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 -0.012 45.017    1  0.312    1  0.317    1  0.399    1 0.5442   19  1.067    1  0.374    1  0.424
HURRICANES     61 29 320 250  0.009 45.488    2  0.297    2  0.304    2  0.233    2 0.5441   11  1.121    4  0.274    4  0.193
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.023 48.652    3  0.212    3  0.185    4  0.189    3 0.5278    7  1.163    2  0.282    9  0.097
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.397    4  0.193    5  0.169    3  0.205    4 0.5264   17  1.080    8  0.195    3  0.215
CANADIENS      56 40 326 294  0.048 50.140    5  0.191    4  0.173    7  0.136    5 0.5253    9  1.149    6  0.211   13  0.060
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.001 44.273    6  0.161    6  0.149    6  0.151    6 0.5211   21  1.053   11  0.110    5  0.193
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.026 47.674    7  0.094    7  0.095    5  0.152    7 0.5134   10  1.124    7  0.196    8  0.108
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.029 45.384    8  0.067    8  0.072   11  0.074    8 0.5118   16  1.104   13  0.093   14  0.054
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.000 41.318    9  0.036   10  0.035    9  0.086    9 0.5067   15  1.107   12  0.109   12  0.062
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.003 41.567   10  0.034    9  0.038   17 -0.031   10 0.5067   29  0.947   25 -0.196    7  0.134
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.016 43.853   12  0.029   12  0.027    8  0.114   11 0.5057   13  1.118    9  0.151   11  0.077
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.027 47.478   11  0.031   11  0.034   14  0.024   12 0.5055   31  0.916   24 -0.177    2  0.224
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.011 41.944   13  0.022   13  0.023   25 -0.119   13 0.5044   27  0.996   27 -0.229   20 -0.009
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.024 46.772   14  0.015   14  0.016   24 -0.111   14 0.5014    1  1.276   10  0.128   31 -0.350
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.007 41.733   16  0.008   16  0.003   18 -0.054   15 0.5010   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.008
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.036   15  0.014   15  0.009   13  0.041   16 0.5005   14  1.117   14  0.076   18  0.006
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.006 44.582   17 -0.001   18 -0.017   10  0.076   17 0.4987    3  1.248    3  0.279   25 -0.127
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.008 41.717   18 -0.005   19 -0.017   16 -0.013   18 0.4986   20  1.060   19 -0.047   15  0.022
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.009 41.863   19 -0.005   17 -0.016   22 -0.086   19 0.4983    6  1.192   17  0.044   28 -0.217
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 47 47 309 281 -0.030 46.265   20 -0.006   20 -0.022   12  0.061   20 0.4973   18  1.074   15  0.045   10  0.078
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 43.029   21 -0.028   21 -0.047   15  0.014   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.235   27 -0.207
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.764   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.178   22 0.4910    5  1.214   18 -0.020   29 -0.336
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.014 41.118   23 -0.056   23 -0.071   23 -0.102   23 0.4890   12  1.121   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.023 40.775   24 -0.080   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4855   23  1.027   22 -0.142   19  0.003
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.011 41.886   26 -0.129   26 -0.133   20 -0.071   25 0.4810   25  1.015   23 -0.158   16  0.016
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.013 41.205   25 -0.125   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4805   24  1.022   26 -0.204   23 -0.045
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.958   27 -0.161   27 -0.156   30 -0.196   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.380   21 -0.012
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.007 43.362   29 -0.165   29 -0.162   21 -0.086   28 0.4763   32  0.847   31 -0.362    6  0.190
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.776   28 -0.163   28 -0.160   27 -0.145   29 0.4763   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.036
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.963   30 -0.178   30 -0.174   28 -0.149   30 0.4750    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.342
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 -0.018 41.121   31 -0.245   31 -0.254   31 -0.230   31 0.4621   28  0.985   30 -0.353   24 -0.107
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.152   32 -0.320   32 -0.337   32 -0.397   32 0.4500    8  1.160   29 -0.307   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
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.024 46.772   14  0.015   14  0.016   24 -0.111   14 0.5014    1  1.276   10  0.128   31 -0.350
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 47 47 309 281 -0.030 46.265   20 -0.006   20 -0.022   12  0.061   20 0.4973   18  1.074   15  0.045   10  0.078
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 43.029   21 -0.028   21 -0.047   15  0.014   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.235   27 -0.207
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.764   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.178   22 0.4910    5  1.214   18 -0.020   29 -0.336
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.958   27 -0.161   27 -0.156   30 -0.196   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.380   21 -0.012
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.007 43.362   29 -0.165   29 -0.162   21 -0.086   28 0.4763   32  0.847   31 -0.362    6  0.190
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.776   28 -0.163   28 -0.160   27 -0.145   29 0.4763   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.036
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.152   32 -0.320   32 -0.337   32 -0.397   32 0.4500    8  1.160   29 -0.307   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 -0.012 45.017    1  0.312    1  0.317    1  0.399    1 0.5442   19  1.067    1  0.374    1  0.424
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.001 44.273    6  0.161    6  0.149    6  0.151    6 0.5211   21  1.053   11  0.110    5  0.193
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.026 47.674    7  0.094    7  0.095    5  0.152    7 0.5134   10  1.124    7  0.196    8  0.108
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.010 44.036   15  0.014   15  0.009   13  0.041   16 0.5005   14  1.117   14  0.076   18  0.006
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.014 41.118   23 -0.056   23 -0.071   23 -0.102   23 0.4890   12  1.121   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.023 40.775   24 -0.080   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4855   23  1.027   22 -0.142   19  0.003
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.013 41.205   25 -0.125   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4805   24  1.022   26 -0.204   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.018 41.121   31 -0.245   31 -0.254   31 -0.230   31 0.4621   28  0.985   30 -0.353   24 -0.107

