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      61 27 329 216 -0.018 43.208    1  0.307    1  0.311    1  0.407    1 0.5441   19  1.062    1  0.376    1  0.438
HURRICANES     59 29 313 247  0.010 44.435    2  0.286    2  0.290    2  0.225    2 0.5424   10  1.130    3  0.277    6  0.172
SABRES         54 34 308 253  0.013 44.600    3  0.220    3  0.197    4  0.205    3 0.5296    8  1.145    4  0.276    8  0.135
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.329    4  0.193    4  0.169    3  0.206    4 0.5265   18  1.082    6  0.199    3  0.212
CANADIENS      52 37 299 271  0.034 45.921    5  0.174    5  0.161    7  0.118    5 0.5240    9  1.132    8  0.173   12  0.063
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.237    6  0.161    6  0.151    5  0.153    6 0.5213   21  1.054   11  0.112    4  0.193
WILD           50 40 303 269  0.013 45.597    7  0.095    7  0.098    6  0.143    7 0.5141   12  1.120    7  0.183    9  0.103
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.033 45.429    8  0.068    8  0.075   11  0.077    8 0.5121   16  1.106   13  0.099   13  0.055
FLYERS         47 43 268 260  0.024 46.230    9  0.043    9  0.052   14  0.035    9 0.5077   31  0.925   24 -0.155    2  0.225
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.002 41.319   10  0.036   11  0.037    9  0.088   10 0.5069   15  1.107   12  0.112   11  0.064
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.005 41.568   11  0.034   10  0.040   17 -0.029   11 0.5069   29  0.948   25 -0.193    7  0.136
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.018 43.822   12  0.028   12  0.029    8  0.115   12 0.5058   13  1.118   10  0.153   10  0.078
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.013 41.936   13  0.021   13  0.026   25 -0.116   13 0.5046   27  0.996   27 -0.226   20 -0.007
DUCKS          47 42 300 312 -0.027 44.077   14  0.019   14  0.025   24 -0.100   14 0.5032    1  1.288    9  0.157   31 -0.356
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.009 41.729   16  0.007   16  0.005   18 -0.052   15 0.5013   22  1.036   21 -0.113   17  0.009
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.009   15  0.013   15  0.011   13  0.043   16 0.5007   14  1.116   14  0.078   18  0.008
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.009 44.608   17 -0.001   17 -0.014   10  0.079   17 0.4991    3  1.248    2  0.282   25 -0.124
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.010 41.708   18 -0.005   19 -0.015   16 -0.010   18 0.4988   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.023
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.012 41.866   19 -0.006   18 -0.014   22 -0.084   19 0.4986    6  1.193   17  0.048   28 -0.215
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 44 45 291 269 -0.022 44.013   20 -0.011   20 -0.025   12  0.055   20 0.4959   17  1.088   15  0.055   14  0.054
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 -0.037 43.045   21 -0.027   21 -0.044   15  0.017   21 0.4944    2  1.260    5  0.237   27 -0.203
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.026 40.758   22 -0.046   22 -0.058   29 -0.176   22 0.4912    5  1.213   18 -0.018   29 -0.334
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.012 41.111   23 -0.055   23 -0.069   23 -0.099   23 0.4893   11  1.121   20 -0.059   26 -0.140
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.021 40.768   24 -0.079   24 -0.093   19 -0.067   24 0.4857   23  1.027   22 -0.140   19  0.005
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.013 41.883   26 -0.127   26 -0.131   20 -0.068   25 0.4812   25  1.015   23 -0.154   16  0.018
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.011 41.198   25 -0.123   25 -0.126   26 -0.122   26 0.4807   24  1.022   26 -0.201   23 -0.044
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.020 40.953   27 -0.160   27 -0.154   30 -0.194   27 0.4770   30  0.930   32 -0.377   21 -0.010
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.004 43.373   29 -0.163   29 -0.160   21 -0.083   28 0.4765   32  0.847   31 -0.359    5  0.192
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.024 40.771   28 -0.161   28 -0.158   27 -0.142   29 0.4765   26  0.996   28 -0.251   22 -0.034
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.012 41.958   30 -0.177   30 -0.171   28 -0.146   30 0.4753    4  1.241   16  0.048   30 -0.341
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 -0.016 41.112   31 -0.244   31 -0.251   31 -0.228   31 0.4624   28  0.984   30 -0.350   24 -0.105
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.022 41.151   32 -0.318   32 -0.335   32 -0.394   32 0.4503    7  1.160   29 -0.304   32 -0.484

