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      49 25 283 193 -0.005 36.611    1  0.244    1  0.238    1  0.359    1 0.5386   15  1.133    1  0.413    1  0.305
HURRICANES     48 27 268 219  0.004 37.617    2  0.221    2  0.211    4  0.168    2 0.5348    8  1.168    6  0.265   10  0.070
LIGHTNING      47 28 274 210  0.005 37.546    3  0.204    3  0.190    2  0.234    3 0.5321    7  1.168    2  0.332    6  0.136
SABRES         46 30 264 225  0.011 38.363    4  0.175    4  0.165    5  0.150    4 0.5278   12  1.158    7  0.235   11  0.065
CANADIENS      44 31 265 236  0.021 38.169    5  0.146    5  0.141    6  0.126    5 0.5228    4  1.214    3  0.283   23 -0.031
STARS          45 31 258 209 -0.011 37.640    6  0.134    6  0.131    3  0.175    6 0.5205   21  1.048   11  0.125    2  0.225
BRUINS         43 33 257 235  0.010 38.408    7  0.096    7  0.103    9  0.094    7 0.5173   11  1.161    9  0.183   19  0.005
WILD           42 33 247 218 -0.011 37.203    8  0.072    8  0.082    7  0.117    9 0.5124   20  1.052   13  0.072    5  0.162
ISLANDERS      42 34 222 221  0.004 38.303    9  0.067    9  0.080   14  0.013    8 0.5136   30  0.959   21 -0.141    4  0.167
DUCKS          41 34 252 260 -0.009 37.526   10  0.048   10  0.063   19 -0.068   11 0.5095    1  1.277   10  0.172   31 -0.308
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RED WINGS      40 35 220 225  0.016 38.206   11  0.046   11  0.060   17 -0.008   10 0.5100   27  0.973   22 -0.147    7  0.130
DEVILS         39 36 212 230  0.011 38.164   13  0.026   12  0.036   26 -0.098   12 0.5063   23  0.993   26 -0.212   17  0.017
SENATORS       39 36 251 231  0.009 37.847   12  0.029   13  0.035   10  0.094   13 0.5062    9  1.164    8  0.187   20  0.001
MAMMOTH        39 36 241 214  0.003 37.686   14  0.025   14  0.030   11  0.074   14 0.5043   19  1.058   15  0.036    8  0.111
PENGUINS       38 38 266 244  0.015 38.517   15  0.010   15  0.009    8  0.106   15 0.5022    3  1.228    4  0.281   25 -0.069
BLUE JACKETS   38 38 240 236  0.010 38.496   16  0.005   16  0.006   15  0.012   16 0.5017   18  1.084   18  0.006   16  0.019
OILERS         39 37 264 252 -0.025 37.393   17  0.005   17  0.005   13  0.041   18 0.5006    2  1.274    5  0.277   28 -0.194
CAPITALS       38 38 241 230  0.002 38.218   18  0.002   18 -0.000   12  0.052   17 0.5016   16  1.106   12  0.072   15  0.031
PANTHERS       37 38 224 248  0.013 38.216   20 -0.004   19 -0.002   22 -0.083   19 0.5006   13  1.150   19 -0.008   26 -0.158
FLYERS         37 38 222 229  0.012 38.110   19 -0.002   20 -0.003   18 -0.028   20 0.4994   26  0.976   23 -0.163    9  0.107
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SHARKS         36 38 228 261 -0.002 37.332   21 -0.017   21 -0.021   29 -0.137   21 0.4959    5  1.208   17  0.011   30 -0.286
PREDATORS      35 40 225 250 -0.003 37.795   22 -0.040   22 -0.051   28 -0.107   22 0.4900   14  1.136   20 -0.050   27 -0.164
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 34 42 242 239 -0.018 37.664   23 -0.075   23 -0.090   16 -0.005   23 0.4854   17  1.105   16  0.014   22 -0.023
MAPLE LEAFS    32 44 236 268  0.015 38.792   24 -0.101   24 -0.108   25 -0.094   24 0.4834    6  1.200   14  0.044   29 -0.233
JETS           32 43 213 231 -0.002 37.790   25 -0.103   25 -0.109   21 -0.081   26 0.4814   24  0.988   25 -0.202   13  0.040
KRAKEN         32 42 208 233 -0.019 36.783   26 -0.106   26 -0.112   23 -0.091   25 0.4820   25  0.984   27 -0.216   14  0.034
RANGERS        31 45 217 236  0.009 38.610   27 -0.131   27 -0.131   24 -0.092   27 0.4791   22  1.005   24 -0.192   18  0.009
BLUES          31 43 196 234 -0.027 36.552   28 -0.136   28 -0.135   27 -0.105   28 0.4775   28  0.964   28 -0.253   12  0.042
FLAMES         31 44 194 240 -0.028 37.093   29 -0.154   29 -0.146   30 -0.198   29 0.4760   31  0.940   32 -0.373   21 -0.023
KINGS          30 45 201 228 -0.003 37.727   30 -0.155   30 -0.150   20 -0.075   30 0.4752   32  0.859   30 -0.340    3  0.190
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     27 49 196 251 -0.008 38.247   31 -0.229   31 -0.222   31 -0.199   31 0.4630   29  0.960   31 -0.352   24 -0.046
CANUCKS        22 53 197 288 -0.011 37.838   32 -0.302   32 -0.316   32 -0.355   32 0.4487   10  1.162   29 -0.265   32 -0.445

