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      37 18 212 138 -0.000 27.143    1  0.219    1  0.209    1  0.348    1 0.5438   17  1.087    1  0.347    1  0.349
LIGHTNING      36 18 193 139  0.002 26.803    2  0.206    2  0.197    2  0.227    2 0.5416   22  1.063    8  0.196    3  0.258
HURRICANES     35 21 195 163 -0.005 27.787    3  0.155    3  0.149    4  0.123    3 0.5306   13  1.127    9  0.172   12  0.075
STARS          34 23 193 160 -0.018 27.985    4  0.106    4  0.109    3  0.127    4 0.5216   21  1.070   13  0.105    7  0.150
WILD           34 24 196 169 -0.024 28.373    5  0.089    5  0.094    5  0.114    6 0.5179   20  1.070   14  0.093    8  0.136
RED WINGS      33 25 174 175  0.008 29.266    7  0.080    6  0.090   17 -0.005    7 0.5170   25  0.999   22 -0.111   11  0.100
SABRES         32 24 193 171  0.008 28.118    6  0.084    7  0.089    6  0.089    5 0.5190    8  1.183    6  0.207   19 -0.030
CANADIENS      32 25 199 187  0.023 29.001    8  0.078    8  0.086   10  0.061    9 0.5149    4  1.233    2  0.244   23 -0.123
BRUINS         32 25 195 182  0.003 28.549    9  0.069    9  0.076    9  0.066    8 0.5153    7  1.214    4  0.224   22 -0.092
ISLANDERS      31 26 166 161  0.010 28.757   10  0.049   10  0.059   14  0.027   10 0.5119   29  0.927   24 -0.161    4  0.216
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DUCKS          30 26 185 195  0.010 28.381   11  0.038   11  0.048   23 -0.059   11 0.5092    1  1.290    7  0.200   32 -0.318
MAMMOTH        30 27 183 157 -0.002 28.403   12  0.027   12  0.031    8  0.078   12 0.5074   24  1.012   19 -0.013    5  0.168
PANTHERS       29 27 173 185  0.016 28.488   13  0.023   13  0.029   21 -0.044   13 0.5061    9  1.169   17  0.057   24 -0.145
BLUE JACKETS   29 27 179 177  0.007 28.217   14  0.020   14  0.025   16  0.003   14 0.5046   14  1.124   18  0.048   21 -0.042
DEVILS         28 28 145 172  0.034 28.980   15  0.009   15  0.017   26 -0.114   15 0.5039   30  0.888   30 -0.346   10  0.117
SHARKS         27 28 171 193  0.024 28.236   16 -0.002   16  0.002   25 -0.097   17 0.4993    5  1.229   15  0.082   30 -0.275
PENGUINS       28 27 187 167 -0.035 26.704   17 -0.002   17 -0.005    7  0.080   16 0.5001   11  1.146   11  0.152   15  0.008
SENATORS       27 29 189 183  0.011 28.268   18 -0.011   18 -0.016   13  0.034   19 0.4968    3  1.238    5  0.224   25 -0.157
CAPITALS       28 30 185 175 -0.002 28.938   19 -0.017   19 -0.024   11  0.053   18 0.4978   15  1.108   16  0.078   13  0.029
MAPLE LEAFS    27 30 188 194  0.003 28.639   20 -0.023   20 -0.029   18 -0.008   20 0.4938    6  1.228   10  0.168   27 -0.184
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KRAKEN         27 29 162 165 -0.026 27.481   21 -0.027   21 -0.035   19 -0.008   21 0.4932   28  0.951   25 -0.169    6  0.153
OILERS         28 30 198 194 -0.032 28.308   22 -0.027   22 -0.037   15  0.010   22 0.4923    2  1.267    3  0.239   28 -0.219
PREDATORS      26 30 167 194  0.002 28.298   23 -0.033   23 -0.040   27 -0.118   25 0.4894   10  1.169   20 -0.018   29 -0.219
FLYERS         25 30 166 178  0.013 27.915   24 -0.037   24 -0.048   22 -0.045   24 0.4903   19  1.073   21 -0.063   18 -0.027
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 26 30 187 178 -0.025 27.459   25 -0.042   25 -0.056   12  0.034   23 0.4906   12  1.146   12  0.106   20 -0.037
KINGS          23 32 145 157  0.010 27.839   26 -0.082   26 -0.093   20 -0.035   26 0.4813   32  0.758   32 -0.404    2  0.335
RANGERS        22 34 151 178  0.034 29.003   27 -0.107   27 -0.113   28 -0.129   27 0.4777   27  0.958   29 -0.283   14  0.024
FLAMES         23 33 142 169 -0.035 27.436   29 -0.126   28 -0.125   30 -0.141   29 0.4738   31  0.863   31 -0.400    9  0.118
JETS           22 34 160 175  0.004 28.255   28 -0.125   29 -0.128   24 -0.076   28 0.4742   23  1.043   23 -0.130   17 -0.023
BLACKHAWKS     22 35 154 185 -0.025 28.167   30 -0.156   30 -0.151   29 -0.139   30 0.4692   26  0.990   28 -0.255   16 -0.022
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          20 37 147 203 -0.014 28.503   31 -0.199   31 -0.189   31 -0.195   31 0.4618   18  1.077   26 -0.207   26 -0.182
CANUCKS        18 39 149 210 -0.008 28.730   32 -0.235   32 -0.229   32 -0.262   32 0.4554   16  1.104   27 -0.243   31 -0.282