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     61 29 320 250  0.009 45.488    2  0.297    2  0.304    2  0.233    2 0.5441   11  1.121    4  0.274    4  0.193
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.000 41.318    9  0.036   10  0.035    9  0.086    9 0.5067   15  1.107   12  0.109   12  0.062
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.003 41.567   10  0.034    9  0.038   17 -0.031   10 0.5067   29  0.947   25 -0.196    7  0.134
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.027 47.478   11  0.031   11  0.034   14  0.024   12 0.5055   31  0.916   24 -0.177    2  0.224
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.011 41.944   13  0.022   13  0.023   25 -0.119   13 0.5044   27  0.996   27 -0.229   20 -0.009
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.006 44.582   17 -0.001   18 -0.017   10  0.076   17 0.4987    3  1.248    3  0.279   25 -0.127
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.008 41.717   18 -0.005   19 -0.017   16 -0.013   18 0.4986   20  1.060   19 -0.047   15  0.022
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.011 41.886   26 -0.129   26 -0.133   20 -0.071   25 0.4810   25  1.015   23 -0.158   16  0.016

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         57 38 331 280  0.023 48.652    3  0.212    3  0.185    4  0.189    3 0.5278    7  1.163    2  0.282    9  0.097
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.397    4  0.193    5  0.169    3  0.205    4 0.5264   17  1.080    8  0.195    3  0.215
CANADIENS      56 40 326 294  0.048 50.140    5  0.191    4  0.173    7  0.136    5 0.5253    9  1.149    6  0.211   13  0.060
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.029 45.384    8  0.067    8  0.072   11  0.074    8 0.5118   16  1.104   13  0.093   14  0.054
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.016 43.853   12  0.029   12  0.027    8  0.114   11 0.5057   13  1.118    9  0.151   11  0.077
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.007 41.733   16  0.008   16  0.003   18 -0.054   15 0.5010   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.008
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.009 41.863   19 -0.005   17 -0.016   22 -0.086   19 0.4983    6  1.192   17  0.044   28 -0.217
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.963   30 -0.178   30 -0.174   28 -0.149   30 0.4750    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.342

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     370 330 0.529    1  0.072
CENTRAL DIVISION      350 338 0.509    2  0.035
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 353 327 0.519    3  0.032
PACIFIC DIVISION      306 384 0.443    4 -0.172

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.048 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 May 19 05:30:08 2026
games through: Mon May 18 2026

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