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         35 37 250 246 -0.018 35.739   20 -0.023   20 -0.030   14  0.014   20 0.4950    1  1.310    4  0.303   29 -0.276
DUCKS          40 31 240 245 -0.003 35.759    7  0.074    7  0.087   19 -0.053    7 0.5141    2  1.292    8  0.212   30 -0.319
CANADIENS      39 31 249 230  0.015 35.585    6  0.079    6  0.088    9  0.080    6 0.5146    3  1.265    3  0.310   25 -0.150
SHARKS         32 37 211 249  0.004 35.084   22 -0.042   22 -0.048   30 -0.159   22 0.4910    4  1.230   15  0.025   31 -0.342
MAPLE LEAFS    30 42 225 252  0.021 36.991   25 -0.096   25 -0.106   20 -0.069   25 0.4826    5  1.202   13  0.078   28 -0.216
PENGUINS       35 36 243 225  0.003 35.727   17 -0.004   17 -0.008    8  0.087   17 0.4992    6  1.190    7  0.219   24 -0.045
HURRICANES     45 26 252 211  0.002 35.655    2  0.205    2  0.191    5  0.141    3 0.5328    7  1.179    6  0.259   15  0.023
LIGHTNING      44 26 257 195  0.005 35.112    3  0.199    3  0.183    2  0.233    2 0.5330    8  1.176    2  0.347    8  0.119
SENATORS       38 33 239 216 -0.003 35.575   13  0.039   13  0.049    7  0.094   13 0.5087    9  1.166    9  0.195   20 -0.006
PANTHERS       35 35 211 233  0.013 35.732   16  0.004   16  0.007   23 -0.076   16 0.5022   10  1.166   16  0.025   27 -0.177
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SABRES         44 27 251 207  0.008 35.785    4  0.188    4  0.174    3  0.171    4 0.5308   11  1.164    5  0.270   11  0.072
BRUINS         39 32 236 221  0.000 35.681   10  0.059   10  0.069   10  0.071    9 0.5120   12  1.157   10  0.160   22 -0.018
PREDATORS      34 37 215 235 -0.003 35.809   21 -0.027   21 -0.032   25 -0.086   21 0.4928   13  1.145   18 -0.012   26 -0.160
CANUCKS        21 49 182 262 -0.015 35.234   32 -0.282   32 -0.292   32 -0.322   32 0.4503   14  1.115   29 -0.284   32 -0.359
BLUE JACKETS   38 33 231 217  0.003 35.800   12  0.040   12  0.051   13  0.046   12 0.5092   15  1.113   12  0.081   17  0.012
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 40 225 225 -0.008 36.050   23 -0.068   23 -0.084   17 -0.011   23 0.4861   16  1.087   17 -0.009   21 -0.014
AVALANCHE      47 23 263 177  0.009 35.099    1  0.254    1  0.249    1  0.363    1 0.5426   17  1.077    1  0.354    1  0.372
STARS          43 28 244 196 -0.016 35.086    5  0.147    5  0.140    4  0.169    5 0.5234   18  1.065   11  0.145    2  0.193
WILD           40 32 236 208 -0.004 35.970    8  0.065    9  0.075    6  0.118   10 0.5118   19  1.045   14  0.069    5  0.166
CAPITALS       35 37 220 211  0.001 36.237   19 -0.015   19 -0.021   12  0.047   18 0.4981   20  1.034   19 -0.014   10  0.108
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RANGERS        28 43 199 226  0.016 36.376   29 -0.143   29 -0.140   28 -0.123   29 0.4762   21  1.015   26 -0.206   23 -0.039
MAMMOTH        37 35 225 203  0.006 36.367   15  0.017   15  0.023   11  0.058   15 0.5037   22  1.014   20 -0.027    7  0.142
JETS           30 41 203 220 -0.015 35.453   26 -0.112   26 -0.118   24 -0.082   26 0.4794   23  1.005   24 -0.177   16  0.013
KRAKEN         31 39 200 218 -0.032 34.472   24 -0.087   24 -0.100   21 -0.070   24 0.4834   24  1.002   23 -0.169   14  0.028
BLUES          29 41 184 225 -0.018 34.913   28 -0.130   28 -0.130   27 -0.113   28 0.4773   25  0.986   27 -0.230   19  0.005
DEVILS         36 34 193 213  0.016 35.838   14  0.020   14  0.028   26 -0.101   14 0.5055   26  0.959   28 -0.249   12  0.047
FLYERS         34 36 204 214  0.012 35.650   18 -0.013   18 -0.014   18 -0.041   19 0.4975   27  0.956   25 -0.192    9  0.111
RED WINGS      38 33 207 211  0.011 36.090   11  0.044   11  0.056   16 -0.009   11 0.5098   28  0.953   22 -0.164    6  0.146
BLACKHAWKS     27 44 187 228 -0.003 35.897   31 -0.181   31 -0.172   29 -0.148   31 0.4696   29  0.952   30 -0.304   18  0.008
ISLANDERS      40 32 209 206 -0.003 36.167    9  0.064    8  0.077   15  0.011    8 0.5137   30  0.940   21 -0.158    4  0.180
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         30 41 180 219 -0.029 35.116   27 -0.129   27 -0.127   31 -0.181   27 0.4781   31  0.892   32 -0.405   13  0.042
KINGS          28 43 189 216  0.008 36.099   30 -0.147   30 -0.145   22 -0.074   30 0.4753   32  0.859   31 -0.333    3  0.184

