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      22  9 124  72  0.009 15.454    1  0.188    1  0.176    1  0.319    1 0.5540   21  1.047    2  0.293    2  0.344
STARS          21 11 111  85 -0.016 15.805    2  0.130    2  0.126    3  0.145    2 0.5356   19  1.061    8  0.136   10  0.154
HURRICANES     19 11 101  85  0.030 15.441    3  0.120    3  0.119    5  0.089    3 0.5348   14  1.107    7  0.137   14  0.041
DUCKS          19 12 113 103  0.030 16.064    4  0.101    4  0.103   12  0.032    4 0.5296    1  1.318    1  0.353   31 -0.288
BRUINS         19 13 107  99  0.038 16.639    5  0.090    5  0.093    8  0.057    5 0.5287   11  1.165    4  0.177   18 -0.063
ISLANDERS      18 14  97  91  0.097 17.370    6  0.081    6  0.086    6  0.078    6 0.5258   26  0.997   19 -0.006    9  0.162
LIGHTNING      18 13 102  80  0.050 16.161    7  0.078    7  0.081    4  0.135    7 0.5252   23  1.014   14  0.070    7  0.199
CAPITALS       18 13 105  78  0.025 15.799    8  0.072    8  0.073    2  0.178    8 0.5227   25  1.008   11  0.106    5  0.250
DEVILS         17 14  92 100  0.063 16.573    9  0.058    9  0.063   19 -0.023    9 0.5198   15  1.088   17  0.000   17 -0.047
WILD           17 14  90  83 -0.007 15.541   10  0.035   10  0.037    7  0.065   11 0.5094   29  0.872   27 -0.159    4  0.290
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLYERS         16 13  87  81 -0.028 14.383   11  0.031   11  0.032   13  0.002   10 0.5106   27  0.896   28 -0.197    6  0.201
CANADIENS      16 14  97 107 -0.029 14.966   12  0.016   12  0.018   23 -0.062   14 0.5023    2  1.253    5  0.171   32 -0.295
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 15 15  93  88  0.019 15.381   13  0.007   13  0.005    9  0.056   12 0.5047   24  1.009   20 -0.014   11  0.127
RED WINGS      17 15 100 109 -0.069 15.452   14  0.002   14  0.004   25 -0.084   13 0.5029    6  1.201   12  0.082   28 -0.250
PANTHERS       15 15  94  99  0.001 15.295   15 -0.000   15  0.001   21 -0.036   15 0.5012    5  1.205   10  0.136   25 -0.207
SHARKS         15 17  90 105  0.051 17.029   16 -0.008   16 -0.008   24 -0.080   16 0.4975   17  1.068   25 -0.080   19 -0.081
RANGERS        15 17  83  84  0.042 16.825   17 -0.011   17 -0.013   16 -0.019   17 0.4951   31  0.748   32 -0.375    3  0.337
PENGUINS       14 15  90  85 -0.024 14.359   18 -0.016   18 -0.022   10  0.052   18 0.4945   18  1.064   15  0.047   13  0.056
KINGS          14 16  82  80  0.017 15.375   19 -0.018   19 -0.023   11  0.036   20 0.4922   32  0.734   30 -0.334    1  0.407
SENATORS       14 16  96  99 -0.011 15.132   20 -0.029   20 -0.031   20 -0.029   19 0.4932    4  1.217    6  0.158   26 -0.215
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS           14 16  91  95 -0.027 14.974   21 -0.034   21 -0.036   22 -0.056   21 0.4885    7  1.179   13  0.081   24 -0.194
MAMMOTH        15 18 101  97 -0.016 16.518   22 -0.039   22 -0.045   14  0.001   23 0.4877   20  1.053   21 -0.017   15  0.020
MAPLE LEAFS    14 16  99  96 -0.062 14.457   23 -0.042   23 -0.048   15  0.001   22 0.4879    9  1.177    9  0.136   20 -0.134
OILERS         14 17 103 107 -0.038 15.285   24 -0.048   24 -0.055   18 -0.023   24 0.4859    3  1.250    3  0.207   29 -0.253
BLUE JACKETS   13 18  94 109  0.013 16.052   25 -0.059   25 -0.062   27 -0.096   25 0.4815   12  1.144   18 -0.002   23 -0.190
SABRES         13 18  95 108 -0.010 15.755   26 -0.067   26 -0.070   26 -0.091   26 0.4793    8  1.178   16  0.046   27 -0.228
KRAKEN         12 17  73  90 -0.025 14.535   27 -0.074   27 -0.077   28 -0.096   27 0.4767   30  0.836   31 -0.360    8  0.168
PREDATORS      12 18  85 105 -0.011 15.281   28 -0.080   28 -0.083   30 -0.116   29 0.4733   13  1.121   23 -0.052   22 -0.180
BLACKHAWKS     13 18  91  94 -0.055 15.061   29 -0.081   29 -0.086   17 -0.020   28 0.4745   22  1.037   24 -0.057   16  0.018
CANUCKS        11 20  87 111 -0.011 15.886   30 -0.126   30 -0.121   31 -0.156   30 0.4622   10  1.168   22 -0.033   30 -0.280
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         12 20  82  96 -0.079 15.355   31 -0.135   31 -0.133   29 -0.116   32 0.4610   28  0.886   29 -0.325   12  0.094
BLUES          12 21  84 118 -0.055 16.218   32 -0.140   32 -0.137   32 -0.162   31 0.4614   16  1.075   26 -0.153   21 -0.171

