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      63 28 339 226 -0.011 45.012    1  0.312    1  0.317    1  0.399    1 0.5443   19  1.068    1  0.375    1  0.423
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.027 47.471   11  0.031   11  0.035   14  0.024   12 0.5056   31  0.916   24 -0.176    2  0.224
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.423    4  0.193    5  0.170    3  0.206    4 0.5264   17  1.081    7  0.198    3  0.214
HURRICANES     61 29 320 250  0.009 45.484    2  0.296    2  0.304    2  0.234    2 0.5442   11  1.121    3  0.275    4  0.193
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.267    6  0.161    6  0.149    6  0.152    6 0.5211   21  1.054   11  0.111    5  0.193
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.007 43.356   29 -0.165   29 -0.162   21 -0.085   28 0.4764   32  0.847   31 -0.361    6  0.190
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.003 41.563   10  0.034    9  0.038   17 -0.031   10 0.5067   29  0.948   25 -0.195    7  0.134
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.027 47.669    7  0.094    7  0.095    5  0.152    7 0.5135   10  1.124    8  0.197    8  0.108
SABRES         56 37 321 274  0.021 47.535    3  0.211    3  0.186    4  0.179    3 0.5279    8  1.156    4  0.263    9  0.095
CANADIENS      55 39 320 284  0.043 48.886    5  0.190    4  0.172    7  0.145    5 0.5253    9  1.141    6  0.211   10  0.079
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 47 47 309 281 -0.030 46.259   20 -0.006   20 -0.021   12  0.062   20 0.4974   18  1.074   17  0.046   11  0.078
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.017 43.852   12  0.029   12  0.028    8  0.114   11 0.5057   13  1.118    9  0.152   12  0.076
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.000 41.314    9  0.036   10  0.036    9  0.086    9 0.5067   15  1.107   12  0.110   13  0.062
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.029 45.350    8  0.067    8  0.072   11  0.073    8 0.5118   16  1.105   13  0.095   14  0.052
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.008 41.712   18 -0.005   19 -0.017   16 -0.012   18 0.4986   20  1.060   19 -0.046   15  0.021
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.011 41.882   26 -0.129   26 -0.132   20 -0.070   25 0.4810   25  1.016   23 -0.156   16  0.016
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.007 41.729   16  0.008   16  0.003   18 -0.054   15 0.5011   22  1.036   21 -0.115   17  0.008
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.030   15  0.014   15  0.010   13  0.042   16 0.5006   14  1.117   14  0.077   18  0.006
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.023 40.769   24 -0.080   24 -0.094   19 -0.069   24 0.4855   23  1.027   22 -0.141   19  0.003
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.011 41.939   13  0.022   13  0.024   25 -0.118   13 0.5044   27  0.996   27 -0.227   20 -0.009
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.953   27 -0.161   27 -0.156   30 -0.195   27 0.4768   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.012
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.771   28 -0.163   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   29 0.4763   26  0.997   28 -0.252   22 -0.036
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.012 41.200   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.124   26 0.4805   24  1.022   26 -0.203   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.018 41.117   31 -0.245   31 -0.253   31 -0.229   31 0.4622   28  0.985   30 -0.351   24 -0.107
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.007 44.578   17 -0.001   18 -0.016   10  0.076   17 0.4988    3  1.248    2  0.280   25 -0.127
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.014 41.112   23 -0.055   23 -0.071   23 -0.101   23 0.4891   12  1.121   20 -0.060   26 -0.142
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.039 43.024   21 -0.027   21 -0.047   15  0.015   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.236   27 -0.207
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.010 41.853   19 -0.005   17 -0.016   22 -0.086   19 0.4983    6  1.193   16  0.046   28 -0.217
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.759   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.178   22 0.4910    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.337
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.011 41.958   30 -0.179   30 -0.173   28 -0.148   30 0.4751    4  1.241   15  0.046   30 -0.343
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.023 46.764   14  0.015   14  0.016   24 -0.111   14 0.5014    1  1.276   10  0.129   31 -0.351
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.147   32 -0.320   32 -0.337   32 -0.396   32 0.4501    7  1.160   29 -0.306   32 -0.486