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          41 34 252 260 -0.009 37.526   10  0.048   10  0.063   19 -0.068   11 0.5095    1  1.277   10  0.172   31 -0.308
OILERS         39 37 264 252 -0.025 37.393   17  0.005   17  0.005   13  0.041   18 0.5006    2  1.274    5  0.277   28 -0.194
SHARKS         36 38 228 261 -0.002 37.332   21 -0.017   21 -0.021   29 -0.137   21 0.4959    5  1.208   17  0.011   30 -0.286
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 34 42 242 239 -0.018 37.664   23 -0.075   23 -0.090   16 -0.005   23 0.4854   17  1.105   16  0.014   22 -0.023
KRAKEN         32 42 208 233 -0.019 36.783   26 -0.106   26 -0.112   23 -0.091   25 0.4820   25  0.984   27 -0.216   14  0.034
FLAMES         31 44 194 240 -0.028 37.093   29 -0.154   29 -0.146   30 -0.198   29 0.4760   31  0.940   32 -0.373   21 -0.023
KINGS          30 45 201 228 -0.003 37.727   30 -0.155   30 -0.150   20 -0.075   30 0.4752   32  0.859   30 -0.340    3  0.190
CANUCKS        22 53 197 288 -0.011 37.838   32 -0.302   32 -0.316   32 -0.355   32 0.4487   10  1.162   29 -0.265   32 -0.445

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      49 25 283 193 -0.005 36.611    1  0.244    1  0.238    1  0.359    1 0.5386   15  1.133    1  0.413    1  0.305
STARS          45 31 258 209 -0.011 37.640    6  0.134    6  0.131    3  0.175    6 0.5205   21  1.048   11  0.125    2  0.225
WILD           42 33 247 218 -0.011 37.203    8  0.072    8  0.082    7  0.117    9 0.5124   20  1.052   13  0.072    5  0.162
MAMMOTH        39 36 241 214  0.003 37.686   14  0.025   14  0.030   11  0.074   14 0.5043   19  1.058   15  0.036    8  0.111
PREDATORS      35 40 225 250 -0.003 37.795   22 -0.040   22 -0.051   28 -0.107   22 0.4900   14  1.136   20 -0.050   27 -0.164
JETS           32 43 213 231 -0.002 37.790   25 -0.103   25 -0.109   21 -0.081   26 0.4814   24  0.988   25 -0.202   13  0.040
BLUES          31 43 196 234 -0.027 36.552   28 -0.136   28 -0.135   27 -0.105   28 0.4775   28  0.964   28 -0.253   12  0.042
BLACKHAWKS     27 49 196 251 -0.008 38.247   31 -0.229   31 -0.222   31 -0.199   31 0.4630   29  0.960   31 -0.352   24 -0.046

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     48 27 268 219  0.004 37.617    2  0.221    2  0.211    4  0.168    2 0.5348    8  1.168    6  0.265   10  0.070
ISLANDERS      42 34 222 221  0.004 38.303    9  0.067    9  0.080   14  0.013    8 0.5136   30  0.959   21 -0.141    4  0.167
DEVILS         39 36 212 230  0.011 38.164   13  0.026   12  0.036   26 -0.098   12 0.5063   23  0.993   26 -0.212   17  0.017
PENGUINS       38 38 266 244  0.015 38.517   15  0.010   15  0.009    8  0.106   15 0.5022    3  1.228    4  0.281   25 -0.069
BLUE JACKETS   38 38 240 236  0.010 38.496   16  0.005   16  0.006   15  0.012   16 0.5017   18  1.084   18  0.006   16  0.019
CAPITALS       38 38 241 230  0.002 38.218   18  0.002   18 -0.000   12  0.052   17 0.5016   16  1.106   12  0.072   15  0.031
FLYERS         37 38 222 229  0.012 38.110   19 -0.002   20 -0.003   18 -0.028   20 0.4994   26  0.976   23 -0.163    9  0.107
RANGERS        31 45 217 236  0.009 38.610   27 -0.131   27 -0.131   24 -0.092   27 0.4791   22  1.005   24 -0.192   18  0.009

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      47 28 274 210  0.005 37.546    3  0.204    3  0.190    2  0.234    3 0.5321    7  1.168    2  0.332    6  0.136
SABRES         46 30 264 225  0.011 38.363    4  0.175    4  0.165    5  0.150    4 0.5278   12  1.158    7  0.235   11  0.065
CANADIENS      44 31 265 236  0.021 38.169    5  0.146    5  0.141    6  0.126    5 0.5228    4  1.214    3  0.283   23 -0.031
BRUINS         43 33 257 235  0.010 38.408    7  0.096    7  0.103    9  0.094    7 0.5173   11  1.161    9  0.183   19  0.005
RED WINGS      40 35 220 225  0.016 38.206   11  0.046   11  0.060   17 -0.008   10 0.5100   27  0.973   22 -0.147    7  0.130
SENATORS       39 36 251 231  0.009 37.847   12  0.029   13  0.035   10  0.094   13 0.5062    9  1.164    8  0.187   20  0.001
PANTHERS       37 38 224 248  0.013 38.216   20 -0.004   19 -0.002   22 -0.083   19 0.5006   13  1.150   19 -0.008   26 -0.158
MAPLE LEAFS    32 44 236 268  0.015 38.792   24 -0.101   24 -0.108   25 -0.094   24 0.4834    6  1.200   14  0.044   29 -0.233

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     328 275 0.544    1  0.092
CENTRAL DIVISION      300 300 0.500    2  0.041
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 311 294 0.514    3  0.024
PACIFIC DIVISION      265 335 0.442    4 -0.159

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.058 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: Fri Apr  3 05:30:08 2026
games through: Thu Apr  2 2026

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