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      50 25 285 193 -0.000 37.264    1  0.255    1  0.250    1  0.372    1 0.5401   16  1.112    1  0.397    1  0.347
HURRICANES     49 27 272 222  0.004 38.155    2  0.231    2  0.221    3  0.170    2 0.5360    9  1.170    5  0.268   10  0.073
LIGHTNING      48 28 277 211  0.005 38.091    3  0.215    3  0.200    2  0.242    3 0.5333   12  1.154    3  0.320    4  0.164
SABRES         46 31 266 231  0.012 38.949    4  0.164    4  0.155    5  0.136    4 0.5259   10  1.163    7  0.225   13  0.047
CANADIENS      45 31 269 239  0.018 38.650    5  0.157    5  0.150    7  0.126    5 0.5241    6  1.212    4  0.278   23 -0.026
STARS          45 32 258 211 -0.004 38.402    6  0.127    6  0.125    4  0.168    6 0.5193   21  1.028   12  0.092    2  0.243
BRUINS         43 34 258 238  0.014 39.074    7  0.087    7  0.095    9  0.087    7 0.5159   13  1.149   10  0.158   19  0.016
WILD           43 33 251 219 -0.007 37.849    8  0.086    8  0.094    6  0.132    8 0.5142   20  1.044   13  0.075    3  0.189
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.006 39.456    9  0.047    9  0.062   16 -0.001    9 0.5105   30  0.962   21 -0.154    6  0.152
RED WINGS      40 36 221 229  0.013 38.698   10  0.035   10  0.048   18 -0.023   10 0.5079   28  0.968   23 -0.168    8  0.123
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAMMOTH        40 36 248 218 -0.002 38.055   11  0.028   12  0.037   11  0.078   12 0.5053   18  1.077   15  0.061    9  0.096
DUCKS          41 36 257 271 -0.016 38.384   12  0.024   11  0.038   23 -0.092   11 0.5054    1  1.290    9  0.163   31 -0.347
SENATORS       39 37 252 235  0.009 38.427   13  0.018   14  0.026   10  0.081   14 0.5045   11  1.158    8  0.164   21 -0.001
DEVILS         39 37 215 234  0.012 38.749   14  0.016   13  0.027   27 -0.098   13 0.5048   23  0.991   26 -0.218   18  0.022
PENGUINS       39 38 275 248  0.011 38.954   15  0.014   15  0.017    8  0.117   15 0.5035    3  1.252    2  0.320   25 -0.087
CAPITALS       39 38 247 232  0.004 38.780   16  0.009   16  0.011   12  0.066   16 0.5033   15  1.113   11  0.092   14  0.040
FLYERS         38 38 226 230  0.013 38.665   17  0.005   17  0.008   17 -0.015   17 0.5012   26  0.972   22 -0.157    7  0.127
OILERS         39 38 265 257 -0.025 37.953   18 -0.003   18 -0.005   13  0.026   20 0.4989    2  1.270    6  0.253   28 -0.202
BLUE JACKETS   38 39 241 238  0.008 38.987   19 -0.003   19 -0.005   15  0.006   18 0.4998   19  1.070   19 -0.020   15  0.032
PANTHERS       37 39 228 257  0.015 38.832   20 -0.009   20 -0.011   24 -0.095   19 0.4990    8  1.174   17  0.008   27 -0.198
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SHARKS         36 39 231 267 -0.005 37.813   21 -0.025   21 -0.032   29 -0.148   21 0.4942    5  1.215   18  0.008   30 -0.304
PREDATORS      36 40 231 253 -0.003 38.325   22 -0.031   22 -0.041   26 -0.097   22 0.4920   14  1.146   20 -0.029   26 -0.164
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 35 42 247 240 -0.016 38.229   23 -0.063   23 -0.079   14  0.012   23 0.4873   17  1.100   16  0.022   20  0.002
JETS           33 43 215 232 -0.000 38.368   24 -0.088   24 -0.098   19 -0.074   24 0.4834   25  0.975   25 -0.213   11  0.064
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.288   25 -0.114   25 -0.119   25 -0.096   25 0.4817    4  1.224   14  0.071   29 -0.264
RANGERS        32 45 221 237  0.008 39.112   26 -0.118   26 -0.122   21 -0.079   26 0.4809   22  1.001   24 -0.187   16  0.028
BLUES          32 43 202 236 -0.028 37.042   27 -0.123   28 -0.125   22 -0.092   28 0.4796   27  0.971   28 -0.234   12  0.051
KRAKEN         32 43 210 237 -0.024 37.167   28 -0.124   27 -0.125   28 -0.102   27 0.4799   24  0.985   27 -0.229   17  0.025
FLAMES         32 44 199 243 -0.029 37.597   29 -0.141   29 -0.136   31 -0.191   29 0.4781   31  0.947   32 -0.361   22 -0.021
KINGS          31 45 208 234 -0.005 38.204   30 -0.143   30 -0.141   20 -0.075   30 0.4769   32  0.888   30 -0.310    5  0.161
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     28 49 200 253 -0.007 38.788   31 -0.221   31 -0.211   30 -0.190   31 0.4651   29  0.962   31 -0.343   24 -0.038
CANUCKS        22 54 201 295 -0.011 38.407   32 -0.312   32 -0.325   32 -0.361   32 0.4477    7  1.180   29 -0.251   32 -0.471