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
DUCKS          30 26 185 195  0.010 28.381   11  0.038   11  0.048   23 -0.059   11 0.5092    1  1.290    7  0.200   32 -0.318
SHARKS         27 28 171 193  0.024 28.236   16 -0.002   16  0.002   25 -0.097   17 0.4993    5  1.229   15  0.082   30 -0.275
KRAKEN         27 29 162 165 -0.026 27.481   21 -0.027   21 -0.035   19 -0.008   21 0.4932   28  0.951   25 -0.169    6  0.153
OILERS         28 30 198 194 -0.032 28.308   22 -0.027   22 -0.037   15  0.010   22 0.4923    2  1.267    3  0.239   28 -0.219
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 26 30 187 178 -0.025 27.459   25 -0.042   25 -0.056   12  0.034   23 0.4906   12  1.146   12  0.106   20 -0.037
KINGS          23 32 145 157  0.010 27.839   26 -0.082   26 -0.093   20 -0.035   26 0.4813   32  0.758   32 -0.404    2  0.335
FLAMES         23 33 142 169 -0.035 27.436   29 -0.126   28 -0.125   30 -0.141   29 0.4738   31  0.863   31 -0.400    9  0.118
CANUCKS        18 39 149 210 -0.008 28.730   32 -0.235   32 -0.229   32 -0.262   32 0.4554   16  1.104   27 -0.243   31 -0.282

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      37 18 212 138 -0.000 27.143    1  0.219    1  0.209    1  0.348    1 0.5438   17  1.087    1  0.347    1  0.349
STARS          34 23 193 160 -0.018 27.985    4  0.106    4  0.109    3  0.127    4 0.5216   21  1.070   13  0.105    7  0.150
WILD           34 24 196 169 -0.024 28.373    5  0.089    5  0.094    5  0.114    6 0.5179   20  1.070   14  0.093    8  0.136
MAMMOTH        30 27 183 157 -0.002 28.403   12  0.027   12  0.031    8  0.078   12 0.5074   24  1.012   19 -0.013    5  0.168
PREDATORS      26 30 167 194  0.002 28.298   23 -0.033   23 -0.040   27 -0.118   25 0.4894   10  1.169   20 -0.018   29 -0.219
JETS           22 34 160 175  0.004 28.255   28 -0.125   29 -0.128   24 -0.076   28 0.4742   23  1.043   23 -0.130   17 -0.023
BLACKHAWKS     22 35 154 185 -0.025 28.167   30 -0.156   30 -0.151   29 -0.139   30 0.4692   26  0.990   28 -0.255   16 -0.022
BLUES          20 37 147 203 -0.014 28.503   31 -0.199   31 -0.189   31 -0.195   31 0.4618   18  1.077   26 -0.207   26 -0.182

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     35 21 195 163 -0.005 27.787    3  0.155    3  0.149    4  0.123    3 0.5306   13  1.127    9  0.172   12  0.075
ISLANDERS      31 26 166 161  0.010 28.757   10  0.049   10  0.059   14  0.027   10 0.5119   29  0.927   24 -0.161    4  0.216
BLUE JACKETS   29 27 179 177  0.007 28.217   14  0.020   14  0.025   16  0.003   14 0.5046   14  1.124   18  0.048   21 -0.042
DEVILS         28 28 145 172  0.034 28.980   15  0.009   15  0.017   26 -0.114   15 0.5039   30  0.888   30 -0.346   10  0.117
PENGUINS       28 27 187 167 -0.035 26.704   17 -0.002   17 -0.005    7  0.080   16 0.5001   11  1.146   11  0.152   15  0.008
CAPITALS       28 30 185 175 -0.002 28.938   19 -0.017   19 -0.024   11  0.053   18 0.4978   15  1.108   16  0.078   13  0.029
FLYERS         25 30 166 178  0.013 27.915   24 -0.037   24 -0.048   22 -0.045   24 0.4903   19  1.073   21 -0.063   18 -0.027
RANGERS        22 34 151 178  0.034 29.003   27 -0.107   27 -0.113   28 -0.129   27 0.4777   27  0.958   29 -0.283   14  0.024

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      36 18 193 139  0.002 26.803    2  0.206    2  0.197    2  0.227    2 0.5416   22  1.063    8  0.196    3  0.258
RED WINGS      33 25 174 175  0.008 29.266    7  0.080    6  0.090   17 -0.005    7 0.5170   25  0.999   22 -0.111   11  0.100
SABRES         32 24 193 171  0.008 28.118    6  0.084    7  0.089    6  0.089    5 0.5190    8  1.183    6  0.207   19 -0.030
CANADIENS      32 25 199 187  0.023 29.001    8  0.078    8  0.086   10  0.061    9 0.5149    4  1.233    2  0.244   23 -0.123
BRUINS         32 25 195 182  0.003 28.549    9  0.069    9  0.076    9  0.066    8 0.5153    7  1.214    4  0.224   22 -0.092
PANTHERS       29 27 173 185  0.016 28.488   13  0.023   13  0.029   21 -0.044   13 0.5061    9  1.169   17  0.057   24 -0.145
SENATORS       27 29 189 183  0.011 28.268   18 -0.011   18 -0.016   13  0.034   19 0.4968    3  1.238    5  0.224   25 -0.157
MAPLE LEAFS    27 30 188 194  0.003 28.639   20 -0.023   20 -0.029   18 -0.008   20 0.4938    6  1.228   10  0.168   27 -0.184

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     248 203 0.550    1  0.089
CENTRAL DIVISION      225 228 0.497    2  0.027
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 226 223 0.503    3 -0.001
PACIFIC DIVISION      202 247 0.450    4 -0.117

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.057 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: Thu Feb  5 05:30:08 2026
games through: Wed Feb  4 2026

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