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      49 25 283 193 -0.005 36.611    1  0.245    1  0.238    1  0.358    1 0.5386   15  1.133    1  0.412    1  0.305
LIGHTNING      47 28 274 210  0.005 37.563    3  0.205    3  0.190    2  0.234    3 0.5321    7  1.168    2  0.332    6  0.136
CANADIENS      44 31 265 236  0.021 38.185    5  0.147    5  0.141    6  0.126    5 0.5228    4  1.214    3  0.282   23 -0.030
PENGUINS       38 38 266 244  0.015 38.533   15  0.009   15  0.009    8  0.106   15 0.5022    3  1.228    4  0.281   25 -0.069
OILERS         39 37 264 252 -0.025 37.410   18  0.003   18  0.005   13  0.041   19 0.5007    2  1.274    5  0.276   28 -0.193
HURRICANES     48 27 268 219  0.004 37.650    2  0.222    2  0.212    4  0.168    2 0.5348    8  1.167    6  0.264   10  0.072
SABRES         46 30 264 225  0.011 38.380    4  0.176    4  0.164    5  0.150    4 0.5278   12  1.158    7  0.234   11  0.065
SENATORS       39 36 251 231  0.009 37.867   12  0.028   13  0.035    9  0.094   13 0.5062    9  1.164    8  0.186   20  0.001
BRUINS         43 33 257 235  0.010 38.419    7  0.097    7  0.103   10  0.094    7 0.5173   10  1.161    9  0.183   19  0.005
DUCKS          41 35 254 266 -0.012 37.984   11  0.037   11  0.051   21 -0.082   11 0.5075    1  1.285   10  0.167   31 -0.332
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STARS          45 31 258 209 -0.011 37.662    6  0.135    6  0.131    3  0.175    6 0.5206   21  1.048   11  0.125    2  0.226
CAPITALS       38 38 241 230  0.003 38.236   19 -0.000   19  0.000   12  0.052   17 0.5016   16  1.106   12  0.072   15  0.032
WILD           42 33 247 218 -0.011 37.222    8  0.073    8  0.082    7  0.117    8 0.5124   20  1.051   13  0.071    4  0.163
MAPLE LEAFS    32 44 236 268  0.015 38.816   24 -0.102   24 -0.108   26 -0.094   24 0.4834    6  1.200   14  0.044   29 -0.232
MAMMOTH        39 36 241 214  0.003 37.699   14  0.023   14  0.030   11  0.074   14 0.5043   19  1.058   15  0.035    9  0.112
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 34 42 242 239 -0.018 37.682   23 -0.076   23 -0.089   16 -0.005   23 0.4854   17  1.105   16  0.014   22 -0.023
SHARKS         36 38 228 261 -0.002 37.348   21 -0.017   21 -0.021   29 -0.137   21 0.4959    5  1.207   17  0.011   30 -0.285
BLUE JACKETS   38 38 240 236  0.010 38.506   16  0.004   17  0.006   14  0.012   16 0.5017   18  1.084   18  0.006   16  0.019
PANTHERS       37 38 224 248  0.013 38.235   20 -0.004   20 -0.002   22 -0.083   20 0.5006   13  1.150   19 -0.008   26 -0.157
PREDATORS      35 40 225 250 -0.002 37.836   22 -0.040   22 -0.051   28 -0.106   22 0.4901   14  1.136   20 -0.049   27 -0.163
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RED WINGS      40 35 220 225  0.016 38.214   10  0.047   10  0.060   17 -0.009   10 0.5100   28  0.973   21 -0.147    7  0.130
FLYERS         38 38 226 230  0.012 38.630   17  0.004   16  0.008   18 -0.015   18 0.5012   26  0.975   22 -0.151    8  0.121
ISLANDERS      42 35 223 225  0.003 38.810    9  0.056    9  0.069   15 -0.000    9 0.5118   30  0.958   23 -0.155    5  0.155
RANGERS        31 45 217 236  0.009 38.626   28 -0.130   28 -0.131   25 -0.092   28 0.4791   22  1.005   24 -0.192   18  0.009
JETS           32 43 213 231 -0.002 37.801   25 -0.104   25 -0.109   20 -0.081   26 0.4813   24  0.988   25 -0.202   13  0.040
DEVILS         39 36 212 230  0.010 38.165   13  0.025   12  0.035   27 -0.098   12 0.5063   23  0.993   26 -0.213   17  0.017
KRAKEN         32 42 208 233 -0.019 36.791   26 -0.107   26 -0.112   24 -0.091   25 0.4820   25  0.984   27 -0.217   14  0.034
BLUES          32 43 202 236 -0.027 37.030   27 -0.122   27 -0.124   23 -0.091   27 0.4796   27  0.974   28 -0.228   12  0.046
CANUCKS        22 53 197 288 -0.011 37.856   32 -0.300   32 -0.316   32 -0.354   32 0.4487   11  1.161   29 -0.265   32 -0.443
KINGS          30 45 201 228 -0.003 37.734   30 -0.153   30 -0.150   19 -0.075   30 0.4752   32  0.858   30 -0.341    3  0.191
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     27 49 196 251 -0.008 38.261   31 -0.227   31 -0.222   31 -0.199   31 0.4630   29  0.960   31 -0.352   24 -0.046
FLAMES         31 44 194 240 -0.028 37.111   29 -0.152   29 -0.146   30 -0.198   29 0.4760   31  0.940   32 -0.374   21 -0.022

