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      35 15 198 122 -0.004 24.643    1  0.230    1  0.220    1  0.362    1 0.5498   17  1.090    1  0.373    1  0.352
LIGHTNING      33 18 179 130  0.008 25.529    2  0.173    2  0.165    2  0.213    2 0.5381   20  1.051    7  0.176    3  0.249
HURRICANES     32 20 180 150 -0.002 25.965    3  0.129    3  0.129    3  0.119    3 0.5298   14  1.119    8  0.164   11  0.074
RED WINGS      32 21 167 159 -0.018 26.258    4  0.103    4  0.110   14  0.016    4 0.5237   21  1.043   19 -0.030   12  0.062
BRUINS         30 23 177 166  0.001 26.598    5  0.065    5  0.075    9  0.056    6 0.5161    7  1.189    6  0.189   22 -0.078
SABRES         29 22 172 155 -0.003 25.513    6  0.065    6  0.074    7  0.063    5 0.5174    8  1.163    9  0.164   18 -0.038
PANTHERS       28 23 157 165  0.025 26.207    7  0.054    7  0.066   18 -0.021    7 0.5148   10  1.150   16  0.064   23 -0.106
STARS          29 23 172 144 -0.015 25.707    8  0.050    8  0.058    4  0.117    8 0.5131   22  1.038   15  0.065    5  0.169
ISLANDERS      28 24 150 146  0.023 26.599    9  0.045    9  0.054   13  0.033    9 0.5122   30  0.915   24 -0.161    4  0.227
WILD           29 24 171 154 -0.013 26.266   10  0.041   10  0.047    5  0.090   11 0.5092   23  1.029   17  0.026    7  0.153
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CANADIENS      28 24 177 175  0.003 26.207   11  0.037   11  0.044   15  0.008   13 0.5080    4  1.243    4  0.213   28 -0.196
DUCKS          28 25 177 188  0.021 27.183   12  0.035   12  0.042   23 -0.053   12 0.5086    1  1.323    2  0.258   32 -0.363
DEVILS         27 25 138 159  0.041 27.139   13  0.034   13  0.041   25 -0.079   10 0.5094   29  0.918   28 -0.269   10  0.112
SHARKS         26 24 156 174  0.030 25.867   14  0.030   14  0.036   26 -0.083   14 0.5069    5  1.225   12  0.097   30 -0.263
MAMMOTH        27 25 163 143 -0.002 26.023   15  0.022   15  0.020   10  0.054   15 0.5055   25  0.990   21 -0.055    6  0.163
PENGUINS       26 25 169 152 -0.037 24.813   16  0.004   16 -0.005    6  0.069   16 0.5004   16  1.101   14  0.093   14  0.044
OILERS         27 27 186 175 -0.031 26.442   17 -0.004   17 -0.015   11  0.041   18 0.4961    3  1.251    3  0.255   26 -0.174
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 25 26 171 161 -0.021 25.169   18 -0.009   18 -0.021   12  0.040   17 0.4978    9  1.158   11  0.134   20 -0.054
BLUE JACKETS   24 27 158 169  0.025 26.257   19 -0.012   19 -0.021   22 -0.052   20 0.4946   13  1.130   18  0.008   24 -0.111
FLYERS         24 27 154 162  0.012 25.953   20 -0.017   20 -0.027   20 -0.034   19 0.4949   19  1.060   22 -0.059   17 -0.008
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PREDATORS      24 27 148 174  0.007 26.009   21 -0.020   21 -0.027   29 -0.119   23 0.4907   11  1.141   20 -0.046   27 -0.192
CAPITALS       25 28 170 159 -0.007 26.437   22 -0.025   22 -0.036    8  0.061   21 0.4940   15  1.110   13  0.095   15  0.026
MAPLE LEAFS    24 28 170 176  0.008 26.333   23 -0.029   23 -0.038   17 -0.006   22 0.4921    6  1.214   10  0.160   25 -0.172
SENATORS       24 28 174 174 -0.009 25.982   24 -0.037   24 -0.048   16 -0.005   24 0.4901    2  1.252    5  0.211   29 -0.221
KRAKEN         23 28 143 154 -0.027 25.148   25 -0.057   25 -0.068   21 -0.043   25 0.4860   27  0.941   26 -0.208    8  0.122
RANGERS        22 31 143 165  0.027 27.399   26 -0.076   26 -0.084   28 -0.113   26 0.4828   28  0.934   29 -0.285   13  0.059
KINGS          21 29 134 143  0.004 25.276   27 -0.077   27 -0.086   19 -0.026   27 0.4801   32  0.778   31 -0.367    2  0.315
BLACKHAWKS     21 31 141 164 -0.029 25.687   28 -0.120   28 -0.121   27 -0.106   28 0.4727   26  0.972   27 -0.235   16  0.023
JETS           20 31 149 158 -0.007 25.579   29 -0.123   29 -0.124   24 -0.060   30 0.4712   18  1.069   23 -0.076   19 -0.045
FLAMES         21 31 132 156 -0.039 25.494   30 -0.130   30 -0.126   30 -0.130   29 0.4721   31  0.869   32 -0.374    9  0.114
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          19 33 127 179 -0.017 26.047   31 -0.171   31 -0.159   31 -0.185   31 0.4647   24  0.991   30 -0.292   21 -0.078
CANUCKS        17 35 139 191 -0.006 26.360   32 -0.212   32 -0.197   32 -0.237   32 0.4583   12  1.140   25 -0.166   31 -0.309