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         35 37 250 246 -0.018 35.739   20 -0.023   20 -0.030   14  0.014   20 0.4950    1  1.310    4  0.303   29 -0.276
DUCKS          40 31 240 245 -0.003 35.759    7  0.074    7  0.087   19 -0.053    7 0.5141    2  1.292    8  0.212   30 -0.319
SHARKS         32 37 211 249  0.004 35.084   22 -0.042   22 -0.048   30 -0.159   22 0.4910    4  1.230   15  0.025   31 -0.342
CANUCKS        21 49 182 262 -0.015 35.234   32 -0.282   32 -0.292   32 -0.322   32 0.4503   14  1.115   29 -0.284   32 -0.359
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 40 225 225 -0.008 36.050   23 -0.068   23 -0.084   17 -0.011   23 0.4861   16  1.087   17 -0.009   21 -0.014
KRAKEN         31 39 200 218 -0.032 34.472   24 -0.087   24 -0.100   21 -0.070   24 0.4834   24  1.002   23 -0.169   14  0.028
FLAMES         30 41 180 219 -0.029 35.116   27 -0.129   27 -0.127   31 -0.181   27 0.4781   31  0.892   32 -0.405   13  0.042
KINGS          28 43 189 216  0.008 36.099   30 -0.147   30 -0.145   22 -0.074   30 0.4753   32  0.859   31 -0.333    3  0.184

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      34 37 215 235 -0.003 35.809   21 -0.027   21 -0.032   25 -0.086   21 0.4928   13  1.145   18 -0.012   26 -0.160
AVALANCHE      47 23 263 177  0.009 35.099    1  0.254    1  0.249    1  0.363    1 0.5426   17  1.077    1  0.354    1  0.372
STARS          43 28 244 196 -0.016 35.086    5  0.147    5  0.140    4  0.169    5 0.5234   18  1.065   11  0.145    2  0.193
WILD           40 32 236 208 -0.004 35.970    8  0.065    9  0.075    6  0.118   10 0.5118   19  1.045   14  0.069    5  0.166
MAMMOTH        37 35 225 203  0.006 36.367   15  0.017   15  0.023   11  0.058   15 0.5037   22  1.014   20 -0.027    7  0.142
JETS           30 41 203 220 -0.015 35.453   26 -0.112   26 -0.118   24 -0.082   26 0.4794   23  1.005   24 -0.177   16  0.013
BLUES          29 41 184 225 -0.018 34.913   28 -0.130   28 -0.130   27 -0.113   28 0.4773   25  0.986   27 -0.230   19  0.005
BLACKHAWKS     27 44 187 228 -0.003 35.897   31 -0.181   31 -0.172   29 -0.148   31 0.4696   29  0.952   30 -0.304   18  0.008

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 36 243 225  0.003 35.727   17 -0.004   17 -0.008    8  0.087   17 0.4992    6  1.190    7  0.219   24 -0.045
HURRICANES     45 26 252 211  0.002 35.655    2  0.205    2  0.191    5  0.141    3 0.5328    7  1.179    6  0.259   15  0.023
BLUE JACKETS   38 33 231 217  0.003 35.800   12  0.040   12  0.051   13  0.046   12 0.5092   15  1.113   12  0.081   17  0.012
CAPITALS       35 37 220 211  0.001 36.237   19 -0.015   19 -0.021   12  0.047   18 0.4981   20  1.034   19 -0.014   10  0.108
RANGERS        28 43 199 226  0.016 36.376   29 -0.143   29 -0.140   28 -0.123   29 0.4762   21  1.015   26 -0.206   23 -0.039
DEVILS         36 34 193 213  0.016 35.838   14  0.020   14  0.028   26 -0.101   14 0.5055   26  0.959   28 -0.249   12  0.047
FLYERS         34 36 204 214  0.012 35.650   18 -0.013   18 -0.014   18 -0.041   19 0.4975   27  0.956   25 -0.192    9  0.111
ISLANDERS      40 32 209 206 -0.003 36.167    9  0.064    8  0.077   15  0.011    8 0.5137   30  0.940   21 -0.158    4  0.180

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      39 31 249 230  0.015 35.585    6  0.079    6  0.088    9  0.080    6 0.5146    3  1.265    3  0.310   25 -0.150
MAPLE LEAFS    30 42 225 252  0.021 36.991   25 -0.096   25 -0.106   20 -0.069   25 0.4826    5  1.202   13  0.078   28 -0.216
LIGHTNING      44 26 257 195  0.005 35.112    3  0.199    3  0.183    2  0.233    2 0.5330    8  1.176    2  0.347    8  0.119
SENATORS       38 33 239 216 -0.003 35.575   13  0.039   13  0.049    7  0.094   13 0.5087    9  1.166    9  0.195   20 -0.006
PANTHERS       35 35 211 233  0.013 35.732   16  0.004   16  0.007   23 -0.076   16 0.5022   10  1.166   16  0.025   27 -0.177
SABRES         44 27 251 207  0.008 35.785    4  0.188    4  0.174    3  0.171    4 0.5308   11  1.164    5  0.270   11  0.072
BRUINS         39 32 236 221  0.000 35.681   10  0.059   10  0.069   10  0.071    9 0.5120   12  1.157   10  0.160   22 -0.018
RED WINGS      38 33 207 211  0.011 36.090   11  0.044   11  0.056   16 -0.009   11 0.5098   28  0.953   22 -0.164    6  0.146

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     307 259 0.542    1  0.093
CENTRAL DIVISION      287 281 0.505    2  0.051
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 291 277 0.512    3  0.013
PACIFIC DIVISION      249 317 0.440    4 -0.160

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.049 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: Wed Mar 25 05:30:09 2026
games through: Tue Mar 24 2026

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