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      59 27 315 208 -0.019 42.097    1  0.288    1  0.294    1  0.395    1 0.5423   23  1.023    1  0.316    1  0.473
PENGUINS       42 44 301 281  0.011 43.561   17 -0.002   18 -0.012   11  0.081   17 0.4992    3  1.267    2  0.308   26 -0.146
SABRES         53 33 303 250  0.014 43.513    3  0.218    3  0.199    4  0.199    3 0.5302    8  1.161    3  0.288    9  0.110
HURRICANES     57 29 307 245  0.012 43.431    2  0.270    2  0.275    2  0.213    2 0.5407   10  1.144    4  0.281    7  0.145
OILERS         42 44 297 289 -0.033 42.115   20 -0.025   20 -0.041   15  0.020   20 0.4944    2  1.268    5  0.248   28 -0.208
LIGHTNING      52 34 301 242  0.016 43.592    4  0.200    4  0.180    3  0.213    4 0.5282   13  1.116    6  0.247    5  0.180
CANADIENS      50 36 294 267  0.028 44.076    6  0.163    6  0.150    8  0.110    6 0.5227    7  1.165    7  0.205   18  0.015
DUCKS          46 40 293 303 -0.028 42.463   13  0.027   13  0.036   23 -0.091   14 0.5050    1  1.305    8  0.187   31 -0.368
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.019 43.776   14  0.026   14  0.031    7  0.116   12 0.5059   14  1.114    9  0.147   10  0.086
STARS          52 34 290 240 -0.000 43.017    5  0.187    5  0.170    5  0.171    5 0.5245   20  1.051   10  0.125    2  0.217
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRUINS         46 40 281 265  0.029 44.154    8  0.065    8  0.074   10  0.084    8 0.5119   11  1.122   11  0.125   13  0.044
WILD           48 38 286 251 -0.002 42.998    7  0.086    7  0.092    6  0.136    7 0.5134   18  1.077   12  0.122    6  0.150
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.005 41.304   10  0.037   12  0.039    9  0.090   10 0.5071   15  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.072
MAMMOTH        45 40 277 248 -0.010 42.345   12  0.033   11  0.040   12  0.061   13 0.5052   16  1.100   14  0.075   12  0.048
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.015 41.930   30 -0.175   30 -0.168   28 -0.144   30 0.4754    4  1.238   15  0.044   30 -0.332
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.014 41.846   19 -0.006   17 -0.012   21 -0.081   19 0.4988    6  1.189   16  0.044   27 -0.206
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 40 45 273 259 -0.021 42.019   21 -0.043   22 -0.062   14  0.032   22 0.4903   17  1.083   17  0.024   14  0.040
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.024 40.729   22 -0.047   21 -0.056   29 -0.173   21 0.4914    5  1.212   18 -0.018   29 -0.328
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.012 41.683   18 -0.006   19 -0.013   16 -0.008   18 0.4990   19  1.056   19 -0.048   15  0.031
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.010 41.092   23 -0.055   23 -0.067   24 -0.097   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.057   25 -0.136
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLYERS         46 40 263 251  0.017 43.808    9  0.058    9  0.067   13  0.047    9 0.5100   29  0.967   21 -0.096    4  0.191
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.011 41.716   16  0.007   16  0.007   18 -0.049   16 0.5015   21  1.033   22 -0.117   17  0.018
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.018 40.764   24 -0.078   24 -0.090   19 -0.064   24 0.4860   22  1.027   23 -0.139   19  0.010
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.015 41.863   26 -0.125   26 -0.128   20 -0.066   25 0.4814   25  1.011   24 -0.159   16  0.027
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.008 41.554   11  0.035   10  0.042   17 -0.026   11 0.5071   30  0.944   25 -0.196    8  0.144
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.008 41.179   25 -0.121   25 -0.123   26 -0.119   26 0.4809   24  1.022   26 -0.200   23 -0.039
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.015 41.910   15  0.019   15  0.027   25 -0.114   15 0.5048   27  0.992   27 -0.229   20  0.002
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.022 40.741   28 -0.160   28 -0.155   27 -0.140   28 0.4766   26  0.995   28 -0.251   22 -0.028
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.019 41.134   32 -0.313   32 -0.330   32 -0.390   32 0.4505    9  1.159   29 -0.303   32 -0.476
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.014 41.098   31 -0.243   31 -0.247   31 -0.224   31 0.4626   28  0.985   30 -0.348   24 -0.101
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.003 43.322   29 -0.161   29 -0.157   22 -0.081   29 0.4766   32  0.848   31 -0.358    3  0.195
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.018 40.923   27 -0.158   27 -0.151   30 -0.191   27 0.4771   31  0.930   32 -0.377   21 -0.004

