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      41 19 230 149 -0.001 29.712    1  0.252    1  0.244    1  0.377    1 0.5461   18  1.082    1  0.374    1  0.380
OILERS         30 32 220 210 -0.032 30.339   20 -0.029   20 -0.039   13  0.029   20 0.4927    1  1.322    2  0.335   29 -0.278
CANADIENS      33 27 213 200  0.020 30.568   11  0.065   10  0.076    9  0.067   11 0.5120    3  1.275    3  0.310   25 -0.176
DUCKS          34 27 205 212  0.008 30.952    8  0.069    8  0.080   19 -0.051   10 0.5140    2  1.304    4  0.231   31 -0.333
SABRES         37 25 214 184  0.014 31.357    5  0.140    5  0.136    6  0.126    5 0.5253   10  1.168    5  0.230   18  0.023
LIGHTNING      38 22 211 162  0.007 30.065    3  0.189    3  0.178    2  0.203    2 0.5343   16  1.096    6  0.218    5  0.189
HURRICANES     39 22 214 175 -0.010 30.242    2  0.192    2  0.181    4  0.149    3 0.5339   12  1.140    7  0.218   12  0.080
SENATORS       30 31 205 194  0.009 30.827   17 -0.003   17 -0.006   11  0.057   19 0.4989    6  1.200    8  0.202   23 -0.088
BRUINS         34 27 205 194  0.001 30.630    9  0.067   11  0.076   10  0.058    9 0.5140    7  1.197    9  0.199   22 -0.083
STARS          38 23 212 165 -0.028 29.758    4  0.155    4  0.148    3  0.177    4 0.5270   21  1.061   10  0.149    3  0.206
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PENGUINS       31 30 205 180 -0.032 29.766   16 -0.001   16 -0.006    7  0.102   16 0.5000   15  1.110   11  0.133   13  0.071
WILD           36 26 209 180 -0.006 30.845    6  0.100    6  0.104    5  0.131    6 0.5181   19  1.077   12  0.122    9  0.140
MAPLE LEAFS    27 36 200 221 -0.000 31.773   25 -0.088   25 -0.095   23 -0.066   25 0.4828    5  1.228   13  0.114   28 -0.247
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 29 33 205 197 -0.017 30.710   23 -0.042   23 -0.053   14  0.027   21 0.4918   11  1.149   14  0.107   20 -0.053
SHARKS         30 29 186 207  0.009 30.040   14  0.009   14  0.017   25 -0.106   15 0.5019    4  1.243   15  0.094   30 -0.306
BLUE JACKETS   32 29 196 193 -0.000 30.684   13  0.023   13  0.033   16  0.003   13 0.5060   13  1.132   16  0.062   21 -0.055
CAPITALS       31 32 199 189 -0.008 31.417   19 -0.010   19 -0.017   12  0.053   18 0.4990   17  1.091   17  0.060   15  0.045
PANTHERS       30 32 188 209  0.020 31.791   18 -0.008   18 -0.010   24 -0.077   17 0.4991    8  1.180   18  0.042   26 -0.195
PREDATORS      28 34 185 213  0.007 31.554   24 -0.052   24 -0.060   27 -0.117   24 0.4872    9  1.169   19 -0.012   27 -0.222
MAMMOTH        33 29 196 169  0.008 31.249   12  0.035   12  0.047    8  0.088   12 0.5091   23  0.998   20 -0.015    4  0.191
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ISLANDERS      35 28 186 182  0.006 31.823   10  0.065    9  0.078   15  0.018    8 0.5153   26  0.968   21 -0.120    6  0.156
RED WINGS      35 27 185 187  0.009 31.414    7  0.083    7  0.092   17 -0.007    7 0.5161   25  0.983   22 -0.128   10  0.113
JETS           25 36 175 187 -0.004 30.676   27 -0.120   27 -0.122   22 -0.066   27 0.4779   22  1.005   23 -0.161   17  0.029
FLYERS         28 33 177 191  0.011 31.030   21 -0.039   21 -0.048   20 -0.060   23 0.4907   24  0.990   24 -0.172   14  0.052
BLUES          23 38 159 210 -0.011 30.624   30 -0.176   30 -0.169   30 -0.171   30 0.4682   20  1.068   25 -0.192   24 -0.151
KRAKEN         29 32 173 179 -0.032 29.917   22 -0.041   22 -0.051   18 -0.026   22 0.4911   29  0.932   26 -0.205    7  0.152
CANUCKS        18 43 157 230 -0.003 31.013   32 -0.269   32 -0.275   32 -0.306   32 0.4507   14  1.116   27 -0.267   32 -0.345
BLACKHAWKS     23 38 163 195 -0.016 30.477   31 -0.177   31 -0.172   29 -0.134   31 0.4677   27  0.966   28 -0.274   19  0.007
RANGERS        24 37 166 192  0.030 31.582   28 -0.124   28 -0.125   28 -0.129   28 0.4775   28  0.946   29 -0.292   16  0.034
KINGS          25 36 160 182  0.016 31.164   26 -0.108   26 -0.111   21 -0.064   26 0.4792   32  0.820   30 -0.365    2  0.237
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DEVILS         31 31 160 186  0.024 31.940   15  0.006   15  0.013   26 -0.116   14 0.5032   30  0.859   31 -0.376    8  0.143
FLAMES         24 37 150 185 -0.029 30.145   29 -0.164   29 -0.158   31 -0.174   29 0.4703   31  0.834   32 -0.460   11  0.111

