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      31 10 165  93 -0.005 20.384    1  0.234    1  0.189    1  0.294    1 0.5634   21  1.065    2  0.281    2  0.307
LIGHTNING      25 16 142 110  0.003 20.738    2  0.074    2  0.081    2  0.113    2 0.5290   17  1.092    9  0.132   10  0.093
STARS          25 17 146 117 -0.018 20.855    4  0.055    4  0.066    3  0.109    4 0.5212   18  1.088   11  0.124    9  0.095
WILD           25 19 140 119 -0.005 22.097    5  0.040    5  0.051    4  0.100    6 0.5137   26  0.948   21 -0.050    4  0.250
CAPITALS       22 21 142 125 -0.007 21.622   14  0.004   14  0.006    5  0.075   14 0.5035   14  1.119   10  0.128   13  0.022
HURRICANES     25 17 141 128  0.020 21.583    3  0.067    3  0.078    6  0.052    3 0.5258   10  1.151    7  0.145   17 -0.041
PENGUINS       20 21 135 131 -0.027 20.363   18 -0.013   18 -0.017    7  0.021   17 0.4958    9  1.155   13  0.119   20 -0.077
ISLANDERS      23 19 120 120  0.030 21.824    6  0.034    6  0.045    8  0.017    5 0.5153   28  0.922   26 -0.163    6  0.196
FLYERS         21 19 124 116 -0.016 20.038   13  0.009   13  0.013    9  0.016   13 0.5064   25  0.988   24 -0.088    8  0.120
KINGS          18 23 111 113  0.027 21.264   25 -0.028   25 -0.038   10  0.013   26 0.4861   31  0.774   31 -0.325    1  0.351
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 23 124 126 -0.006 20.210   27 -0.045   27 -0.058   11  0.009   27 0.4838   19  1.080   17  0.015   14  0.004
PANTHERS       22 19 129 130  0.026 21.258    9  0.024    9  0.035   12  0.005    8 0.5117    7  1.170   12  0.122   25 -0.112
CANADIENS      23 19 141 141  0.000 21.341    8  0.025    8  0.035   13  0.004   10 0.5099    6  1.223    6  0.188   26 -0.181
MAMMOTH        20 23 130 124 -0.003 21.799   21 -0.019   21 -0.028   14 -0.001   20 0.4934   23  1.012   23 -0.077   12  0.075
SENATORS       20 21 136 134 -0.023 20.459   17 -0.013   17 -0.017   15 -0.005   18 0.4943    5  1.231    5  0.190   27 -0.199
OILERS         20 22 139 143 -0.002 21.289   19 -0.015   19 -0.020   16 -0.005   19 0.4940    2  1.269    3  0.240   30 -0.251
MAPLE LEAFS    19 22 137 138 -0.032 20.316   24 -0.028   24 -0.037   17 -0.008   23 0.4899    3  1.244    4  0.205   29 -0.220
BRUINS         22 20 133 136 -0.002 21.321   11  0.011   11  0.017   18 -0.012   11 0.5075   11  1.145   14  0.073   22 -0.097
SABRES         21 19 125 126 -0.001 20.329   12  0.011   12  0.017   19 -0.013   12 0.5069   13  1.120   15  0.042   19 -0.067
DEVILS         22 20 114 124  0.039 22.054   10  0.019   10  0.030   20 -0.032    9 0.5107   29  0.890   29 -0.247    7  0.183
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KRAKEN         19 21 108 116 -0.036 19.790   23 -0.023   23 -0.030   21 -0.032   24 0.4897   30  0.840   30 -0.302    5  0.237
RED WINGS      25 19 136 141 -0.034 21.803    7  0.029    7  0.042   22 -0.038    7 0.5136   15  1.118   18  0.014   21 -0.089
RANGERS        20 24 116 120  0.026 22.890   22 -0.021   22 -0.028   23 -0.041   21 0.4925   32  0.766   32 -0.388    3  0.306
BLUE JACKETS   18 23 127 137  0.013 21.115   26 -0.032   26 -0.042   24 -0.043   25 0.4866   12  1.130   16  0.023   24 -0.110
DUCKS          21 21 143 153  0.006 21.523   15 -0.002   16  0.001   25 -0.051   15 0.5002    1  1.364    1  0.323   32 -0.425
JETS           15 25 115 126  0.006 20.508   31 -0.085   31 -0.090   26 -0.056   32 0.4690   20  1.073   22 -0.059   18 -0.054
BLACKHAWKS     17 25 118 134 -0.019 21.107   29 -0.068   29 -0.078   27 -0.062   30 0.4740   22  1.025   25 -0.123   15 -0.001
PREDATORS      19 22 118 136  0.011 21.145   20 -0.018   20 -0.023   28 -0.069   22 0.4904   16  1.109   20 -0.028   23 -0.109
SHARKS         20 21 127 146  0.031 21.482   16 -0.003   15  0.001   29 -0.078   16 0.4985    4  1.243    8  0.132   31 -0.288
FLAMES         18 24 112 126 -0.053 20.550   28 -0.062   28 -0.070   30 -0.080   28 0.4759   27  0.937   28 -0.243   11  0.083
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CANUCKS        16 25 117 143 -0.004 20.951   30 -0.077   30 -0.083   31 -0.106   29 0.4743    8  1.156   19 -0.007   28 -0.204
BLUES          17 26 107 146 -0.034 21.426   32 -0.087   32 -0.091   32 -0.121   31 0.4712   24  1.003   27 -0.208   16 -0.034