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         42 44 297 289 -0.033 42.115   20 -0.025   20 -0.041   15  0.020   20 0.4944    2  1.268    5  0.248   28 -0.208
DUCKS          46 40 293 303 -0.028 42.463   13  0.027   13  0.036   23 -0.091   14 0.5050    1  1.305    8  0.187   31 -0.368
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 40 45 273 259 -0.021 42.019   21 -0.043   22 -0.062   14  0.032   22 0.4903   17  1.083   17  0.024   14  0.040
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.024 40.729   22 -0.047   21 -0.056   29 -0.173   21 0.4914    5  1.212   18 -0.018   29 -0.328
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.022 40.741   28 -0.160   28 -0.155   27 -0.140   28 0.4766   26  0.995   28 -0.251   22 -0.028
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.019 41.134   32 -0.313   32 -0.330   32 -0.390   32 0.4505    9  1.159   29 -0.303   32 -0.476
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.003 43.322   29 -0.161   29 -0.157   22 -0.081   29 0.4766   32  0.848   31 -0.358    3  0.195
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.018 40.923   27 -0.158   27 -0.151   30 -0.191   27 0.4771   31  0.930   32 -0.377   21 -0.004

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      59 27 315 208 -0.019 42.097    1  0.288    1  0.294    1  0.395    1 0.5423   23  1.023    1  0.316    1  0.473
STARS          52 34 290 240 -0.000 43.017    5  0.187    5  0.170    5  0.171    5 0.5245   20  1.051   10  0.125    2  0.217
WILD           48 38 286 251 -0.002 42.998    7  0.086    7  0.092    6  0.136    7 0.5134   18  1.077   12  0.122    6  0.150
MAMMOTH        45 40 277 248 -0.010 42.345   12  0.033   11  0.040   12  0.061   13 0.5052   16  1.100   14  0.075   12  0.048
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.010 41.092   23 -0.055   23 -0.067   24 -0.097   23 0.4895   12  1.121   20 -0.057   25 -0.136
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.018 40.764   24 -0.078   24 -0.090   19 -0.064   24 0.4860   22  1.027   23 -0.139   19  0.010
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.008 41.179   25 -0.121   25 -0.123   26 -0.119   26 0.4809   24  1.022   26 -0.200   23 -0.039
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.014 41.098   31 -0.243   31 -0.247   31 -0.224   31 0.4626   28  0.985   30 -0.348   24 -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
PENGUINS       42 44 301 281  0.011 43.561   17 -0.002   18 -0.012   11  0.081   17 0.4992    3  1.267    2  0.308   26 -0.146
HURRICANES     57 29 307 245  0.012 43.431    2  0.270    2  0.275    2  0.213    2 0.5407   10  1.144    4  0.281    7  0.145
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.005 41.304   10  0.037   12  0.039    9  0.090   10 0.5071   15  1.103   13  0.107   11  0.072
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.012 41.683   18 -0.006   19 -0.013   16 -0.008   18 0.4990   19  1.056   19 -0.048   15  0.031
FLYERS         46 40 263 251  0.017 43.808    9  0.058    9  0.067   13  0.047    9 0.5100   29  0.967   21 -0.096    4  0.191
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.015 41.863   26 -0.125   26 -0.128   20 -0.066   25 0.4814   25  1.011   24 -0.159   16  0.027
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.008 41.554   11  0.035   10  0.042   17 -0.026   11 0.5071   30  0.944   25 -0.196    8  0.144
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.015 41.910   15  0.019   15  0.027   25 -0.114   15 0.5048   27  0.992   27 -0.229   20  0.002

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
SABRES         53 33 303 250  0.014 43.513    3  0.218    3  0.199    4  0.199    3 0.5302    8  1.161    3  0.288    9  0.110
LIGHTNING      52 34 301 242  0.016 43.592    4  0.200    4  0.180    3  0.213    4 0.5282   13  1.116    6  0.247    5  0.180
CANADIENS      50 36 294 267  0.028 44.076    6  0.163    6  0.150    8  0.110    6 0.5227    7  1.165    7  0.205   18  0.015
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.019 43.776   14  0.026   14  0.031    7  0.116   12 0.5059   14  1.114    9  0.147   10  0.086
BRUINS         46 40 281 265  0.029 44.154    8  0.065    8  0.074   10  0.084    8 0.5119   11  1.122   11  0.125   13  0.044
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.015 41.930   30 -0.175   30 -0.168   28 -0.144   30 0.4754    4  1.238   15  0.044   30 -0.332
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.014 41.846   19 -0.006   17 -0.012   21 -0.081   19 0.4988    6  1.189   16  0.044   27 -0.206
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.011 41.716   16  0.007   16  0.007   18 -0.049   16 0.5015   21  1.033   22 -0.117   17  0.018

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     358 318 0.530    1  0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION      343 328 0.511    2  0.042
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 347 321 0.519    3  0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION      295 376 0.440    4 -0.170

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.052 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: Mon Apr 27 05:30:08 2026
games through: Sun Apr 26 2026

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