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      30  9 159  88 -0.006 19.314    1  0.242    1  0.202    1  0.310    1 0.5654   20  1.073    1  0.307    2  0.312
STARS          25 16 143 113 -0.019 20.340    2  0.069    3  0.079    2  0.117    4 0.5245   18  1.094    9  0.140   11  0.094
HURRICANES     24 16 135 122  0.007 20.365    3  0.067    2  0.079    6  0.047    3 0.5259   11  1.153    7  0.143   16 -0.050
LIGHTNING      24 16 135 107  0.002 20.219    4  0.065    4  0.076    4  0.104    2 0.5259   21  1.064   14  0.091   10  0.118
WILD           25 17 134 110 -0.004 21.078    5  0.062    5  0.073    3  0.117    5 0.5213   28  0.910   23 -0.075    3  0.308
RED WINGS      24 18 130 134 -0.039 20.722    6  0.033    6  0.044   20 -0.035    6 0.5142   14  1.115   18  0.014   19 -0.085
ISLANDERS      22 19 116 117  0.029 21.308    7  0.030    7  0.038    7  0.016    7 0.5130   26  0.921   26 -0.164    6  0.195
CANADIENS      22 18 137 136 -0.005 20.226    8  0.028    8  0.035   10  0.013   10 0.5095    3  1.255    4  0.241   27 -0.215
SABRES         21 18 124 121  0.005 19.881    9  0.023   10  0.029   13  0.006    9 0.5107   13  1.117   15  0.057   15 -0.046
DEVILS         21 19 109 120  0.035 20.969   10  0.022    9  0.030   21 -0.039    8 0.5109   29  0.908   28 -0.233    7  0.154
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS       21 19 127 129  0.005 20.424   11  0.015   11  0.020   18 -0.009   11 0.5069    7  1.196    8  0.142   25 -0.160
BRUINS         21 20 130 134  0.011 21.030   12  0.010   12  0.013   19 -0.009   12 0.5056    9  1.162   13  0.098   24 -0.116
CAPITALS       21 20 133 118 -0.005 20.653   13  0.006   14  0.007    5  0.074   13 0.5045   15  1.106   11  0.111   13  0.036
SHARKS         20 20 124 139  0.029 20.915   14  0.006   13  0.010   28 -0.069   16 0.5016    5  1.221   10  0.114   31 -0.253
DUCKS          21 20 139 146 -0.006 20.816   15  0.004   15  0.007   25 -0.049   15 0.5021    1  1.336    2  0.287   32 -0.385
FLYERS         20 19 119 114 -0.020 19.500   16  0.002   16  0.003   14  0.004   14 0.5032   25  0.977   25 -0.112    9  0.120
OILERS         20 21 137 138  0.001 20.838   17 -0.008   17 -0.011   11  0.008   17 0.4977    2  1.261    3  0.244   29 -0.227
SENATORS       19 20 129 127 -0.019 19.528   18 -0.012   18 -0.016   16 -0.004   19 0.4941    6  1.221    6  0.179   26 -0.187
RANGERS        20 23 114 117  0.027 22.391   19 -0.015   19 -0.020   22 -0.040   18 0.4955   31  0.772   31 -0.379    4  0.299
MAMMOTH        19 22 126 118  0.008 20.937   20 -0.019   20 -0.026    8  0.014   20 0.4933   24  1.020   22 -0.051   12  0.080
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAPLE LEAFS    19 21 134 134 -0.040 19.698   21 -0.023   21 -0.032   17 -0.009   21 0.4913    4  1.241    5  0.201   28 -0.218
PREDATORS      18 22 114 133  0.013 20.680   22 -0.026   22 -0.033   30 -0.075   23 0.4876   17  1.096   21 -0.050   22 -0.100
PENGUINS       18 21 126 126 -0.028 19.366   23 -0.027   23 -0.037   12  0.006   22 0.4889   10  1.155   12  0.105   21 -0.092
KRAKEN         18 21 103 115 -0.029 19.435   24 -0.029   24 -0.038   23 -0.048   25 0.4872   30  0.830   30 -0.326    5  0.231
BLUE JACKETS   17 22 118 131  0.014 20.128   25 -0.033   25 -0.044   27 -0.061   26 0.4867   12  1.119   19 -0.008   23 -0.115
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 22 122 123 -0.000 19.782   26 -0.037   26 -0.050    9  0.014   24 0.4873   16  1.098   16  0.043   14 -0.014
FLAMES         18 22 108 117 -0.041 19.734   27 -0.042   27 -0.052   26 -0.058   27 0.4822   27  0.914   29 -0.245    8  0.129
KINGS          16 23 102 107  0.014 20.045   28 -0.055   28 -0.065   15 -0.002   28 0.4782   32  0.730   32 -0.385    1  0.381
CANUCKS        16 24 115 140 -0.001 20.486   29 -0.071   29 -0.077   31 -0.108   29 0.4769    8  1.176   17  0.018   30 -0.233
JETS           15 24 113 122  0.012 20.088   30 -0.077   30 -0.084   24 -0.048   30 0.4721   19  1.082   20 -0.039   18 -0.057
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     15 25 112 130 -0.026 20.019   31 -0.103   31 -0.104   29 -0.072   32 0.4668   22  1.057   24 -0.094   17 -0.051
BLUES          16 26 105 146 -0.034 20.975   32 -0.108   32 -0.105   32 -0.139   31 0.4675   23  1.033   27 -0.189   20 -0.089

