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
OILERS         34 37 245 244 -0.021 35.163   20 -0.029   21 -0.042   15  0.001   20 0.4930    1  1.307    4  0.287   29 -0.285
DUCKS          38 31 229 237  0.001 34.860   10  0.056   10  0.072   19 -0.061   11 0.5114    2  1.273    9  0.179   30 -0.301
CANADIENS      38 31 244 228  0.015 35.059    9  0.068    9  0.080   11  0.070    8 0.5129    3  1.264    3  0.299   25 -0.159
SHARKS         32 36 208 243  0.007 34.633   21 -0.030   20 -0.037   29 -0.150   21 0.4929    4  1.221   16  0.021   31 -0.322
MAPLE LEAFS    29 42 221 250  0.020 36.433   25 -0.116   25 -0.120   23 -0.080   25 0.4804    5  1.204   13  0.070   28 -0.229
PENGUINS       35 34 240 214 -0.006 34.430   16  0.010   16  0.008    7  0.115   16 0.5020    6  1.184    7  0.239   18 -0.009
SENATORS       36 33 234 213 -0.001 34.612   13  0.024   13  0.031    8  0.089   13 0.5055    7  1.183    8  0.213   23 -0.034
HURRICANES     44 25 245 205 -0.001 34.532    2  0.206    2  0.196    5  0.138    3 0.5335    8  1.181    5  0.259   15  0.017
LIGHTNING      43 25 248 188  0.007 34.151    3  0.205    3  0.191    2  0.234    2 0.5343    9  1.161    2  0.329    8  0.139
BRUINS         39 31 234 217  0.002 35.216    7  0.072    8  0.082    9  0.082    7 0.5143   10  1.157   10  0.173   17 -0.008
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS       34 35 206 229  0.015 35.267   19 -0.001   17 -0.002   22 -0.078   18 0.5009   11  1.157   17  0.011   27 -0.168
SABRES         44 26 246 201  0.008 35.268    4  0.202    4  0.189    4  0.177    4 0.5326   12  1.150    6  0.258   11  0.096
PREDATORS      32 37 206 230  0.002 34.964   22 -0.041   22 -0.050   24 -0.097   22 0.4895   13  1.140   20 -0.028   26 -0.166
BLUE JACKETS   37 32 228 214  0.004 34.784   12  0.041   12  0.054   13  0.051   12 0.5092   14  1.138   12  0.118   19 -0.015
CANUCKS        21 48 179 257 -0.015 34.744   32 -0.277   32 -0.289   32 -0.321   32 0.4512   15  1.111   28 -0.289   32 -0.353
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 31 39 221 219 -0.012 34.932   23 -0.077   23 -0.089   16 -0.005   23 0.4854   16  1.095   18  0.008   20 -0.018
AVALANCHE      45 23 254 173  0.006 33.992    1  0.242    1  0.234    1  0.356    1 0.5402   17  1.082    1  0.353    1  0.360
CAPITALS       35 35 218 205 -0.004 35.046   17  0.001   19 -0.004   12  0.063   17 0.5014   18  1.053   15  0.026   10  0.101
STARS          43 26 238 187 -0.013 34.112    5  0.179    5  0.168    3  0.188    5 0.5277   19  1.045   11  0.140    2  0.235
RANGERS        28 41 196 221  0.020 35.442   26 -0.120   26 -0.122   27 -0.117   26 0.4797   20  1.037   23 -0.174   24 -0.060
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
WILD           40 31 233 202 -0.011 35.265    6  0.074    6  0.084    6  0.126    9 0.5129   21  1.031   14  0.062    3  0.190
JETS           28 41 196 217 -0.014 34.508   28 -0.142   28 -0.141   25 -0.098   28 0.4757   22  1.018   24 -0.178   21 -0.019
MAMMOTH        36 34 219 195  0.010 35.409   14  0.019   14  0.025   10  0.071   14 0.5043   23  1.007   19 -0.021    6  0.163
BLUES          28 41 181 225 -0.019 34.389   29 -0.147   29 -0.144   28 -0.132   29 0.4752   24  0.998   27 -0.235   22 -0.030
KRAKEN         31 38 196 213 -0.031 33.970   24 -0.080   24 -0.091   20 -0.070   24 0.4848   25  0.992   25 -0.180   13  0.040
FLYERS         34 35 202 211  0.013 35.163   18 -0.000   18 -0.003   18 -0.036   19 0.4994   26  0.959   26 -0.184    9  0.112
RED WINGS      38 32 205 208  0.009 35.525   11  0.053   11  0.067   17 -0.006   10 0.5116   27  0.956   22 -0.157    7  0.145
ISLANDERS      39 31 205 202  0.001 35.276    8  0.068    7  0.082   14  0.011    6 0.5148   28  0.953   21 -0.143    5  0.165
BLACKHAWKS     26 43 181 222 -0.002 34.924   31 -0.184   31 -0.177   30 -0.153   31 0.4684   29  0.951   30 -0.310   16  0.003
DEVILS         35 34 187 209  0.013 35.249   15  0.011   15  0.017   26 -0.112   15 0.5036   30  0.933   29 -0.289   12  0.065
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         28 41 173 214 -0.033 34.043   30 -0.160   30 -0.153   31 -0.193   30 0.4739   31  0.894   32 -0.414   14  0.027
KINGS          28 41 184 209  0.010 35.119   27 -0.125   27 -0.129   21 -0.072   27 0.4782   32  0.860   31 -0.329    4  0.186

