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
DUCKS          16 10  96  84  0.025 13.411    6  0.092    6  0.095    9  0.052    6 0.5306    3  1.307    1  0.357   28 -0.253
CANADIENS      13 11  82  87 -0.038 11.895   11  0.021   11  0.020   20 -0.036   12 0.5053    2  1.335    2  0.308   31 -0.379
MAPLE LEAFS    11 14  85  89 -0.076 12.027   28 -0.068   28 -0.066   27 -0.058   28 0.4792    1  1.338    3  0.290   32 -0.405
AVALANCHE      18  7 103  55  0.047 12.783    1  0.180    1  0.176    1  0.343    1 0.5582   25  1.012    4  0.276    1  0.409
STARS          17  9  93  71 -0.024 12.746    5  0.107    5  0.110    4  0.127    5 0.5341   11  1.122    5  0.192   11  0.061
HURRICANES     16  9  86  70  0.043 12.997    2  0.119    2  0.118    5  0.109    2 0.5384   13  1.113    6  0.163   13  0.054
OILERS         11 15  81  95  0.002 13.349   26 -0.060   26 -0.059   25 -0.056   25 0.4839    5  1.242    7  0.163   29 -0.274
CAPITALS       15 11  88  69  0.030 13.367    7  0.065    8  0.067    3  0.136    7 0.5221   16  1.078    8  0.148    9  0.124
SENATORS       12 13  79  84 -0.008 12.694   20 -0.016   20 -0.016   21 -0.036   18 0.4969    6  1.214    9  0.146   27 -0.218
PANTHERS       12 12  75  77 -0.012 12.138   16 -0.001   15 -0.003   17 -0.027   13 0.5016    7  1.191   10  0.127   23 -0.180
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS           13 12  77  75 -0.035 12.423   13  0.009   13  0.006   19 -0.035   15 0.4999    8  1.189   11  0.115   25 -0.186
CANUCKS        10 16  79  95 -0.015 13.279   29 -0.090   29 -0.090   29 -0.115   29 0.4686    4  1.250   12  0.115   30 -0.344
LIGHTNING      16  9  84  65  0.041 12.885    3  0.115    3  0.113    2  0.147    3 0.5374   24  1.028   13  0.099    6  0.195
DEVILS         16 10  83  79  0.071 13.882    4  0.108    4  0.112    8  0.057    4 0.5363   15  1.086   14  0.079   16  0.035
PENGUINS       13 12  79  71 -0.061 12.028   14  0.002   16 -0.004    7  0.058   14 0.5001   18  1.072   15  0.062   14  0.053
SABRES         11 15  81  87  0.011 13.429   25 -0.056   25 -0.056   24 -0.047   26 0.4820   10  1.144   16  0.046   22 -0.139
BRUINS         15 12  83  86  0.068 14.481    8  0.063    7  0.067   14  0.009    8 0.5210   14  1.091   17  0.036   18 -0.019
BLACKHAWKS     11 14  80  73 -0.057 12.080   27 -0.062   27 -0.063   10  0.031   27 0.4792   20  1.064   18  0.026   15  0.037
SHARKS         13 14  80  87  0.038 14.235   15  0.001   14  0.000   23 -0.046   17 0.4985   12  1.117   19  0.013   20 -0.105
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 11 14  76  76  0.020 12.877   23 -0.036   24 -0.039   11  0.029   22 0.4888   22  1.043   20 -0.001   12  0.060
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RED WINGS      13 13  77  89 -0.056 12.778   19 -0.016   19 -0.016   28 -0.107   20 0.4956    9  1.145   21 -0.013   26 -0.201
MAMMOTH        12 15  80  83  0.006 13.847   24 -0.038   23 -0.039   15 -0.020   24 0.4858   23  1.030   22 -0.066   17  0.025
ISLANDERS      13 13  76  77  0.042 13.662   12  0.014   12  0.013   13  0.014   11 0.5077   26  1.001   23 -0.066   10  0.095
BLUE JACKETS   12 14  78  85 -0.001 13.315   21 -0.027   21 -0.029   26 -0.056   21 0.4903   21  1.055   24 -0.072   19 -0.040
WILD           14 12  77  72  0.025 13.380    9  0.038    9  0.038    6  0.068   10 0.5093   28  0.891   25 -0.136    4  0.272
BLUES           9 18  69  95 -0.069 13.151   31 -0.152   32 -0.152   31 -0.141   32 0.4519   19  1.066   26 -0.144   21 -0.138
PREDATORS       8 17  64  92 -0.022 12.777   30 -0.139   30 -0.138   32 -0.175   30 0.4552   17  1.073   27 -0.169   24 -0.180
FLYERS         14 11  74  72 -0.052 12.242   10  0.030   10  0.030   18 -0.035    9 0.5112   27  0.909   28 -0.219    8  0.149
RANGERS        13 14  72  71  0.003 13.822   18 -0.010   18 -0.013   16 -0.024   19 0.4960   30  0.806   29 -0.320    5  0.272
KINGS          12 13  68  70  0.025 12.950   17 -0.006   17 -0.009   12  0.019   16 0.4993   31  0.732   30 -0.353    3  0.391
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES          9 18  65  82 -0.065 13.202   32 -0.153   31 -0.151   30 -0.138   31 0.4524   29  0.807   31 -0.433    7  0.156
KRAKEN         11 13  59  66 -0.026 12.015   22 -0.035   22 -0.037   22 -0.045   23 0.4884   32  0.649   32 -0.499    2  0.409