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         20 20 124 139  0.029 20.915   14  0.006   13  0.010   28 -0.069   16 0.5016    5  1.221   10  0.114   31 -0.253
DUCKS          21 20 139 146 -0.006 20.816   15  0.004   15  0.007   25 -0.049   15 0.5021    1  1.336    2  0.287   32 -0.385
OILERS         20 21 137 138  0.001 20.838   17 -0.008   17 -0.011   11  0.008   17 0.4977    2  1.261    3  0.244   29 -0.227
KRAKEN         18 21 103 115 -0.029 19.435   24 -0.029   24 -0.038   23 -0.048   25 0.4872   30  0.830   30 -0.326    5  0.231
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 22 122 123 -0.000 19.782   26 -0.037   26 -0.050    9  0.014   24 0.4873   16  1.098   16  0.043   14 -0.014
FLAMES         18 22 108 117 -0.041 19.734   27 -0.042   27 -0.052   26 -0.058   27 0.4822   27  0.914   29 -0.245    8  0.129
KINGS          16 23 102 107  0.014 20.045   28 -0.055   28 -0.065   15 -0.002   28 0.4782   32  0.730   32 -0.385    1  0.381
CANUCKS        16 24 115 140 -0.001 20.486   29 -0.071   29 -0.077   31 -0.108   29 0.4769    8  1.176   17  0.018   30 -0.233

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      30  9 159  88 -0.006 19.314    1  0.242    1  0.202    1  0.310    1 0.5654   20  1.073    1  0.307    2  0.312
STARS          25 16 143 113 -0.019 20.340    2  0.069    3  0.079    2  0.117    4 0.5245   18  1.094    9  0.140   11  0.094
WILD           25 17 134 110 -0.004 21.078    5  0.062    5  0.073    3  0.117    5 0.5213   28  0.910   23 -0.075    3  0.308
MAMMOTH        19 22 126 118  0.008 20.937   20 -0.019   20 -0.026    8  0.014   20 0.4933   24  1.020   22 -0.051   12  0.080
PREDATORS      18 22 114 133  0.013 20.680   22 -0.026   22 -0.033   30 -0.075   23 0.4876   17  1.096   21 -0.050   22 -0.100
JETS           15 24 113 122  0.012 20.088   30 -0.077   30 -0.084   24 -0.048   30 0.4721   19  1.082   20 -0.039   18 -0.057
BLACKHAWKS     15 25 112 130 -0.026 20.019   31 -0.103   31 -0.104   29 -0.072   32 0.4668   22  1.057   24 -0.094   17 -0.051
BLUES          16 26 105 146 -0.034 20.975   32 -0.108   32 -0.105   32 -0.139   31 0.4675   23  1.033   27 -0.189   20 -0.089

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     24 16 135 122  0.007 20.365    3  0.067    2  0.079    6  0.047    3 0.5259   11  1.153    7  0.143   16 -0.050
ISLANDERS      22 19 116 117  0.029 21.308    7  0.030    7  0.038    7  0.016    7 0.5130   26  0.921   26 -0.164    6  0.195
DEVILS         21 19 109 120  0.035 20.969   10  0.022    9  0.030   21 -0.039    8 0.5109   29  0.908   28 -0.233    7  0.154
CAPITALS       21 20 133 118 -0.005 20.653   13  0.006   14  0.007    5  0.074   13 0.5045   15  1.106   11  0.111   13  0.036
FLYERS         20 19 119 114 -0.020 19.500   16  0.002   16  0.003   14  0.004   14 0.5032   25  0.977   25 -0.112    9  0.120
RANGERS        20 23 114 117  0.027 22.391   19 -0.015   19 -0.020   22 -0.040   18 0.4955   31  0.772   31 -0.379    4  0.299
PENGUINS       18 21 126 126 -0.028 19.366   23 -0.027   23 -0.037   12  0.006   22 0.4889   10  1.155   12  0.105   21 -0.092
BLUE JACKETS   17 22 118 131  0.014 20.128   25 -0.033   25 -0.044   27 -0.061   26 0.4867   12  1.119   19 -0.008   23 -0.115

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      24 16 135 107  0.002 20.219    4  0.065    4  0.076    4  0.104    2 0.5259   21  1.064   14  0.091   10  0.118
RED WINGS      24 18 130 134 -0.039 20.722    6  0.033    6  0.044   20 -0.035    6 0.5142   14  1.115   18  0.014   19 -0.085
CANADIENS      22 18 137 136 -0.005 20.226    8  0.028    8  0.035   10  0.013   10 0.5095    3  1.255    4  0.241   27 -0.215
SABRES         21 18 124 121  0.005 19.881    9  0.023   10  0.029   13  0.006    9 0.5107   13  1.117   15  0.057   15 -0.046
PANTHERS       21 19 127 129  0.005 20.424   11  0.015   11  0.020   18 -0.009   11 0.5069    7  1.196    8  0.142   25 -0.160
BRUINS         21 20 130 134  0.011 21.030   12  0.010   12  0.013   19 -0.009   12 0.5056    9  1.162   13  0.098   24 -0.116
SENATORS       19 20 129 127 -0.019 19.528   18 -0.012   18 -0.016   16 -0.004   19 0.4941    6  1.221    6  0.179   26 -0.187
MAPLE LEAFS    19 21 134 134 -0.040 19.698   21 -0.023   21 -0.032   17 -0.009   21 0.4913    4  1.241    5  0.201   28 -0.218

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      163 161 0.503    1  0.065
ATLANTIC DIVISION     171 150 0.533    2  0.019
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 163 159 0.506    3  0.002
PACIFIC DIVISION      146 173 0.458    4 -0.094

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.039 points in main ratings (0.079 for semineutral)
     0.006 points in improved RPI (0.008 for semineutral)
Average of 1.00 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Jan  3 05:30:20 2026
games through: Fri Jan  2 2026

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