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      33 11 179  99  0.002 21.793    1  0.276    1  0.265    1  0.404    1 0.5623   21  1.056    1  0.376    1  0.431
LIGHTNING      27 16 153 114  0.020 21.807    2  0.144    2  0.138    2  0.180    2 0.5343   13  1.115    4  0.225    7  0.135
HURRICANES     28 17 155 135  0.016 22.883    3  0.140    3  0.137    5  0.094    3 0.5322    8  1.161    5  0.196   16 -0.008
RED WINGS      27 19 145 142 -0.031 22.671    4  0.071    4  0.080   17 -0.003    4 0.5184   18  1.095   17  0.018   18 -0.024
STARS          26 19 157 129 -0.017 22.274    5  0.068    5  0.075    3  0.138    5 0.5178   14  1.113    7  0.180   11  0.095
ISLANDERS      25 20 134 125  0.035 23.284    6  0.065    6  0.074    7  0.060    6 0.5175   27  0.924   25 -0.119    4  0.240
WILD           26 20 146 125 -0.009 22.914    7  0.059    7  0.066    4  0.123    8 0.5130   26  0.945   19 -0.033    3  0.279
CANADIENS      25 20 151 148 -0.004 22.648    8  0.050    8  0.056   14  0.013    9 0.5118    5  1.213    6  0.182   27 -0.156
SABRES         24 19 140 134 -0.010 21.537    9  0.048    9  0.055   15  0.012    7 0.5136   10  1.153   13  0.104   20 -0.081
BRUINS         25 21 152 146 -0.004 23.138   10  0.040   10  0.045   10  0.027   10 0.5112    7  1.186    9  0.161   23 -0.106
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS       23 21 135 142  0.020 22.628   11  0.029   11  0.033   19 -0.023   11 0.5083    9  1.155   15  0.072   24 -0.118
SHARKS         23 22 143 162  0.026 23.363   12  0.021   12  0.025   28 -0.098   12 0.5032    3  1.274   10  0.151   31 -0.347
DEVILS         22 23 118 141  0.046 23.714   14  0.006   13  0.009   26 -0.090   14 0.5026   28  0.922   29 -0.273   12  0.092
FLYERS         22 21 132 127 -0.018 21.404   13  0.006   14  0.004   16  0.009   13 0.5031   24  0.981   23 -0.106    9  0.124
CAPITALS       23 23 150 133 -0.008 22.987   15  0.001   15 -0.004    6  0.091   15 0.5002   16  1.099   12  0.116   13  0.066
OILERS         22 23 152 152 -0.004 22.652   16 -0.009   16 -0.014   12  0.013   17 0.4960    2  1.281    3  0.272   29 -0.245
MAPLE LEAFS    22 22 148 140 -0.037 21.537   17 -0.010   17 -0.015    9  0.033   16 0.4985    6  1.190    8  0.172   22 -0.106
MAMMOTH        22 24 139 130 -0.010 23.026   18 -0.021   18 -0.027   13  0.013   18 0.4953   25  0.978   21 -0.105    8  0.132
DUCKS          21 24 150 168  0.012 23.093   19 -0.027   19 -0.030   27 -0.095   20 0.4934    1  1.364    2  0.277   32 -0.466
PREDATORS      21 24 125 148  0.002 22.979   20 -0.029   20 -0.032   29 -0.115   22 0.4902   20  1.065   26 -0.131   21 -0.099
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 21 23 144 136 -0.024 21.742   21 -0.030   21 -0.035    8  0.044   19 0.4947   15  1.108   14  0.080   14  0.008
PENGUINS       21 23 140 135 -0.037 21.560   22 -0.033   22 -0.038   11  0.020   21 0.4929   19  1.093   16  0.038   15  0.003
KRAKEN         20 23 119 126 -0.024 21.356   23 -0.041   23 -0.046   20 -0.031   24 0.4888   30  0.873   28 -0.267    5  0.205
SENATORS       20 24 141 148 -0.002 22.254   24 -0.042   24 -0.048   21 -0.035   25 0.4881    4  1.219   11  0.142   28 -0.212
RANGERS        20 26 120 135  0.035 24.037   25 -0.048   25 -0.054   25 -0.086   23 0.4888   31  0.835   32 -0.364    6  0.192
KINGS          19 25 119 125  0.019 22.587   26 -0.057   26 -0.063   18 -0.006   27 0.4835   32  0.792   30 -0.330    2  0.317
BLUE JACKETS   19 26 135 153  0.028 23.380   27 -0.064   27 -0.070   24 -0.086   26 0.4838   12  1.118   20 -0.038   25 -0.134
BLACKHAWKS     19 26 129 142 -0.031 22.272   28 -0.091   28 -0.094   23 -0.067   28 0.4769   23  1.035   24 -0.119   17 -0.015
FLAMES         19 26 116 135 -0.037 22.191   29 -0.098   29 -0.098   30 -0.118   29 0.4766   29  0.893   31 -0.332   10  0.097
JETS           17 27 130 138  0.002 22.335   30 -0.116   30 -0.118   22 -0.053   30 0.4708   17  1.098   18 -0.029   19 -0.077
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CANUCKS        16 28 121 158 -0.002 22.488   31 -0.147   31 -0.141   31 -0.184   31 0.4686   11  1.142   22 -0.106   30 -0.262
BLUES          17 29 114 161 -0.034 22.852   32 -0.161   32 -0.154   32 -0.184   32 0.4648   22  1.036   27 -0.235   26 -0.134

