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      48 23 266 179  0.007 35.432    1  0.262    1  0.258    1  0.365    1 0.5435   17  1.074    1  0.353    1  0.376
LIGHTNING      44 27 260 199  0.004 35.481    3  0.189    3  0.172    2  0.230    3 0.5306    8  1.178    2  0.347    8  0.112
OILERS         36 37 254 249 -0.017 36.127   20 -0.012   20 -0.020   15  0.015   20 0.4965    1  1.309    3  0.305   29 -0.274
CANADIENS      40 31 251 231  0.016 35.993    6  0.092    6  0.099    9  0.085    6 0.5163    3  1.250    4  0.296   25 -0.125
SABRES         44 29 256 216  0.010 36.752    4  0.166    4  0.154    4  0.158    4 0.5269    9  1.171    5  0.266   12  0.049
HURRICANES     45 26 252 211  0.005 35.607    2  0.208    2  0.193    5  0.143    2 0.5329    7  1.180    6  0.263   17  0.023
PENGUINS       36 36 247 228  0.007 36.231   16  0.004   16  0.005    8  0.091   16 0.5012    6  1.188    7  0.222   23 -0.039
DUCKS          41 31 243 247 -0.006 36.056    7  0.084    7  0.095   19 -0.053    8 0.5154    2  1.285    8  0.204   30 -0.310
SENATORS       38 34 242 220  0.001 36.059   13  0.031   13  0.041    7  0.094   14 0.5071   10  1.165    9  0.195   19 -0.006
BRUINS         40 32 240 224  0.006 36.226   10  0.072   10  0.082   10  0.076    9 0.5142   12  1.155   10  0.165   20 -0.013
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STARS          43 29 245 198 -0.016 35.471    5  0.134    5  0.130    3  0.163    5 0.5216   19  1.056   11  0.129    4  0.197
MAPLE LEAFS    31 42 229 255  0.019 37.313   25 -0.087   25 -0.097   22 -0.067   25 0.4842    5  1.206   12  0.087   28 -0.220
WILD           41 32 239 210 -0.007 36.283    9  0.075    9  0.083    6  0.120   10 0.5132   21  1.040   13  0.068    5  0.171
BLUE JACKETS   38 34 232 219  0.007 36.310   12  0.032   12  0.044   13  0.044   12 0.5078   15  1.096   14  0.059   15  0.028
CAPITALS       36 37 227 215  0.005 36.715   19 -0.004   19 -0.009   11  0.058   18 0.5001   18  1.061   15  0.031   10  0.086
PANTHERS       35 36 213 236  0.014 36.177   17 -0.003   17 -0.002   23 -0.079   17 0.5005   11  1.161   16  0.017   27 -0.175
SHARKS         32 38 212 251  0.003 35.451   22 -0.049   22 -0.059   29 -0.161   22 0.4892    4  1.213   17  0.001   31 -0.324
MAMMOTH        37 36 229 210  0.005 36.727   15  0.008   15  0.012   12  0.048   15 0.5018   20  1.042   18 -0.002    9  0.098
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 41 228 229 -0.009 36.422   24 -0.081   24 -0.094   17 -0.014   24 0.4844   16  1.086   19 -0.011   21 -0.016
PREDATORS      34 38 217 239 -0.008 36.077   21 -0.034   21 -0.044   26 -0.096   21 0.4912   13  1.146   20 -0.019   26 -0.174
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RED WINGS      39 33 212 213  0.016 36.582   11  0.054   11  0.069   16  0.005   11 0.5118   28  0.960   21 -0.140    6  0.150
KRAKEN         32 39 204 221 -0.026 35.011   23 -0.072   23 -0.086   21 -0.065   23 0.4860   23  1.004   22 -0.159   14  0.030
ISLANDERS      41 32 211 207  0.002 36.684    8  0.079    8  0.089   14  0.019    7 0.5155   30  0.929   23 -0.161    3  0.200
FLYERS         35 36 209 215  0.008 35.933   18 -0.003   18 -0.005   18 -0.027   19 0.4987   29  0.960   24 -0.173    7  0.119
RANGERS        29 44 208 231  0.013 37.172   30 -0.145   30 -0.140   27 -0.108   30 0.4764   22  1.028   25 -0.176   24 -0.041
JETS           30 42 205 223 -0.009 36.008   27 -0.122   27 -0.125   24 -0.082   27 0.4786   24  1.003   26 -0.178   18  0.015
DEVILS         37 34 197 215  0.015 36.212   14  0.026   14  0.038   25 -0.093   13 0.5072   27  0.962   27 -0.237   11  0.051
BLUES          30 41 186 226 -0.023 35.144   26 -0.122   26 -0.123   28 -0.113   26 0.4789   25  0.967   28 -0.252   16  0.025
CANUCKS        21 50 182 266 -0.018 35.569   32 -0.295   32 -0.304   32 -0.341   32 0.4489   14  1.107   29 -0.312   32 -0.370
KINGS          29 43 193 216  0.001 36.289   28 -0.139   29 -0.138   20 -0.060   29 0.4767   32  0.853   30 -0.325    2  0.205
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     27 46 189 239 -0.005 36.748   31 -0.205   31 -0.191   30 -0.182   31 0.4669   26  0.962   31 -0.325   22 -0.038
FLAMES         30 42 182 222 -0.031 35.450   29 -0.143   28 -0.137   31 -0.184   28 0.4767   31  0.884   32 -0.415   13  0.047