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
KINGS          18 23 111 113  0.027 21.264   25 -0.028   25 -0.038   10  0.013   26 0.4861   31  0.774   31 -0.325    1  0.351
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 23 124 126 -0.006 20.210   27 -0.045   27 -0.058   11  0.009   27 0.4838   19  1.080   17  0.015   14  0.004
OILERS         20 22 139 143 -0.002 21.289   19 -0.015   19 -0.020   16 -0.005   19 0.4940    2  1.269    3  0.240   30 -0.251
KRAKEN         19 21 108 116 -0.036 19.790   23 -0.023   23 -0.030   21 -0.032   24 0.4897   30  0.840   30 -0.302    5  0.237
DUCKS          21 21 143 153  0.006 21.523   15 -0.002   16  0.001   25 -0.051   15 0.5002    1  1.364    1  0.323   32 -0.425
SHARKS         20 21 127 146  0.031 21.482   16 -0.003   15  0.001   29 -0.078   16 0.4985    4  1.243    8  0.132   31 -0.288
FLAMES         18 24 112 126 -0.053 20.550   28 -0.062   28 -0.070   30 -0.080   28 0.4759   27  0.937   28 -0.243   11  0.083
CANUCKS        16 25 117 143 -0.004 20.951   30 -0.077   30 -0.083   31 -0.106   29 0.4743    8  1.156   19 -0.007   28 -0.204

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      31 10 165  93 -0.005 20.384    1  0.234    1  0.189    1  0.294    1 0.5634   21  1.065    2  0.281    2  0.307
STARS          25 17 146 117 -0.018 20.855    4  0.055    4  0.066    3  0.109    4 0.5212   18  1.088   11  0.124    9  0.095
WILD           25 19 140 119 -0.005 22.097    5  0.040    5  0.051    4  0.100    6 0.5137   26  0.948   21 -0.050    4  0.250
MAMMOTH        20 23 130 124 -0.003 21.799   21 -0.019   21 -0.028   14 -0.001   20 0.4934   23  1.012   23 -0.077   12  0.075
JETS           15 25 115 126  0.006 20.508   31 -0.085   31 -0.090   26 -0.056   32 0.4690   20  1.073   22 -0.059   18 -0.054
BLACKHAWKS     17 25 118 134 -0.019 21.107   29 -0.068   29 -0.078   27 -0.062   30 0.4740   22  1.025   25 -0.123   15 -0.001
PREDATORS      19 22 118 136  0.011 21.145   20 -0.018   20 -0.023   28 -0.069   22 0.4904   16  1.109   20 -0.028   23 -0.109
BLUES          17 26 107 146 -0.034 21.426   32 -0.087   32 -0.091   32 -0.121   31 0.4712   24  1.003   27 -0.208   16 -0.034

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
CAPITALS       22 21 142 125 -0.007 21.622   14  0.004   14  0.006    5  0.075   14 0.5035   14  1.119   10  0.128   13  0.022
HURRICANES     25 17 141 128  0.020 21.583    3  0.067    3  0.078    6  0.052    3 0.5258   10  1.151    7  0.145   17 -0.041
PENGUINS       20 21 135 131 -0.027 20.363   18 -0.013   18 -0.017    7  0.021   17 0.4958    9  1.155   13  0.119   20 -0.077
ISLANDERS      23 19 120 120  0.030 21.824    6  0.034    6  0.045    8  0.017    5 0.5153   28  0.922   26 -0.163    6  0.196
FLYERS         21 19 124 116 -0.016 20.038   13  0.009   13  0.013    9  0.016   13 0.5064   25  0.988   24 -0.088    8  0.120
DEVILS         22 20 114 124  0.039 22.054   10  0.019   10  0.030   20 -0.032    9 0.5107   29  0.890   29 -0.247    7  0.183
RANGERS        20 24 116 120  0.026 22.890   22 -0.021   22 -0.028   23 -0.041   21 0.4925   32  0.766   32 -0.388    3  0.306
BLUE JACKETS   18 23 127 137  0.013 21.115   26 -0.032   26 -0.042   24 -0.043   25 0.4866   12  1.130   16  0.023   24 -0.110

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      25 16 142 110  0.003 20.738    2  0.074    2  0.081    2  0.113    2 0.5290   17  1.092    9  0.132   10  0.093
PANTHERS       22 19 129 130  0.026 21.258    9  0.024    9  0.035   12  0.005    8 0.5117    7  1.170   12  0.122   25 -0.112
CANADIENS      23 19 141 141  0.000 21.341    8  0.025    8  0.035   13  0.004   10 0.5099    6  1.223    6  0.188   26 -0.181
SENATORS       20 21 136 134 -0.023 20.459   17 -0.013   17 -0.017   15 -0.005   18 0.4943    5  1.231    5  0.190   27 -0.199
MAPLE LEAFS    19 22 137 138 -0.032 20.316   24 -0.028   24 -0.037   17 -0.008   23 0.4899    3  1.244    4  0.205   29 -0.220
BRUINS         22 20 133 136 -0.002 21.321   11  0.011   11  0.017   18 -0.012   11 0.5075   11  1.145   14  0.073   22 -0.097
SABRES         21 19 125 126 -0.001 20.329   12  0.011   12  0.017   19 -0.013   12 0.5069   13  1.120   15  0.042   19 -0.067
RED WINGS      25 19 136 141 -0.034 21.803    7  0.029    7  0.042   22 -0.038    7 0.5136   15  1.118   18  0.014   21 -0.089

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      169 167 0.503    1  0.056
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 171 164 0.510    2  0.021
ATLANTIC DIVISION     177 155 0.533    3  0.016
PACIFIC DIVISION      149 180 0.453    4 -0.103

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.038 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: Tue Jan  6 05:30:13 2026
games through: Mon Jan  5 2026

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