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
SHARKS         23 22 143 162  0.026 23.363   12  0.021   12  0.025   28 -0.098   12 0.5032    3  1.274   10  0.151   31 -0.347
OILERS         22 23 152 152 -0.004 22.652   16 -0.009   16 -0.014   12  0.013   17 0.4960    2  1.281    3  0.272   29 -0.245
DUCKS          21 24 150 168  0.012 23.093   19 -0.027   19 -0.030   27 -0.095   20 0.4934    1  1.364    2  0.277   32 -0.466
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 21 23 144 136 -0.024 21.742   21 -0.030   21 -0.035    8  0.044   19 0.4947   15  1.108   14  0.080   14  0.008
KRAKEN         20 23 119 126 -0.024 21.356   23 -0.041   23 -0.046   20 -0.031   24 0.4888   30  0.873   28 -0.267    5  0.205
KINGS          19 25 119 125  0.019 22.587   26 -0.057   26 -0.063   18 -0.006   27 0.4835   32  0.792   30 -0.330    2  0.317
FLAMES         19 26 116 135 -0.037 22.191   29 -0.098   29 -0.098   30 -0.118   29 0.4766   29  0.893   31 -0.332   10  0.097
CANUCKS        16 28 121 158 -0.002 22.488   31 -0.147   31 -0.141   31 -0.184   31 0.4686   11  1.142   22 -0.106   30 -0.262

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      33 11 179  99  0.002 21.793    1  0.276    1  0.265    1  0.404    1 0.5623   21  1.056    1  0.376    1  0.431
STARS          26 19 157 129 -0.017 22.274    5  0.068    5  0.075    3  0.138    5 0.5178   14  1.113    7  0.180   11  0.095
WILD           26 20 146 125 -0.009 22.914    7  0.059    7  0.066    4  0.123    8 0.5130   26  0.945   19 -0.033    3  0.279
MAMMOTH        22 24 139 130 -0.010 23.026   18 -0.021   18 -0.027   13  0.013   18 0.4953   25  0.978   21 -0.105    8  0.132
PREDATORS      21 24 125 148  0.002 22.979   20 -0.029   20 -0.032   29 -0.115   22 0.4902   20  1.065   26 -0.131   21 -0.099
BLACKHAWKS     19 26 129 142 -0.031 22.272   28 -0.091   28 -0.094   23 -0.067   28 0.4769   23  1.035   24 -0.119   17 -0.015
JETS           17 27 130 138  0.002 22.335   30 -0.116   30 -0.118   22 -0.053   30 0.4708   17  1.098   18 -0.029   19 -0.077
BLUES          17 29 114 161 -0.034 22.852   32 -0.161   32 -0.154   32 -0.184   32 0.4648   22  1.036   27 -0.235   26 -0.134

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     28 17 155 135  0.016 22.883    3  0.140    3  0.137    5  0.094    3 0.5322    8  1.161    5  0.196   16 -0.008
ISLANDERS      25 20 134 125  0.035 23.284    6  0.065    6  0.074    7  0.060    6 0.5175   27  0.924   25 -0.119    4  0.240
DEVILS         22 23 118 141  0.046 23.714   14  0.006   13  0.009   26 -0.090   14 0.5026   28  0.922   29 -0.273   12  0.092
FLYERS         22 21 132 127 -0.018 21.404   13  0.006   14  0.004   16  0.009   13 0.5031   24  0.981   23 -0.106    9  0.124
CAPITALS       23 23 150 133 -0.008 22.987   15  0.001   15 -0.004    6  0.091   15 0.5002   16  1.099   12  0.116   13  0.066
PENGUINS       21 23 140 135 -0.037 21.560   22 -0.033   22 -0.038   11  0.020   21 0.4929   19  1.093   16  0.038   15  0.003
RANGERS        20 26 120 135  0.035 24.037   25 -0.048   25 -0.054   25 -0.086   23 0.4888   31  0.835   32 -0.364    6  0.192
BLUE JACKETS   19 26 135 153  0.028 23.380   27 -0.064   27 -0.070   24 -0.086   26 0.4838   12  1.118   20 -0.038   25 -0.134

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      27 16 153 114  0.020 21.807    2  0.144    2  0.138    2  0.180    2 0.5343   13  1.115    4  0.225    7  0.135
RED WINGS      27 19 145 142 -0.031 22.671    4  0.071    4  0.080   17 -0.003    4 0.5184   18  1.095   17  0.018   18 -0.024
CANADIENS      25 20 151 148 -0.004 22.648    8  0.050    8  0.056   14  0.013    9 0.5118    5  1.213    6  0.182   27 -0.156
SABRES         24 19 140 134 -0.010 21.537    9  0.048    9  0.055   15  0.012    7 0.5136   10  1.153   13  0.104   20 -0.081
BRUINS         25 21 152 146 -0.004 23.138   10  0.040   10  0.045   10  0.027   10 0.5112    7  1.186    9  0.161   23 -0.106
PANTHERS       23 21 135 142  0.020 22.628   11  0.029   11  0.033   19 -0.023   11 0.5083    9  1.155   15  0.072   24 -0.118
MAPLE LEAFS    22 22 148 140 -0.037 21.537   17 -0.010   17 -0.015    9  0.033   16 0.4985    6  1.190    8  0.172   22 -0.106
SENATORS       20 24 141 148 -0.002 22.254   24 -0.042   24 -0.048   21 -0.035   25 0.4881    4  1.219   11  0.142   28 -0.212

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      181 180 0.501    1  0.056
ATLANTIC DIVISION     193 162 0.544    2  0.048
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 180 179 0.501    3  0.003
PACIFIC DIVISION      161 194 0.454    4 -0.112

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.062 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: Mon Jan 12 05:30:20 2026
games through: Sun Jan 11 2026

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