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          19 12 113 103  0.030 16.064    4  0.101    4  0.103   12  0.032    4 0.5296    1  1.318    1  0.353   31 -0.288
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 15 15  93  88  0.019 15.381   13  0.007   13  0.005    9  0.056   12 0.5047   24  1.009   20 -0.014   11  0.127
SHARKS         15 17  90 105  0.051 17.029   16 -0.008   16 -0.008   24 -0.080   16 0.4975   17  1.068   25 -0.080   19 -0.081
KINGS          14 16  82  80  0.017 15.375   19 -0.018   19 -0.023   11  0.036   20 0.4922   32  0.734   30 -0.334    1  0.407
OILERS         14 17 103 107 -0.038 15.285   24 -0.048   24 -0.055   18 -0.023   24 0.4859    3  1.250    3  0.207   29 -0.253
KRAKEN         12 17  73  90 -0.025 14.535   27 -0.074   27 -0.077   28 -0.096   27 0.4767   30  0.836   31 -0.360    8  0.168
CANUCKS        11 20  87 111 -0.011 15.886   30 -0.126   30 -0.121   31 -0.156   30 0.4622   10  1.168   22 -0.033   30 -0.280
FLAMES         12 20  82  96 -0.079 15.355   31 -0.135   31 -0.133   29 -0.116   32 0.4610   28  0.886   29 -0.325   12  0.094

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      22  9 124  72  0.009 15.454    1  0.188    1  0.176    1  0.319    1 0.5540   21  1.047    2  0.293    2  0.344
STARS          21 11 111  85 -0.016 15.805    2  0.130    2  0.126    3  0.145    2 0.5356   19  1.061    8  0.136   10  0.154
WILD           17 14  90  83 -0.007 15.541   10  0.035   10  0.037    7  0.065   11 0.5094   29  0.872   27 -0.159    4  0.290
JETS           14 16  91  95 -0.027 14.974   21 -0.034   21 -0.036   22 -0.056   21 0.4885    7  1.179   13  0.081   24 -0.194
MAMMOTH        15 18 101  97 -0.016 16.518   22 -0.039   22 -0.045   14  0.001   23 0.4877   20  1.053   21 -0.017   15  0.020
PREDATORS      12 18  85 105 -0.011 15.281   28 -0.080   28 -0.083   30 -0.116   29 0.4733   13  1.121   23 -0.052   22 -0.180
BLACKHAWKS     13 18  91  94 -0.055 15.061   29 -0.081   29 -0.086   17 -0.020   28 0.4745   22  1.037   24 -0.057   16  0.018
BLUES          12 21  84 118 -0.055 16.218   32 -0.140   32 -0.137   32 -0.162   31 0.4614   16  1.075   26 -0.153   21 -0.171

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     19 11 101  85  0.030 15.441    3  0.120    3  0.119    5  0.089    3 0.5348   14  1.107    7  0.137   14  0.041
ISLANDERS      18 14  97  91  0.097 17.370    6  0.081    6  0.086    6  0.078    6 0.5258   26  0.997   19 -0.006    9  0.162
CAPITALS       18 13 105  78  0.025 15.799    8  0.072    8  0.073    2  0.178    8 0.5227   25  1.008   11  0.106    5  0.250
DEVILS         17 14  92 100  0.063 16.573    9  0.058    9  0.063   19 -0.023    9 0.5198   15  1.088   17  0.000   17 -0.047
FLYERS         16 13  87  81 -0.028 14.383   11  0.031   11  0.032   13  0.002   10 0.5106   27  0.896   28 -0.197    6  0.201
RANGERS        15 17  83  84  0.042 16.825   17 -0.011   17 -0.013   16 -0.019   17 0.4951   31  0.748   32 -0.375    3  0.337
PENGUINS       14 15  90  85 -0.024 14.359   18 -0.016   18 -0.022   10  0.052   18 0.4945   18  1.064   15  0.047   13  0.056
BLUE JACKETS   13 18  94 109  0.013 16.052   25 -0.059   25 -0.062   27 -0.096   25 0.4815   12  1.144   18 -0.002   23 -0.190

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
BRUINS         19 13 107  99  0.038 16.639    5  0.090    5  0.093    8  0.057    5 0.5287   11  1.165    4  0.177   18 -0.063
LIGHTNING      18 13 102  80  0.050 16.161    7  0.078    7  0.081    4  0.135    7 0.5252   23  1.014   14  0.070    7  0.199
CANADIENS      16 14  97 107 -0.029 14.966   12  0.016   12  0.018   23 -0.062   14 0.5023    2  1.253    5  0.171   32 -0.295
RED WINGS      17 15 100 109 -0.069 15.452   14  0.002   14  0.004   25 -0.084   13 0.5029    6  1.201   12  0.082   28 -0.250
PANTHERS       15 15  94  99  0.001 15.295   15 -0.000   15  0.001   21 -0.036   15 0.5012    5  1.205   10  0.136   25 -0.207
SENATORS       14 16  96  99 -0.011 15.132   20 -0.029   20 -0.031   20 -0.029   19 0.4932    4  1.217    6  0.158   26 -0.215
MAPLE LEAFS    14 16  99  96 -0.062 14.457   23 -0.042   23 -0.048   15  0.001   22 0.4879    9  1.177    9  0.136   20 -0.134
SABRES         13 18  95 108 -0.010 15.755   26 -0.067   26 -0.070   26 -0.091   26 0.4793    8  1.178   16  0.046   27 -0.228

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 130 115 0.531    1  0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION      126 125 0.502    2  0.046
ATLANTIC DIVISION     126 120 0.512    3 -0.032
PACIFIC DIVISION      112 134 0.455    4 -0.098

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.046 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: Sat Dec 13 05:30:14 2025
games through: Fri Dec 12 2025

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