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         36 37 254 249 -0.017 36.127   20 -0.012   20 -0.020   15  0.015   20 0.4965    1  1.309    3  0.305   29 -0.274
DUCKS          41 31 243 247 -0.006 36.056    7  0.084    7  0.095   19 -0.053    8 0.5154    2  1.285    8  0.204   30 -0.310
SHARKS         32 38 212 251  0.003 35.451   22 -0.049   22 -0.059   29 -0.161   22 0.4892    4  1.213   17  0.001   31 -0.324
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 41 228 229 -0.009 36.422   24 -0.081   24 -0.094   17 -0.014   24 0.4844   16  1.086   19 -0.011   21 -0.016
KRAKEN         32 39 204 221 -0.026 35.011   23 -0.072   23 -0.086   21 -0.065   23 0.4860   23  1.004   22 -0.159   14  0.030
CANUCKS        21 50 182 266 -0.018 35.569   32 -0.295   32 -0.304   32 -0.341   32 0.4489   14  1.107   29 -0.312   32 -0.370
KINGS          29 43 193 216  0.001 36.289   28 -0.139   29 -0.138   20 -0.060   29 0.4767   32  0.853   30 -0.325    2  0.205
FLAMES         30 42 182 222 -0.031 35.450   29 -0.143   28 -0.137   31 -0.184   28 0.4767   31  0.884   32 -0.415   13  0.047

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      48 23 266 179  0.007 35.432    1  0.262    1  0.258    1  0.365    1 0.5435   17  1.074    1  0.353    1  0.376
STARS          43 29 245 198 -0.016 35.471    5  0.134    5  0.130    3  0.163    5 0.5216   19  1.056   11  0.129    4  0.197
WILD           41 32 239 210 -0.007 36.283    9  0.075    9  0.083    6  0.120   10 0.5132   21  1.040   13  0.068    5  0.171
MAMMOTH        37 36 229 210  0.005 36.727   15  0.008   15  0.012   12  0.048   15 0.5018   20  1.042   18 -0.002    9  0.098
PREDATORS      34 38 217 239 -0.008 36.077   21 -0.034   21 -0.044   26 -0.096   21 0.4912   13  1.146   20 -0.019   26 -0.174
JETS           30 42 205 223 -0.009 36.008   27 -0.122   27 -0.125   24 -0.082   27 0.4786   24  1.003   26 -0.178   18  0.015
BLUES          30 41 186 226 -0.023 35.144   26 -0.122   26 -0.123   28 -0.113   26 0.4789   25  0.967   28 -0.252   16  0.025
BLACKHAWKS     27 46 189 239 -0.005 36.748   31 -0.205   31 -0.191   30 -0.182   31 0.4669   26  0.962   31 -0.325   22 -0.038

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     45 26 252 211  0.005 35.607    2  0.208    2  0.193    5  0.143    2 0.5329    7  1.180    6  0.263   17  0.023
PENGUINS       36 36 247 228  0.007 36.231   16  0.004   16  0.005    8  0.091   16 0.5012    6  1.188    7  0.222   23 -0.039
BLUE JACKETS   38 34 232 219  0.007 36.310   12  0.032   12  0.044   13  0.044   12 0.5078   15  1.096   14  0.059   15  0.028
CAPITALS       36 37 227 215  0.005 36.715   19 -0.004   19 -0.009   11  0.058   18 0.5001   18  1.061   15  0.031   10  0.086
ISLANDERS      41 32 211 207  0.002 36.684    8  0.079    8  0.089   14  0.019    7 0.5155   30  0.929   23 -0.161    3  0.200
FLYERS         35 36 209 215  0.008 35.933   18 -0.003   18 -0.005   18 -0.027   19 0.4987   29  0.960   24 -0.173    7  0.119
RANGERS        29 44 208 231  0.013 37.172   30 -0.145   30 -0.140   27 -0.108   30 0.4764   22  1.028   25 -0.176   24 -0.041
DEVILS         37 34 197 215  0.015 36.212   14  0.026   14  0.038   25 -0.093   13 0.5072   27  0.962   27 -0.237   11  0.051

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      44 27 260 199  0.004 35.481    3  0.189    3  0.172    2  0.230    3 0.5306    8  1.178    2  0.347    8  0.112
CANADIENS      40 31 251 231  0.016 35.993    6  0.092    6  0.099    9  0.085    6 0.5163    3  1.250    4  0.296   25 -0.125
SABRES         44 29 256 216  0.010 36.752    4  0.166    4  0.154    4  0.158    4 0.5269    9  1.171    5  0.266   12  0.049
SENATORS       38 34 242 220  0.001 36.059   13  0.031   13  0.041    7  0.094   14 0.5071   10  1.165    9  0.195   19 -0.006
BRUINS         40 32 240 224  0.006 36.226   10  0.072   10  0.082   10  0.076    9 0.5142   12  1.155   10  0.165   20 -0.013
MAPLE LEAFS    31 42 229 255  0.019 37.313   25 -0.087   25 -0.097   22 -0.067   25 0.4842    5  1.206   12  0.087   28 -0.220
PANTHERS       35 36 213 236  0.014 36.177   17 -0.003   17 -0.002   23 -0.079   17 0.5005   11  1.161   16  0.017   27 -0.175
RED WINGS      39 33 212 213  0.016 36.582   11  0.054   11  0.069   16  0.005   11 0.5118   28  0.960   21 -0.140    6  0.150

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     311 264 0.541    1  0.094
CENTRAL DIVISION      290 287 0.503    2  0.040
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 297 279 0.516    3  0.024
PACIFIC DIVISION      253 321 0.441    4 -0.160

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: Sat Mar 28 05:30:09 2026
games through: Fri Mar 27 2026

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