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
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.007 43.356   29 -0.165   29 -0.162   21 -0.085   28 0.4764   32  0.847   31 -0.361    6  0.190
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 47 47 309 281 -0.030 46.259   20 -0.006   20 -0.021   12  0.062   20 0.4974   18  1.074   17  0.046   11  0.078
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.953   27 -0.161   27 -0.156   30 -0.195   27 0.4768   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.012
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.771   28 -0.163   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   29 0.4763   26  0.997   28 -0.252   22 -0.036
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.039 43.024   21 -0.027   21 -0.047   15  0.015   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.236   27 -0.207
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.759   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.178   22 0.4910    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.337
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.023 46.764   14  0.015   14  0.016   24 -0.111   14 0.5014    1  1.276   10  0.129   31 -0.351
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.147   32 -0.320   32 -0.337   32 -0.396   32 0.4501    7  1.160   29 -0.306   32 -0.486

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      63 28 339 226 -0.011 45.012    1  0.312    1  0.317    1  0.399    1 0.5443   19  1.068    1  0.375    1  0.423
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.267    6  0.161    6  0.149    6  0.152    6 0.5211   21  1.054   11  0.111    5  0.193
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.027 47.669    7  0.094    7  0.095    5  0.152    7 0.5135   10  1.124    8  0.197    8  0.108
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.030   15  0.014   15  0.010   13  0.042   16 0.5006   14  1.117   14  0.077   18  0.006
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.023 40.769   24 -0.080   24 -0.094   19 -0.069   24 0.4855   23  1.027   22 -0.141   19  0.003
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.012 41.200   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.124   26 0.4805   24  1.022   26 -0.203   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.018 41.117   31 -0.245   31 -0.253   31 -0.229   31 0.4622   28  0.985   30 -0.351   24 -0.107
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.014 41.112   23 -0.055   23 -0.071   23 -0.101   23 0.4891   12  1.121   20 -0.060   26 -0.142

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
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.027 47.471   11  0.031   11  0.035   14  0.024   12 0.5056   31  0.916   24 -0.176    2  0.224
HURRICANES     61 29 320 250  0.009 45.484    2  0.296    2  0.304    2  0.234    2 0.5442   11  1.121    3  0.275    4  0.193
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.003 41.563   10  0.034    9  0.038   17 -0.031   10 0.5067   29  0.948   25 -0.195    7  0.134
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.000 41.314    9  0.036   10  0.036    9  0.086    9 0.5067   15  1.107   12  0.110   13  0.062
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.008 41.712   18 -0.005   19 -0.017   16 -0.012   18 0.4986   20  1.060   19 -0.046   15  0.021
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.011 41.882   26 -0.129   26 -0.132   20 -0.070   25 0.4810   25  1.016   23 -0.156   16  0.016
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.011 41.939   13  0.022   13  0.024   25 -0.118   13 0.5044   27  0.996   27 -0.227   20 -0.009
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.007 44.578   17 -0.001   18 -0.016   10  0.076   17 0.4988    3  1.248    2  0.280   25 -0.127

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      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.423    4  0.193    5  0.170    3  0.206    4 0.5264   17  1.081    7  0.198    3  0.214
SABRES         56 37 321 274  0.021 47.535    3  0.211    3  0.186    4  0.179    3 0.5279    8  1.156    4  0.263    9  0.095
CANADIENS      55 39 320 284  0.043 48.886    5  0.190    4  0.172    7  0.145    5 0.5253    9  1.141    6  0.211   10  0.079
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.017 43.852   12  0.029   12  0.028    8  0.114   11 0.5057   13  1.118    9  0.152   12  0.076
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.029 45.350    8  0.067    8  0.072   11  0.073    8 0.5118   16  1.105   13  0.095   14  0.052
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.007 41.729   16  0.008   16  0.003   18 -0.054   15 0.5011   22  1.036   21 -0.115   17  0.008
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.010 41.853   19 -0.005   17 -0.016   22 -0.086   19 0.4983    6  1.193   16  0.046   28 -0.217
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.011 41.958   30 -0.179   30 -0.173   28 -0.148   30 0.4751    4  1.241   15  0.046   30 -0.343

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     368 328 0.529    1  0.073
CENTRAL DIVISION      350 338 0.509    2  0.035
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 353 327 0.519    3  0.033
PACIFIC DIVISION      306 384 0.443    4 -0.171

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.049 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: Fri May 15 05:30:12 2026
games through: Thu May 14 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.