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          16 10  96  84  0.025 13.411    6  0.092    6  0.095    9  0.052    6 0.5306    3  1.307    1  0.357   28 -0.253
OILERS         11 15  81  95  0.002 13.349   26 -0.060   26 -0.059   25 -0.056   25 0.4839    5  1.242    7  0.163   29 -0.274
CANUCKS        10 16  79  95 -0.015 13.279   29 -0.090   29 -0.090   29 -0.115   29 0.4686    4  1.250   12  0.115   30 -0.344
SHARKS         13 14  80  87  0.038 14.235   15  0.001   14  0.000   23 -0.046   17 0.4985   12  1.117   19  0.013   20 -0.105
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 11 14  76  76  0.020 12.877   23 -0.036   24 -0.039   11  0.029   22 0.4888   22  1.043   20 -0.001   12  0.060
KINGS          12 13  68  70  0.025 12.950   17 -0.006   17 -0.009   12  0.019   16 0.4993   31  0.732   30 -0.353    3  0.391
FLAMES          9 18  65  82 -0.065 13.202   32 -0.153   31 -0.151   30 -0.138   31 0.4524   29  0.807   31 -0.433    7  0.156
KRAKEN         11 13  59  66 -0.026 12.015   22 -0.035   22 -0.037   22 -0.045   23 0.4884   32  0.649   32 -0.499    2  0.409

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      18  7 103  55  0.047 12.783    1  0.180    1  0.176    1  0.343    1 0.5582   25  1.012    4  0.276    1  0.409
STARS          17  9  93  71 -0.024 12.746    5  0.107    5  0.110    4  0.127    5 0.5341   11  1.122    5  0.192   11  0.061
JETS           13 12  77  75 -0.035 12.423   13  0.009   13  0.006   19 -0.035   15 0.4999    8  1.189   11  0.115   25 -0.186
BLACKHAWKS     11 14  80  73 -0.057 12.080   27 -0.062   27 -0.063   10  0.031   27 0.4792   20  1.064   18  0.026   15  0.037
MAMMOTH        12 15  80  83  0.006 13.847   24 -0.038   23 -0.039   15 -0.020   24 0.4858   23  1.030   22 -0.066   17  0.025
WILD           14 12  77  72  0.025 13.380    9  0.038    9  0.038    6  0.068   10 0.5093   28  0.891   25 -0.136    4  0.272
BLUES           9 18  69  95 -0.069 13.151   31 -0.152   32 -0.152   31 -0.141   32 0.4519   19  1.066   26 -0.144   21 -0.138
PREDATORS       8 17  64  92 -0.022 12.777   30 -0.139   30 -0.138   32 -0.175   30 0.4552   17  1.073   27 -0.169   24 -0.180

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     16  9  86  70  0.043 12.997    2  0.119    2  0.118    5  0.109    2 0.5384   13  1.113    6  0.163   13  0.054
CAPITALS       15 11  88  69  0.030 13.367    7  0.065    8  0.067    3  0.136    7 0.5221   16  1.078    8  0.148    9  0.124
DEVILS         16 10  83  79  0.071 13.882    4  0.108    4  0.112    8  0.057    4 0.5363   15  1.086   14  0.079   16  0.035
PENGUINS       13 12  79  71 -0.061 12.028   14  0.002   16 -0.004    7  0.058   14 0.5001   18  1.072   15  0.062   14  0.053
ISLANDERS      13 13  76  77  0.042 13.662   12  0.014   12  0.013   13  0.014   11 0.5077   26  1.001   23 -0.066   10  0.095
BLUE JACKETS   12 14  78  85 -0.001 13.315   21 -0.027   21 -0.029   26 -0.056   21 0.4903   21  1.055   24 -0.072   19 -0.040
FLYERS         14 11  74  72 -0.052 12.242   10  0.030   10  0.030   18 -0.035    9 0.5112   27  0.909   28 -0.219    8  0.149
RANGERS        13 14  72  71  0.003 13.822   18 -0.010   18 -0.013   16 -0.024   19 0.4960   30  0.806   29 -0.320    5  0.272

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      13 11  82  87 -0.038 11.895   11  0.021   11  0.020   20 -0.036   12 0.5053    2  1.335    2  0.308   31 -0.379
MAPLE LEAFS    11 14  85  89 -0.076 12.027   28 -0.068   28 -0.066   27 -0.058   28 0.4792    1  1.338    3  0.290   32 -0.405
SENATORS       12 13  79  84 -0.008 12.694   20 -0.016   20 -0.016   21 -0.036   18 0.4969    6  1.214    9  0.146   27 -0.218
PANTHERS       12 12  75  77 -0.012 12.138   16 -0.001   15 -0.003   17 -0.027   13 0.5016    7  1.191   10  0.127   23 -0.180
LIGHTNING      16  9  84  65  0.041 12.885    3  0.115    3  0.113    2  0.147    3 0.5374   24  1.028   13  0.099    6  0.195
SABRES         11 15  81  87  0.011 13.429   25 -0.056   25 -0.056   24 -0.047   26 0.4820   10  1.144   16  0.046   22 -0.139
BRUINS         15 12  83  86  0.068 14.481    8  0.063    7  0.067   14  0.009    8 0.5210   14  1.091   17  0.036   18 -0.019
RED WINGS      13 13  77  89 -0.056 12.778   19 -0.016   19 -0.016   28 -0.107   20 0.4956    9  1.145   21 -0.013   26 -0.201

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 112  94 0.544    1  0.080
CENTRAL DIVISION      102 104 0.495    2  0.056
ATLANTIC DIVISION     103  99 0.510    3 -0.050
PACIFIC DIVISION       93 113 0.451    4 -0.092

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.039 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: Tue Dec  2 05:30:12 2025
games through: Mon Dec  1 2025

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