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
OILERS         39 37 264 252 -0.025 37.410   18  0.003   18  0.005   13  0.041   19 0.5007    2  1.274    5  0.276   28 -0.193
DUCKS          41 35 254 266 -0.012 37.984   11  0.037   11  0.051   21 -0.082   11 0.5075    1  1.285   10  0.167   31 -0.332
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 34 42 242 239 -0.018 37.682   23 -0.076   23 -0.089   16 -0.005   23 0.4854   17  1.105   16  0.014   22 -0.023
SHARKS         36 38 228 261 -0.002 37.348   21 -0.017   21 -0.021   29 -0.137   21 0.4959    5  1.207   17  0.011   30 -0.285
KRAKEN         32 42 208 233 -0.019 36.791   26 -0.107   26 -0.112   24 -0.091   25 0.4820   25  0.984   27 -0.217   14  0.034
CANUCKS        22 53 197 288 -0.011 37.856   32 -0.300   32 -0.316   32 -0.354   32 0.4487   11  1.161   29 -0.265   32 -0.443
KINGS          30 45 201 228 -0.003 37.734   30 -0.153   30 -0.150   19 -0.075   30 0.4752   32  0.858   30 -0.341    3  0.191
FLAMES         31 44 194 240 -0.028 37.111   29 -0.152   29 -0.146   30 -0.198   29 0.4760   31  0.940   32 -0.374   21 -0.022

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      49 25 283 193 -0.005 36.611    1  0.245    1  0.238    1  0.358    1 0.5386   15  1.133    1  0.412    1  0.305
STARS          45 31 258 209 -0.011 37.662    6  0.135    6  0.131    3  0.175    6 0.5206   21  1.048   11  0.125    2  0.226
WILD           42 33 247 218 -0.011 37.222    8  0.073    8  0.082    7  0.117    8 0.5124   20  1.051   13  0.071    4  0.163
MAMMOTH        39 36 241 214  0.003 37.699   14  0.023   14  0.030   11  0.074   14 0.5043   19  1.058   15  0.035    9  0.112
PREDATORS      35 40 225 250 -0.002 37.836   22 -0.040   22 -0.051   28 -0.106   22 0.4901   14  1.136   20 -0.049   27 -0.163
JETS           32 43 213 231 -0.002 37.801   25 -0.104   25 -0.109   20 -0.081   26 0.4813   24  0.988   25 -0.202   13  0.040
BLUES          32 43 202 236 -0.027 37.030   27 -0.122   27 -0.124   23 -0.091   27 0.4796   27  0.974   28 -0.228   12  0.046
BLACKHAWKS     27 49 196 251 -0.008 38.261   31 -0.227   31 -0.222   31 -0.199   31 0.4630   29  0.960   31 -0.352   24 -0.046

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
PENGUINS       38 38 266 244  0.015 38.533   15  0.009   15  0.009    8  0.106   15 0.5022    3  1.228    4  0.281   25 -0.069
HURRICANES     48 27 268 219  0.004 37.650    2  0.222    2  0.212    4  0.168    2 0.5348    8  1.167    6  0.264   10  0.072
CAPITALS       38 38 241 230  0.003 38.236   19 -0.000   19  0.000   12  0.052   17 0.5016   16  1.106   12  0.072   15  0.032
BLUE JACKETS   38 38 240 236  0.010 38.506   16  0.004   17  0.006   14  0.012   16 0.5017   18  1.084   18  0.006   16  0.019
FLYERS         38 38 226 230  0.012 38.630   17  0.004   16  0.008   18 -0.015   18 0.5012   26  0.975   22 -0.151    8  0.121
ISLANDERS      42 35 223 225  0.003 38.810    9  0.056    9  0.069   15 -0.000    9 0.5118   30  0.958   23 -0.155    5  0.155
RANGERS        31 45 217 236  0.009 38.626   28 -0.130   28 -0.131   25 -0.092   28 0.4791   22  1.005   24 -0.192   18  0.009
DEVILS         39 36 212 230  0.010 38.165   13  0.025   12  0.035   27 -0.098   12 0.5063   23  0.993   26 -0.213   17  0.017

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      47 28 274 210  0.005 37.563    3  0.205    3  0.190    2  0.234    3 0.5321    7  1.168    2  0.332    6  0.136
CANADIENS      44 31 265 236  0.021 38.185    5  0.147    5  0.141    6  0.126    5 0.5228    4  1.214    3  0.282   23 -0.030
SABRES         46 30 264 225  0.011 38.380    4  0.176    4  0.164    5  0.150    4 0.5278   12  1.158    7  0.234   11  0.065
SENATORS       39 36 251 231  0.009 37.867   12  0.028   13  0.035    9  0.094   13 0.5062    9  1.164    8  0.186   20  0.001
BRUINS         43 33 257 235  0.010 38.419    7  0.097    7  0.103   10  0.094    7 0.5173   10  1.161    9  0.183   19  0.005
MAPLE LEAFS    32 44 236 268  0.015 38.816   24 -0.102   24 -0.108   26 -0.094   24 0.4834    6  1.200   14  0.044   29 -0.232
PANTHERS       37 38 224 248  0.013 38.235   20 -0.004   20 -0.002   22 -0.083   20 0.5006   13  1.150   19 -0.008   26 -0.157
RED WINGS      40 35 220 225  0.016 38.214   10  0.047   10  0.060   17 -0.009   10 0.5100   28  0.973   21 -0.147    7  0.130

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     328 275 0.544    1  0.092
CENTRAL DIVISION      301 300 0.501    2  0.044
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 312 295 0.514    3  0.024
PACIFIC DIVISION      265 336 0.441    4 -0.162

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.055 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: Sat Apr  4 05:30:09 2026
games through: Fri Apr  3 2026

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