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 17 203 134  0.000 25.711    1  0.209    1  0.192    1  0.325    1 0.5433   13  1.126    1  0.376    2  0.274
LIGHTNING      34 18 183 131  0.001 25.847    2  0.182    2  0.169    2  0.218    2 0.5385   21  1.039   10  0.164    3  0.272
HURRICANES     33 20 185 154 -0.005 26.348    3  0.140    3  0.135    4  0.118    3 0.5308   12  1.134    8  0.179   13  0.056
SABRES         31 22 183 160 -0.004 26.420    4  0.087    4  0.092    6  0.084    4 0.5210    8  1.180    5  0.204   17 -0.035
BRUINS         32 23 186 171 -0.004 27.438    5  0.084    5  0.091    8  0.064    5 0.5195    7  1.186    7  0.191   21 -0.063
RED WINGS      32 23 171 166 -0.016 27.271    6  0.076    6  0.086   16  0.005    6 0.5182   22  1.036   21 -0.053   11  0.062
STARS          31 23 181 151 -0.013 26.685    7  0.067    7  0.077    3  0.119    7 0.5171   20  1.059   14  0.088    6  0.151
ISLANDERS      30 24 157 149  0.014 27.357    9  0.056    9  0.069   10  0.045    8 0.5154   30  0.909   24 -0.159    4  0.250
CANADIENS      30 24 187 180  0.015 27.395    8  0.056    8  0.069   14  0.031    9 0.5128    3  1.244    3  0.233   27 -0.171
WILD           31 24 179 158 -0.022 27.009   10  0.051   10  0.062    5  0.098   10 0.5123   23  1.028   17  0.030    5  0.165
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS       28 25 164 174  0.016 27.018   11  0.029   11  0.039   20 -0.032   11 0.5087    9  1.172   16  0.077   24 -0.141
DEVILS         28 26 144 165  0.034 27.983   12  0.026   12  0.037   26 -0.081   12 0.5084   29  0.914   29 -0.279   10  0.117
MAMMOTH        28 26 171 151  0.005 27.146   15  0.019   15  0.023    9  0.057   13 0.5062   25  1.014   19 -0.027    8  0.140
SHARKS         27 25 164 180  0.023 26.706   13  0.024   13  0.033   25 -0.072   14 0.5059    6  1.221   13  0.099   30 -0.244
DUCKS          28 26 177 190  0.015 27.554   14  0.020   14  0.028   24 -0.067   15 0.5057    1  1.291    6  0.198   32 -0.332
PENGUINS       27 25 175 154 -0.039 25.202   16  0.006   16  0.005    7  0.082   16 0.5022   15  1.112   12  0.116   14  0.047
OILERS         28 27 190 178 -0.030 26.894   17 -0.001   17 -0.004   12  0.042   17 0.4989    4  1.244    2  0.243   26 -0.160
BLUE JACKETS   25 27 163 172  0.023 26.665   18 -0.008   18 -0.011   21 -0.043   18 0.4968   11  1.140   18  0.026   23 -0.113
CAPITALS       26 29 175 167 -0.004 27.478   20 -0.022   20 -0.034   11  0.045   19 0.4948   14  1.113   15  0.080   15  0.010
SENATORS       25 28 179 176  0.003 26.660   19 -0.020   19 -0.030   15  0.014   20 0.4935    2  1.253    4  0.227   28 -0.200
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 25 28 177 169 -0.016 26.215   21 -0.028   21 -0.039   13  0.036   21 0.4933   10  1.150   11  0.117   19 -0.045
FLYERS         24 29 160 173  0.017 27.060   23 -0.033   23 -0.044   22 -0.048   22 0.4910   18  1.085   20 -0.047   20 -0.049
KRAKEN         25 28 153 157 -0.028 26.060   22 -0.032   22 -0.044   17 -0.012   23 0.4907   27  0.950   25 -0.170    7  0.146
MAPLE LEAFS    24 30 176 188  0.008 27.332   25 -0.044   25 -0.058   19 -0.028   24 0.4877    5  1.239    9  0.168   29 -0.223
PREDATORS      24 29 152 180  0.004 26.896   24 -0.040   24 -0.049   28 -0.122   25 0.4867   17  1.109   23 -0.092   25 -0.151
KINGS          22 30 138 148  0.008 26.334   26 -0.067   26 -0.080   18 -0.027   26 0.4818   32  0.767   31 -0.382    1  0.329
RANGERS        22 33 146 172  0.033 28.513   27 -0.089   27 -0.098   29 -0.123   27 0.4797   28  0.930   30 -0.304   12  0.058
JETS           21 32 154 165  0.000 26.711   28 -0.111   28 -0.116   23 -0.064   28 0.4738   19  1.068   22 -0.083   18 -0.044
FLAMES         21 32 133 160 -0.030 26.139   29 -0.132   29 -0.129   30 -0.136   29 0.4710   31  0.864   32 -0.389    9  0.118
BLACKHAWKS     21 33 146 174 -0.022 26.795   30 -0.137   30 -0.134   27 -0.116   30 0.4696   26  0.988   27 -0.230   16 -0.002
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          20 34 135 187 -0.016 27.013   31 -0.163   31 -0.153   31 -0.179   31 0.4660   24  1.020   28 -0.256   22 -0.101
CANUCKS        18 36 143 196 -0.010 27.223   32 -0.206   32 -0.192   32 -0.230   32 0.4601   16  1.111   26 -0.197   31 -0.263

