39 253 245  0.018 42.187   10  0.049    9  0.059   15  0.031   10 0.5092   29  0.975   21 -0.106    4  0.168
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.007 41.251   11  0.036   12  0.041   11  0.092   11 0.5073   16  1.101   13  0.104   10  0.079
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.010 41.501   12  0.034   11  0.044   17 -0.024   12 0.5073   30  0.942   25 -0.198    7  0.151
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.018 41.869   13  0.020   13  0.030   25 -0.111   13 0.5050   27  0.989   27 -0.231   19  0.009
PENGUINS       41 42 295 271  0.010 41.853   17  0.001   17 -0.003   10  0.100   17 0.5004    2  1.273    1  0.333   26 -0.132
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.015 41.643   18 -0.007   19 -0.010   16 -0.006   18 0.4992   20  1.054   19 -0.050   14  0.039
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.018 41.813   26 -0.122   26 -0.124   20 -0.063   25 0.4816   25  1.008   24 -0.161   16  0.035

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         51 32 292 244  0.013 41.839    3  0.207    3  0.193    4  0.184    3 0.5296    8  1.166    4  0.278    9  0.090
LIGHTNING      50 33 293 235  0.013 41.840    4  0.187    4  0.172    2  0.212    4 0.5271   11  1.137    5  0.269    5  0.155
CANADIENS      49 34 287 259  0.022 42.208    6  0.169    6  0.159    8  0.112    5 0.5242    7  1.185    7  0.230   21 -0.006
BRUINS         45 38 275 254  0.023 42.271    8  0.072    8  0.081    9  0.101    8 0.5131   13  1.125    9  0.144   12  0.057
SENATORS       44 39 278 248  0.013 41.889    9  0.050   10  0.057    7  0.128    9 0.5094   12  1.133    8  0.181   11  0.076
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.014 41.686   16  0.006   16  0.010   18 -0.046   16 0.5017   22  1.030   22 -0.119   17  0.027
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.017 41.800   19 -0.007   18 -0.009   22 -0.078   19 0.4990    6  1.186   16  0.042   28 -0.198
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.017 41.885   30 -0.174   30 -0.164   28 -0.141   30 0.4757    4  1.235   15  0.042   30 -0.323

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     352 309 0.533    1  0.081
CENTRAL DIVISION      335 325 0.508    2  0.041
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 341 318 0.517    3  0.038
PACIFIC DIVISION      291 367 0.442    4 -0.164

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.057 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: Mon Apr 20 05:30:11 2026
games through: Sun Apr 19 2026

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