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          28 25 177 188  0.021 27.183   12  0.035   12  0.042   23 -0.053   12 0.5086    1  1.323    2  0.258   32 -0.363
SHARKS         26 24 156 174  0.030 25.867   14  0.030   14  0.036   26 -0.083   14 0.5069    5  1.225   12  0.097   30 -0.263
OILERS         27 27 186 175 -0.031 26.442   17 -0.004   17 -0.015   11  0.041   18 0.4961    3  1.251    3  0.255   26 -0.174
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 25 26 171 161 -0.021 25.169   18 -0.009   18 -0.021   12  0.040   17 0.4978    9  1.158   11  0.134   20 -0.054
KRAKEN         23 28 143 154 -0.027 25.148   25 -0.057   25 -0.068   21 -0.043   25 0.4860   27  0.941   26 -0.208    8  0.122
KINGS          21 29 134 143  0.004 25.276   27 -0.077   27 -0.086   19 -0.026   27 0.4801   32  0.778   31 -0.367    2  0.315
FLAMES         21 31 132 156 -0.039 25.494   30 -0.130   30 -0.126   30 -0.130   29 0.4721   31  0.869   32 -0.374    9  0.114
CANUCKS        17 35 139 191 -0.006 26.360   32 -0.212   32 -0.197   32 -0.237   32 0.4583   12  1.140   25 -0.166   31 -0.309

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      35 15 198 122 -0.004 24.643    1  0.230    1  0.220    1  0.362    1 0.5498   17  1.090    1  0.373    1  0.352
STARS          29 23 172 144 -0.015 25.707    8  0.050    8  0.058    4  0.117    8 0.5131   22  1.038   15  0.065    5  0.169
WILD           29 24 171 154 -0.013 26.266   10  0.041   10  0.047    5  0.090   11 0.5092   23  1.029   17  0.026    7  0.153
MAMMOTH        27 25 163 143 -0.002 26.023   15  0.022   15  0.020   10  0.054   15 0.5055   25  0.990   21 -0.055    6  0.163
PREDATORS      24 27 148 174  0.007 26.009   21 -0.020   21 -0.027   29 -0.119   23 0.4907   11  1.141   20 -0.046   27 -0.192
BLACKHAWKS     21 31 141 164 -0.029 25.687   28 -0.120   28 -0.121   27 -0.106   28 0.4727   26  0.972   27 -0.235   16  0.023
JETS           20 31 149 158 -0.007 25.579   29 -0.123   29 -0.124   24 -0.060   30 0.4712   18  1.069   23 -0.076   19 -0.045
BLUES          19 33 127 179 -0.017 26.047   31 -0.171   31 -0.159   31 -0.185   31 0.4647   24  0.991   30 -0.292   21 -0.078

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     32 20 180 150 -0.002 25.965    3  0.129    3  0.129    3  0.119    3 0.5298   14  1.119    8  0.164   11  0.074
ISLANDERS      28 24 150 146  0.023 26.599    9  0.045    9  0.054   13  0.033    9 0.5122   30  0.915   24 -0.161    4  0.227
DEVILS         27 25 138 159  0.041 27.139   13  0.034   13  0.041   25 -0.079   10 0.5094   29  0.918   28 -0.269   10  0.112
PENGUINS       26 25 169 152 -0.037 24.813   16  0.004   16 -0.005    6  0.069   16 0.5004   16  1.101   14  0.093   14  0.044
BLUE JACKETS   24 27 158 169  0.025 26.257   19 -0.012   19 -0.021   22 -0.052   20 0.4946   13  1.130   18  0.008   24 -0.111
FLYERS         24 27 154 162  0.012 25.953   20 -0.017   20 -0.027   20 -0.034   19 0.4949   19  1.060   22 -0.059   17 -0.008
CAPITALS       25 28 170 159 -0.007 26.437   22 -0.025   22 -0.036    8  0.061   21 0.4940   15  1.110   13  0.095   15  0.026
RANGERS        22 31 143 165  0.027 27.399   26 -0.076   26 -0.084   28 -0.113   26 0.4828   28  0.934   29 -0.285   13  0.059

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      33 18 179 130  0.008 25.529    2  0.173    2  0.165    2  0.213    2 0.5381   20  1.051    7  0.176    3  0.249
RED WINGS      32 21 167 159 -0.018 26.258    4  0.103    4  0.110   14  0.016    4 0.5237   21  1.043   19 -0.030   12  0.062
BRUINS         30 23 177 166  0.001 26.598    5  0.065    5  0.075    9  0.056    6 0.5161    7  1.189    6  0.189   22 -0.078
SABRES         29 22 172 155 -0.003 25.513    6  0.065    6  0.074    7  0.063    5 0.5174    8  1.163    9  0.164   18 -0.038
PANTHERS       28 23 157 165  0.025 26.207    7  0.054    7  0.066   18 -0.021    7 0.5148   10  1.150   16  0.064   23 -0.106
CANADIENS      28 24 177 175  0.003 26.207   11  0.037   11  0.044   15  0.008   13 0.5080    4  1.243    4  0.213   28 -0.196
MAPLE LEAFS    24 28 170 176  0.008 26.333   23 -0.029   23 -0.038   17 -0.006   22 0.4921    6  1.214   10  0.160   25 -0.172
SENATORS       24 28 174 174 -0.009 25.982   24 -0.037   24 -0.048   16 -0.005   24 0.4901    2  1.252    5  0.211   29 -0.221

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     228 187 0.549    1  0.073
CENTRAL DIVISION      204 209 0.494    2  0.032
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 208 207 0.501    3  0.001
PACIFIC DIVISION      188 225 0.455    4 -0.109

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.051 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: Tue Jan 27 05:30:10 2026
games through: Mon Jan 26 2026

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