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 36 257 271 -0.016 38.384   12  0.024   11  0.038   23 -0.092   11 0.5054    1  1.290    9  0.163   31 -0.347
OILERS         39 38 265 257 -0.025 37.953   18 -0.003   18 -0.005   13  0.026   20 0.4989    2  1.270    6  0.253   28 -0.202
SHARKS         36 39 231 267 -0.005 37.813   21 -0.025   21 -0.032   29 -0.148   21 0.4942    5  1.215   18  0.008   30 -0.304
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 35 42 247 240 -0.016 38.229   23 -0.063   23 -0.079   14  0.012   23 0.4873   17  1.100   16  0.022   20  0.002
KRAKEN         32 43 210 237 -0.024 37.167   28 -0.124   27 -0.125   28 -0.102   27 0.4799   24  0.985   27 -0.229   17  0.025
FLAMES         32 44 199 243 -0.029 37.597   29 -0.141   29 -0.136   31 -0.191   29 0.4781   31  0.947   32 -0.361   22 -0.021
KINGS          31 45 208 234 -0.005 38.204   30 -0.143   30 -0.141   20 -0.075   30 0.4769   32  0.888   30 -0.310    5  0.161
CANUCKS        22 54 201 295 -0.011 38.407   32 -0.312   32 -0.325   32 -0.361   32 0.4477    7  1.180   29 -0.251   32 -0.471

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      50 25 285 193 -0.000 37.264    1  0.255    1  0.250    1  0.372    1 0.5401   16  1.112    1  0.397    1  0.347
STARS          45 32 258 211 -0.004 38.402    6  0.127    6  0.125    4  0.168    6 0.5193   21  1.028   12  0.092    2  0.243
WILD           43 33 251 219 -0.007 37.849    8  0.086    8  0.094    6  0.132    8 0.5142   20  1.044   13  0.075    3  0.189
MAMMOTH        40 36 248 218 -0.002 38.055   11  0.028   12  0.037   11  0.078   12 0.5053   18  1.077   15  0.061    9  0.096
PREDATORS      36 40 231 253 -0.003 38.325   22 -0.031   22 -0.041   26 -0.097   22 0.4920   14  1.146   20 -0.029   26 -0.164
JETS           33 43 215 232 -0.000 38.368   24 -0.088   24 -0.098   19 -0.074   24 0.4834   25  0.975   25 -0.213   11  0.064
BLUES          32 43 202 236 -0.028 37.042   27 -0.123   28 -0.125   22 -0.092   28 0.4796   27  0.971   28 -0.234   12  0.051
BLACKHAWKS     28 49 200 253 -0.007 38.788   31 -0.221   31 -0.211   30 -0.190   31 0.4651   29  0.962   31 -0.343   24 -0.038

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     49 27 272 222  0.004 38.155    2  0.231    2  0.221    3  0.170    2 0.5360    9  1.170    5  0.268   10  0.073
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.006 39.456    9  0.047    9  0.062   16 -0.001    9 0.5105   30  0.962   21 -0.154    6  0.152
DEVILS         39 37 215 234  0.012 38.749   14  0.016   13  0.027   27 -0.098   13 0.5048   23  0.991   26 -0.218   18  0.022
PENGUINS       39 38 275 248  0.011 38.954   15  0.014   15  0.017    8  0.117   15 0.5035    3  1.252    2  0.320   25 -0.087
CAPITALS       39 38 247 232  0.004 38.780   16  0.009   16  0.011   12  0.066   16 0.5033   15  1.113   11  0.092   14  0.040
FLYERS         38 38 226 230  0.013 38.665   17  0.005   17  0.008   17 -0.015   17 0.5012   26  0.972   22 -0.157    7  0.127
BLUE JACKETS   38 39 241 238  0.008 38.987   19 -0.003   19 -0.005   15  0.006   18 0.4998   19  1.070   19 -0.020   15  0.032
RANGERS        32 45 221 237  0.008 39.112   26 -0.118   26 -0.122   21 -0.079   26 0.4809   22  1.001   24 -0.187   16  0.028

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      48 28 277 211  0.005 38.091    3  0.215    3  0.200    2  0.242    3 0.5333   12  1.154    3  0.320    4  0.164
SABRES         46 31 266 231  0.012 38.949    4  0.164    4  0.155    5  0.136    4 0.5259   10  1.163    7  0.225   13  0.047
CANADIENS      45 31 269 239  0.018 38.650    5  0.157    5  0.150    7  0.126    5 0.5241    6  1.212    4  0.278   23 -0.026
BRUINS         43 34 258 238  0.014 39.074    7  0.087    7  0.095    9  0.087    7 0.5159   13  1.149   10  0.158   19  0.016
RED WINGS      40 36 221 229  0.013 38.698   10  0.035   10  0.048   18 -0.023   10 0.5079   28  0.968   23 -0.168    8  0.123
SENATORS       39 37 252 235  0.009 38.427   13  0.018   14  0.026   10  0.081   14 0.5045   11  1.158    8  0.164   21 -0.001
PANTHERS       37 39 228 257  0.015 38.832   20 -0.009   20 -0.011   24 -0.095   19 0.4990    8  1.174   17  0.008   27 -0.198
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.288   25 -0.114   25 -0.119   25 -0.096   25 0.4817    4  1.224   14  0.071   29 -0.264

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     330 281 0.540    1  0.082
CENTRAL DIVISION      307 301 0.505    2  0.052
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 316 298 0.515    3  0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION      268 341 0.440    4 -0.166

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.053 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: Sun Apr  5 05:30:07 2026
games through: Sat Apr  4 2026

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