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         30 32 220 210 -0.032 30.339   20 -0.029   20 -0.039   13  0.029   20 0.4927    1  1.322    2  0.335   29 -0.278
DUCKS          34 27 205 212  0.008 30.952    8  0.069    8  0.080   19 -0.051   10 0.5140    2  1.304    4  0.231   31 -0.333
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 29 33 205 197 -0.017 30.710   23 -0.042   23 -0.053   14  0.027   21 0.4918   11  1.149   14  0.107   20 -0.053
SHARKS         30 29 186 207  0.009 30.040   14  0.009   14  0.017   25 -0.106   15 0.5019    4  1.243   15  0.094   30 -0.306
KRAKEN         29 32 173 179 -0.032 29.917   22 -0.041   22 -0.051   18 -0.026   22 0.4911   29  0.932   26 -0.205    7  0.152
CANUCKS        18 43 157 230 -0.003 31.013   32 -0.269   32 -0.275   32 -0.306   32 0.4507   14  1.116   27 -0.267   32 -0.345
KINGS          25 36 160 182  0.016 31.164   26 -0.108   26 -0.111   21 -0.064   26 0.4792   32  0.820   30 -0.365    2  0.237
FLAMES         24 37 150 185 -0.029 30.145   29 -0.164   29 -0.158   31 -0.174   29 0.4703   31  0.834   32 -0.460   11  0.111

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      41 19 230 149 -0.001 29.712    1  0.252    1  0.244    1  0.377    1 0.5461   18  1.082    1  0.374    1  0.380
STARS          38 23 212 165 -0.028 29.758    4  0.155    4  0.148    3  0.177    4 0.5270   21  1.061   10  0.149    3  0.206
WILD           36 26 209 180 -0.006 30.845    6  0.100    6  0.104    5  0.131    6 0.5181   19  1.077   12  0.122    9  0.140
PREDATORS      28 34 185 213  0.007 31.554   24 -0.052   24 -0.060   27 -0.117   24 0.4872    9  1.169   19 -0.012   27 -0.222
MAMMOTH        33 29 196 169  0.008 31.249   12  0.035   12  0.047    8  0.088   12 0.5091   23  0.998   20 -0.015    4  0.191
JETS           25 36 175 187 -0.004 30.676   27 -0.120   27 -0.122   22 -0.066   27 0.4779   22  1.005   23 -0.161   17  0.029
BLUES          23 38 159 210 -0.011 30.624   30 -0.176   30 -0.169   30 -0.171   30 0.4682   20  1.068   25 -0.192   24 -0.151
BLACKHAWKS     23 38 163 195 -0.016 30.477   31 -0.177   31 -0.172   29 -0.134   31 0.4677   27  0.966   28 -0.274   19  0.007

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     39 22 214 175 -0.010 30.242    2  0.192    2  0.181    4  0.149    3 0.5339   12  1.140    7  0.218   12  0.080
PENGUINS       31 30 205 180 -0.032 29.766   16 -0.001   16 -0.006    7  0.102   16 0.5000   15  1.110   11  0.133   13  0.071
BLUE JACKETS   32 29 196 193 -0.000 30.684   13  0.023   13  0.033   16  0.003   13 0.5060   13  1.132   16  0.062   21 -0.055
CAPITALS       31 32 199 189 -0.008 31.417   19 -0.010   19 -0.017   12  0.053   18 0.4990   17  1.091   17  0.060   15  0.045
ISLANDERS      35 28 186 182  0.006 31.823   10  0.065    9  0.078   15  0.018    8 0.5153   26  0.968   21 -0.120    6  0.156
FLYERS         28 33 177 191  0.011 31.030   21 -0.039   21 -0.048   20 -0.060   23 0.4907   24  0.990   24 -0.172   14  0.052
RANGERS        24 37 166 192  0.030 31.582   28 -0.124   28 -0.125   28 -0.129   28 0.4775   28  0.946   29 -0.292   16  0.034
DEVILS         31 31 160 186  0.024 31.940   15  0.006   15  0.013   26 -0.116   14 0.5032   30  0.859   31 -0.376    8  0.143

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
CANADIENS      33 27 213 200  0.020 30.568   11  0.065   10  0.076    9  0.067   11 0.5120    3  1.275    3  0.310   25 -0.176
SABRES         37 25 214 184  0.014 31.357    5  0.140    5  0.136    6  0.126    5 0.5253   10  1.168    5  0.230   18  0.023
LIGHTNING      38 22 211 162  0.007 30.065    3  0.189    3  0.178    2  0.203    2 0.5343   16  1.096    6  0.218    5  0.189
SENATORS       30 31 205 194  0.009 30.827   17 -0.003   17 -0.006   11  0.057   19 0.4989    6  1.200    8  0.202   23 -0.088
BRUINS         34 27 205 194  0.001 30.630    9  0.067   11  0.076   10  0.058    9 0.5140    7  1.197    9  0.199   22 -0.083
MAPLE LEAFS    27 36 200 221 -0.000 31.773   25 -0.088   25 -0.095   23 -0.066   25 0.4828    5  1.228   13  0.114   28 -0.247
PANTHERS       30 32 188 209  0.020 31.791   18 -0.008   18 -0.010   24 -0.077   17 0.4991    8  1.180   18  0.042   26 -0.195
RED WINGS      35 27 185 187  0.009 31.414    7  0.083    7  0.092   17 -0.007    7 0.5161   25  0.983   22 -0.128   10  0.113

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     264 227 0.538    1  0.072
CENTRAL DIVISION      247 243 0.504    2  0.054
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 251 242 0.509    3  0.004
PACIFIC DIVISION      219 269 0.449    4 -0.131

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.065 points in main ratings (0.079 for semineutral)
     0.008 points in improved RPI (0.008 for semineutral)
Average of 1.00 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Mar  6 05:30:07 2026
games through: Thu Mar  5 2026

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