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         34 37 245 244 -0.021 35.163   20 -0.029   21 -0.042   15  0.001   20 0.4930    1  1.307    4  0.287   29 -0.285
DUCKS          38 31 229 237  0.001 34.860   10  0.056   10  0.072   19 -0.061   11 0.5114    2  1.273    9  0.179   30 -0.301
SHARKS         32 36 208 243  0.007 34.633   21 -0.030   20 -0.037   29 -0.150   21 0.4929    4  1.221   16  0.021   31 -0.322
CANUCKS        21 48 179 257 -0.015 34.744   32 -0.277   32 -0.289   32 -0.321   32 0.4512   15  1.111   28 -0.289   32 -0.353
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 31 39 221 219 -0.012 34.932   23 -0.077   23 -0.089   16 -0.005   23 0.4854   16  1.095   18  0.008   20 -0.018
KRAKEN         31 38 196 213 -0.031 33.970   24 -0.080   24 -0.091   20 -0.070   24 0.4848   25  0.992   25 -0.180   13  0.040
FLAMES         28 41 173 214 -0.033 34.043   30 -0.160   30 -0.153   31 -0.193   30 0.4739   31  0.894   32 -0.414   14  0.027
KINGS          28 41 184 209  0.010 35.119   27 -0.125   27 -0.129   21 -0.072   27 0.4782   32  0.860   31 -0.329    4  0.186

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
PREDATORS      32 37 206 230  0.002 34.964   22 -0.041   22 -0.050   24 -0.097   22 0.4895   13  1.140   20 -0.028   26 -0.166
AVALANCHE      45 23 254 173  0.006 33.992    1  0.242    1  0.234    1  0.356    1 0.5402   17  1.082    1  0.353    1  0.360
STARS          43 26 238 187 -0.013 34.112    5  0.179    5  0.168    3  0.188    5 0.5277   19  1.045   11  0.140    2  0.235
WILD           40 31 233 202 -0.011 35.265    6  0.074    6  0.084    6  0.126    9 0.5129   21  1.031   14  0.062    3  0.190
JETS           28 41 196 217 -0.014 34.508   28 -0.142   28 -0.141   25 -0.098   28 0.4757   22  1.018   24 -0.178   21 -0.019
MAMMOTH        36 34 219 195  0.010 35.409   14  0.019   14  0.025   10  0.071   14 0.5043   23  1.007   19 -0.021    6  0.163
BLUES          28 41 181 225 -0.019 34.389   29 -0.147   29 -0.144   28 -0.132   29 0.4752   24  0.998   27 -0.235   22 -0.030
BLACKHAWKS     26 43 181 222 -0.002 34.924   31 -0.184   31 -0.177   30 -0.153   31 0.4684   29  0.951   30 -0.310   16  0.003

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       35 34 240 214 -0.006 34.430   16  0.010   16  0.008    7  0.115   16 0.5020    6  1.184    7  0.239   18 -0.009
HURRICANES     44 25 245 205 -0.001 34.532    2  0.206    2  0.196    5  0.138    3 0.5335    8  1.181    5  0.259   15  0.017
BLUE JACKETS   37 32 228 214  0.004 34.784   12  0.041   12  0.054   13  0.051   12 0.5092   14  1.138   12  0.118   19 -0.015
CAPITALS       35 35 218 205 -0.004 35.046   17  0.001   19 -0.004   12  0.063   17 0.5014   18  1.053   15  0.026   10  0.101
RANGERS        28 41 196 221  0.020 35.442   26 -0.120   26 -0.122   27 -0.117   26 0.4797   20  1.037   23 -0.174   24 -0.060
FLYERS         34 35 202 211  0.013 35.163   18 -0.000   18 -0.003   18 -0.036   19 0.4994   26  0.959   26 -0.184    9  0.112
ISLANDERS      39 31 205 202  0.001 35.276    8  0.068    7  0.082   14  0.011    6 0.5148   28  0.953   21 -0.143    5  0.165
DEVILS         35 34 187 209  0.013 35.249   15  0.011   15  0.017   26 -0.112   15 0.5036   30  0.933   29 -0.289   12  0.065

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      38 31 244 228  0.015 35.059    9  0.068    9  0.080   11  0.070    8 0.5129    3  1.264    3  0.299   25 -0.159
MAPLE LEAFS    29 42 221 250  0.020 36.433   25 -0.116   25 -0.120   23 -0.080   25 0.4804    5  1.204   13  0.070   28 -0.229
SENATORS       36 33 234 213 -0.001 34.612   13  0.024   13  0.031    8  0.089   13 0.5055    7  1.183    8  0.213   23 -0.034
LIGHTNING      43 25 248 188  0.007 34.151    3  0.205    3  0.191    2  0.234    2 0.5343    9  1.161    2  0.329    8  0.139
BRUINS         39 31 234 217  0.002 35.216    7  0.072    8  0.082    9  0.082    7 0.5143   10  1.157   10  0.173   17 -0.008
PANTHERS       34 35 206 229  0.015 35.267   19 -0.001   17 -0.002   22 -0.078   18 0.5009   11  1.157   17  0.011   27 -0.168
SABRES         44 26 246 201  0.008 35.268    4  0.202    4  0.189    4  0.177    4 0.5326   12  1.150    6  0.258   11  0.096
RED WINGS      38 32 205 208  0.009 35.525   11  0.053   11  0.067   17 -0.006   10 0.5116   27  0.956   22 -0.157    7  0.145

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     301 255 0.541    1  0.091
CENTRAL DIVISION      278 276 0.502    2  0.047
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 287 267 0.518    3  0.021
PACIFIC DIVISION      243 311 0.439    4 -0.162

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.050 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: Sun Mar 22 05:30:06 2026
games through: Sat Mar 21 2026

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