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
SHARKS         27 25 164 180  0.023 26.706   13  0.024   13  0.033   25 -0.072   14 0.5059    6  1.221   13  0.099   30 -0.244
DUCKS          28 26 177 190  0.015 27.554   14  0.020   14  0.028   24 -0.067   15 0.5057    1  1.291    6  0.198   32 -0.332
OILERS         28 27 190 178 -0.030 26.894   17 -0.001   17 -0.004   12  0.042   17 0.4989    4  1.244    2  0.243   26 -0.160
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 25 28 177 169 -0.016 26.215   21 -0.028   21 -0.039   13  0.036   21 0.4933   10  1.150   11  0.117   19 -0.045
KRAKEN         25 28 153 157 -0.028 26.060   22 -0.032   22 -0.044   17 -0.012   23 0.4907   27  0.950   25 -0.170    7  0.146
KINGS          22 30 138 148  0.008 26.334   26 -0.067   26 -0.080   18 -0.027   26 0.4818   32  0.767   31 -0.382    1  0.329
FLAMES         21 32 133 160 -0.030 26.139   29 -0.132   29 -0.129   30 -0.136   29 0.4710   31  0.864   32 -0.389    9  0.118
CANUCKS        18 36 143 196 -0.010 27.223   32 -0.206   32 -0.192   32 -0.230   32 0.4601   16  1.111   26 -0.197   31 -0.263

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 17 203 134  0.000 25.711    1  0.209    1  0.192    1  0.325    1 0.5433   13  1.126    1  0.376    2  0.274
STARS          31 23 181 151 -0.013 26.685    7  0.067    7  0.077    3  0.119    7 0.5171   20  1.059   14  0.088    6  0.151
WILD           31 24 179 158 -0.022 27.009   10  0.051   10  0.062    5  0.098   10 0.5123   23  1.028   17  0.030    5  0.165
MAMMOTH        28 26 171 151  0.005 27.146   15  0.019   15  0.023    9  0.057   13 0.5062   25  1.014   19 -0.027    8  0.140
PREDATORS      24 29 152 180  0.004 26.896   24 -0.040   24 -0.049   28 -0.122   25 0.4867   17  1.109   23 -0.092   25 -0.151
JETS           21 32 154 165  0.000 26.711   28 -0.111   28 -0.116   23 -0.064   28 0.4738   19  1.068   22 -0.083   18 -0.044
BLACKHAWKS     21 33 146 174 -0.022 26.795   30 -0.137   30 -0.134   27 -0.116   30 0.4696   26  0.988   27 -0.230   16 -0.002
BLUES          20 34 135 187 -0.016 27.013   31 -0.163   31 -0.153   31 -0.179   31 0.4660   24  1.020   28 -0.256   22 -0.101

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     33 20 185 154 -0.005 26.348    3  0.140    3  0.135    4  0.118    3 0.5308   12  1.134    8  0.179   13  0.056
ISLANDERS      30 24 157 149  0.014 27.357    9  0.056    9  0.069   10  0.045    8 0.5154   30  0.909   24 -0.159    4  0.250
DEVILS         28 26 144 165  0.034 27.983   12  0.026   12  0.037   26 -0.081   12 0.5084   29  0.914   29 -0.279   10  0.117
PENGUINS       27 25 175 154 -0.039 25.202   16  0.006   16  0.005    7  0.082   16 0.5022   15  1.112   12  0.116   14  0.047
BLUE JACKETS   25 27 163 172  0.023 26.665   18 -0.008   18 -0.011   21 -0.043   18 0.4968   11  1.140   18  0.026   23 -0.113
CAPITALS       26 29 175 167 -0.004 27.478   20 -0.022   20 -0.034   11  0.045   19 0.4948   14  1.113   15  0.080   15  0.010
FLYERS         24 29 160 173  0.017 27.060   23 -0.033   23 -0.044   22 -0.048   22 0.4910   18  1.085   20 -0.047   20 -0.049
RANGERS        22 33 146 172  0.033 28.513   27 -0.089   27 -0.098   29 -0.123   27 0.4797   28  0.930   30 -0.304   12  0.058

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      34 18 183 131  0.001 25.847    2  0.182    2  0.169    2  0.218    2 0.5385   21  1.039   10  0.164    3  0.272
SABRES         31 22 183 160 -0.004 26.420    4  0.087    4  0.092    6  0.084    4 0.5210    8  1.180    5  0.204   17 -0.035
BRUINS         32 23 186 171 -0.004 27.438    5  0.084    5  0.091    8  0.064    5 0.5195    7  1.186    7  0.191   21 -0.063
RED WINGS      32 23 171 166 -0.016 27.271    6  0.076    6  0.086   16  0.005    6 0.5182   22  1.036   21 -0.053   11  0.062
CANADIENS      30 24 187 180  0.015 27.395    8  0.056    8  0.069   14  0.031    9 0.5128    3  1.244    3  0.233   27 -0.171
PANTHERS       28 25 164 174  0.016 27.018   11  0.029   11  0.039   20 -0.032   11 0.5087    9  1.172   16  0.077   24 -0.141
SENATORS       25 28 179 176  0.003 26.660   19 -0.020   19 -0.030   15  0.014   20 0.4935    2  1.253    4  0.227   28 -0.200
MAPLE LEAFS    24 30 176 188  0.008 27.332   25 -0.044   25 -0.058   19 -0.028   24 0.4877    5  1.239    9  0.168   29 -0.223

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     236 193 0.550    1  0.080
CENTRAL DIVISION      211 218 0.492    2  0.024
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 215 213 0.502    3 -0.001
PACIFIC DIVISION      194 232 0.455    4 -0.105

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.063 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: Fri Jan 30 05:30:10 2026
games through: Thu Jan 29 2026

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