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      50 26 287 196 -0.002 37.660    1  0.243    1  0.232    1  0.358    1 0.5377   16  1.110    1  0.380    1  0.336
LIGHTNING      48 29 279 215  0.007 38.626    3  0.204    3  0.186    2  0.231    3 0.5316   12  1.154    3  0.308    5  0.155
STARS          45 32 258 211 -0.004 38.336    6  0.123    6  0.122    3  0.165    6 0.5192   21  1.028   12  0.088    2  0.241
HURRICANES     49 28 275 228  0.007 38.708    2  0.220    2  0.207    4  0.159    2 0.5342    7  1.181    4  0.270   14  0.048
SABRES         47 31 270 233  0.014 39.462    4  0.174    4  0.162    5  0.142    4 0.5273   11  1.161    7  0.229   13  0.056
WILD           44 33 256 223 -0.006 38.300    7  0.095    7  0.101    6  0.132    7 0.5157   20  1.060   11  0.093    4  0.171
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.009 39.335   15  0.018   15  0.025    7  0.123   15 0.5049    3  1.252    2  0.327   25 -0.080
CANADIENS      45 32 269 242  0.016 39.058    5  0.138    5  0.135    8  0.107    5 0.5222    6  1.200    6  0.243   23 -0.029
SENATORS       40 37 258 238  0.011 38.912   11  0.026   14  0.035    9  0.090   11 0.5063   10  1.169    8  0.186   21 -0.006
BRUINS         43 35 259 240  0.014 39.528    8  0.072    8  0.083   10  0.083    8 0.5142   14  1.133   10  0.133   17  0.032
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAMMOTH        40 36 248 218 -0.003 37.996   10  0.027   13  0.036   11  0.077   14 0.5053   18  1.077   15  0.059    9  0.095
CAPITALS       39 39 248 240  0.003 39.250   17 -0.001   17  0.000   12  0.042   17 0.5015   15  1.127   13  0.086   20 -0.002
OILERS         39 38 265 257 -0.025 37.891   18 -0.004   19 -0.005   13  0.025   19 0.4989    2  1.269    5  0.252   27 -0.201
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 35 42 247 240 -0.016 38.178   23 -0.062   23 -0.077   14  0.012   23 0.4873   17  1.100   16  0.021   18  0.002
BLUE JACKETS   38 39 241 238  0.008 38.943   19 -0.004   18 -0.005   15  0.006   18 0.4998   19  1.070   19 -0.021   16  0.033
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.007 39.422    9  0.045    9  0.061   16 -0.001    9 0.5105   28  0.962   23 -0.154    6  0.152
FLYERS         39 38 228 231  0.013 39.128   16  0.009   16  0.018   17 -0.012   16 0.5028   30  0.953   24 -0.175    7  0.152
RED WINGS      40 37 225 234  0.015 39.192   12  0.024   10  0.038   18 -0.024   12 0.5063   25  0.984   22 -0.153    8  0.104
RANGERS        33 45 229 238  0.008 39.521   26 -0.102   26 -0.110   19 -0.056   25 0.4826   22  1.017   21 -0.146   15  0.034
JETS           34 43 221 234 -0.003 38.703   24 -0.075   24 -0.088   20 -0.062   24 0.4848   24  0.986   25 -0.187   11  0.063
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          32 45 211 236 -0.008 38.571   28 -0.128   28 -0.130   21 -0.073   28 0.4785   32  0.881   30 -0.317    3  0.171
DEVILS         40 37 218 234  0.014 39.233   14  0.022   12  0.036   22 -0.080   10 0.5066   26  0.977   26 -0.215   12  0.056
BLUES          33 43 205 238 -0.020 37.693   25 -0.101   25 -0.108   23 -0.081   26 0.4821   27  0.969   27 -0.226   10  0.065
DUCKS          41 36 257 271 -0.017 38.321   13  0.022   11  0.037   24 -0.091   13 0.5055    1  1.290    9  0.163   31 -0.345
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.234   27 -0.112   27 -0.117   25 -0.095   27 0.4817    4  1.224   14  0.072   29 -0.262
PREDATORS      36 41 233 256 -0.003 38.750   22 -0.039   22 -0.050   26 -0.097   22 0.4903   13  1.139   20 -0.039   26 -0.156
PANTHERS       37 40 230 262  0.017 39.370   20 -0.016   20 -0.019   27 -0.102   20 0.4975    9  1.174   18  0.000   28 -0.204
KRAKEN         32 44 212 243 -0.024 37.617   29 -0.132   29 -0.132   28 -0.114   29 0.4785   23  0.996   28 -0.228   19 -0.000
SHARKS         37 39 234 269 -0.009 38.120   21 -0.020   21 -0.025   29 -0.144   21 0.4953    5  1.211   17  0.006   30 -0.294
FLAMES         32 44 199 243 -0.028 37.559   30 -0.136   30 -0.134   30 -0.188   30 0.4782   31  0.947   32 -0.359   22 -0.018
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     28 50 202 256 -0.009 39.186   31 -0.226   31 -0.217   31 -0.191   31 0.4640   29  0.957   31 -0.350   24 -0.033
CANUCKS        22 54 201 295 -0.011 38.339   32 -0.306   32 -0.320   32 -0.357   32 0.4477    8  1.179   29 -0.248   32 -0.466