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          47 42 300 312 -0.027 44.077   14  0.019   14  0.025   24 -0.100   14 0.5032    1  1.288    9  0.157   31 -0.356
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 44 45 291 269 -0.022 44.013   20 -0.011   20 -0.025   12  0.055   20 0.4959   17  1.088   15  0.055   14  0.054
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.037 43.045   21 -0.027   21 -0.044   15  0.017   21 0.4944    2  1.260    5  0.237   27 -0.203
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.026 40.758   22 -0.046   22 -0.058   29 -0.176   22 0.4912    5  1.213   18 -0.018   29 -0.334
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.020 40.953   27 -0.160   27 -0.154   30 -0.194   27 0.4770   30  0.930   32 -0.377   21 -0.010
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.004 43.373   29 -0.163   29 -0.160   21 -0.083   28 0.4765   32  0.847   31 -0.359    5  0.192
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.024 40.771   28 -0.161   28 -0.158   27 -0.142   29 0.4765   26  0.996   28 -0.251   22 -0.034
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.022 41.151   32 -0.318   32 -0.335   32 -0.394   32 0.4503    7  1.160   29 -0.304   32 -0.484

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      61 27 329 216 -0.018 43.208    1  0.307    1  0.311    1  0.407    1 0.5441   19  1.062    1  0.376    1  0.438
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.002 44.237    6  0.161    6  0.151    5  0.153    6 0.5213   21  1.054   11  0.112    4  0.193
WILD           50 40 303 269  0.013 45.597    7  0.095    7  0.098    6  0.143    7 0.5141   12  1.120    7  0.183    9  0.103
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.009   15  0.013   15  0.011   13  0.043   16 0.5007   14  1.116   14  0.078   18  0.008
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.012 41.111   23 -0.055   23 -0.069   23 -0.099   23 0.4893   11  1.121   20 -0.059   26 -0.140
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.021 40.768   24 -0.079   24 -0.093   19 -0.067   24 0.4857   23  1.027   22 -0.140   19  0.005
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.011 41.198   25 -0.123   25 -0.126   26 -0.122   26 0.4807   24  1.022   26 -0.201   23 -0.044
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.016 41.112   31 -0.244   31 -0.251   31 -0.228   31 0.4624   28  0.984   30 -0.350   24 -0.105

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     59 29 313 247  0.010 44.435    2  0.286    2  0.290    2  0.225    2 0.5424   10  1.130    3  0.277    6  0.172
FLYERS         47 43 268 260  0.024 46.230    9  0.043    9  0.052   14  0.035    9 0.5077   31  0.925   24 -0.155    2  0.225
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.002 41.319   10  0.036   11  0.037    9  0.088   10 0.5069   15  1.107   12  0.112   11  0.064
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.005 41.568   11  0.034   10  0.040   17 -0.029   11 0.5069   29  0.948   25 -0.193    7  0.136
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.013 41.936   13  0.021   13  0.026   25 -0.116   13 0.5046   27  0.996   27 -0.226   20 -0.007
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.009 44.608   17 -0.001   17 -0.014   10  0.079   17 0.4991    3  1.248    2  0.282   25 -0.124
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.010 41.708   18 -0.005   19 -0.015   16 -0.010   18 0.4988   20  1.060   19 -0.044   15  0.023
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.013 41.883   26 -0.127   26 -0.131   20 -0.068   25 0.4812   25  1.015   23 -0.154   16  0.018

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         54 34 308 253  0.013 44.600    3  0.220    3  0.197    4  0.205    3 0.5296    8  1.145    4  0.276    8  0.135
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.329    4  0.193    4  0.169    3  0.206    4 0.5265   18  1.082    6  0.199    3  0.212
CANADIENS      52 37 299 271  0.034 45.921    5  0.174    5  0.161    7  0.118    5 0.5240    9  1.132    8  0.173   12  0.063
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.033 45.429    8  0.068    8  0.075   11  0.077    8 0.5121   16  1.106   13  0.099   13  0.055
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.018 43.822   12  0.028   12  0.029    8  0.115   12 0.5058   13  1.118   10  0.153   10  0.078
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.009 41.729   16  0.007   16  0.005   18 -0.052   15 0.5013   22  1.036   21 -0.113   17  0.009
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.012 41.866   19 -0.006   18 -0.014   22 -0.084   19 0.4986    6  1.193   17  0.048   28 -0.215
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.012 41.958   30 -0.177   30 -0.171   28 -0.146   30 0.4753    4  1.241   16  0.048   30 -0.341

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     363 323 0.529    1  0.074
CENTRAL DIVISION      347 335 0.509    2  0.037
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 351 325 0.519    3  0.035
PACIFIC DIVISION      301 379 0.443    4 -0.169

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.053 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: Wed May  6 05:30:08 2026
games through: Tue May  5 2026

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