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         39 38 265 257 -0.025 37.891   18 -0.004   19 -0.005   13  0.025   19 0.4989    2  1.269    5  0.252   27 -0.201
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 35 42 247 240 -0.016 38.178   23 -0.062   23 -0.077   14  0.012   23 0.4873   17  1.100   16  0.021   18  0.002
KINGS          32 45 211 236 -0.008 38.571   28 -0.128   28 -0.130   21 -0.073   28 0.4785   32  0.881   30 -0.317    3  0.171
DUCKS          41 36 257 271 -0.017 38.321   13  0.022   11  0.037   24 -0.091   13 0.5055    1  1.290    9  0.163   31 -0.345
KRAKEN         32 44 212 243 -0.024 37.617   29 -0.132   29 -0.132   28 -0.114   29 0.4785   23  0.996   28 -0.228   19 -0.000
SHARKS         37 39 234 269 -0.009 38.120   21 -0.020   21 -0.025   29 -0.144   21 0.4953    5  1.211   17  0.006   30 -0.294
FLAMES         32 44 199 243 -0.028 37.559   30 -0.136   30 -0.134   30 -0.188   30 0.4782   31  0.947   32 -0.359   22 -0.018
CANUCKS        22 54 201 295 -0.011 38.339   32 -0.306   32 -0.320   32 -0.357   32 0.4477    8  1.179   29 -0.248   32 -0.466

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      50 26 287 196 -0.002 37.660    1  0.243    1  0.232    1  0.358    1 0.5377   16  1.110    1  0.380    1  0.336
STARS          45 32 258 211 -0.004 38.336    6  0.123    6  0.122    3  0.165    6 0.5192   21  1.028   12  0.088    2  0.241
WILD           44 33 256 223 -0.006 38.300    7  0.095    7  0.101    6  0.132    7 0.5157   20  1.060   11  0.093    4  0.171
MAMMOTH        40 36 248 218 -0.003 37.996   10  0.027   13  0.036   11  0.077   14 0.5053   18  1.077   15  0.059    9  0.095
JETS           34 43 221 234 -0.003 38.703   24 -0.075   24 -0.088   20 -0.062   24 0.4848   24  0.986   25 -0.187   11  0.063
BLUES          33 43 205 238 -0.020 37.693   25 -0.101   25 -0.108   23 -0.081   26 0.4821   27  0.969   27 -0.226   10  0.065
PREDATORS      36 41 233 256 -0.003 38.750   22 -0.039   22 -0.050   26 -0.097   22 0.4903   13  1.139   20 -0.039   26 -0.156
BLACKHAWKS     28 50 202 256 -0.009 39.186   31 -0.226   31 -0.217   31 -0.191   31 0.4640   29  0.957   31 -0.350   24 -0.033

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     49 28 275 228  0.007 38.708    2  0.220    2  0.207    4  0.159    2 0.5342    7  1.181    4  0.270   14  0.048
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.009 39.335   15  0.018   15  0.025    7  0.123   15 0.5049    3  1.252    2  0.327   25 -0.080
CAPITALS       39 39 248 240  0.003 39.250   17 -0.001   17  0.000   12  0.042   17 0.5015   15  1.127   13  0.086   20 -0.002
BLUE JACKETS   38 39 241 238  0.008 38.943   19 -0.004   18 -0.005   15  0.006   18 0.4998   19  1.070   19 -0.021   16  0.033
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.007 39.422    9  0.045    9  0.061   16 -0.001    9 0.5105   28  0.962   23 -0.154    6  0.152
FLYERS         39 38 228 231  0.013 39.128   16  0.009   16  0.018   17 -0.012   16 0.5028   30  0.953   24 -0.175    7  0.152
RANGERS        33 45 229 238  0.008 39.521   26 -0.102   26 -0.110   19 -0.056   25 0.4826   22  1.017   21 -0.146   15  0.034
DEVILS         40 37 218 234  0.014 39.233   14  0.022   12  0.036   22 -0.080   10 0.5066   26  0.977   26 -0.215   12  0.056

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      48 29 279 215  0.007 38.626    3  0.204    3  0.186    2  0.231    3 0.5316   12  1.154    3  0.308    5  0.155
SABRES         47 31 270 233  0.014 39.462    4  0.174    4  0.162    5  0.142    4 0.5273   11  1.161    7  0.229   13  0.056
CANADIENS      45 32 269 242  0.016 39.058    5  0.138    5  0.135    8  0.107    5 0.5222    6  1.200    6  0.243   23 -0.029
SENATORS       40 37 258 238  0.011 38.912   11  0.026   14  0.035    9  0.090   11 0.5063   10  1.169    8  0.186   21 -0.006
BRUINS         43 35 259 240  0.014 39.528    8  0.072    8  0.083   10  0.083    8 0.5142   14  1.133   10  0.133   17  0.032
RED WINGS      40 37 225 234  0.015 39.192   12  0.024   10  0.038   18 -0.024   12 0.5063   25  0.984   22 -0.153    8  0.104
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.234   27 -0.112   27 -0.117   25 -0.095   27 0.4817    4  1.224   14  0.072   29 -0.262
PANTHERS       37 40 230 262  0.017 39.370   20 -0.016   20 -0.019   27 -0.102   20 0.4975    9  1.174   18  0.000   28 -0.204

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     332 286 0.537    1  0.078
CENTRAL DIVISION      310 304 0.505    2  0.054
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 320 300 0.516    3  0.033
PACIFIC DIVISION      270 342 0.441    4 -0.168

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.056 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: Tue Apr  7 05:30:07 2026
games through: Mon Apr  6 2026

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