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      37 18 212 138 -0.001 27.125    1  0.224    1  0.216    1  0.357    1 0.5436   17  1.089    1  0.360    1  0.353
KINGS          23 33 146 161  0.012 28.431   26 -0.096   26 -0.105   21 -0.049   26 0.4795   32  0.757   32 -0.417    2  0.320
LIGHTNING      37 18 199 140 -0.001 27.230    2  0.219    2  0.213    2  0.251    2 0.5430   21  1.065    5  0.226    3  0.276
ISLANDERS      32 26 169 162  0.008 29.216   10  0.060   10  0.070   13  0.037   10 0.5139   29  0.922   24 -0.154    4  0.228
MAMMOTH        30 27 183 157 -0.003 28.396   12  0.028   12  0.031    7  0.079   12 0.5072   24  1.014   19 -0.007    5  0.165
STARS          34 23 193 160 -0.019 27.982    4  0.109    4  0.112    4  0.130    4 0.5215   20  1.071   13  0.112    6  0.149
KRAKEN         27 29 162 165 -0.027 27.488   21 -0.027   21 -0.036   19 -0.009   21 0.4931   27  0.952   25 -0.166    7  0.149
WILD           34 24 196 169 -0.025 28.367    5  0.091    5  0.097    5  0.117    5 0.5178   19  1.071   14  0.099    8  0.134
FLAMES         23 33 142 169 -0.035 27.452   29 -0.132   28 -0.130   30 -0.145   29 0.4738   31  0.863   31 -0.402    9  0.111
DEVILS         28 29 146 175  0.035 29.544   16  0.005   16  0.007   26 -0.126   16 0.5020   30  0.881   30 -0.362   10  0.110
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HURRICANES     36 21 197 163 -0.011 28.165    3  0.168    3  0.162    3  0.136    3 0.5317   15  1.107   11  0.162   11  0.109
RED WINGS      33 25 174 175  0.009 29.296    6  0.085    6  0.093   17 -0.005    6 0.5171   25  1.000   22 -0.107   12  0.097
RANGERS        22 35 151 180  0.039 29.646   27 -0.122   27 -0.125   28 -0.143   27 0.4766   28  0.936   29 -0.318   13  0.033
CAPITALS       29 30 189 177 -0.007 29.338   19 -0.009   19 -0.016   11  0.060   17 0.4996   14  1.108   15  0.088   14  0.033
PENGUINS       29 27 192 169 -0.032 27.260   15  0.011   15  0.008    6  0.096   15 0.5025   11  1.151    9  0.177   15  0.015
FLYERS         25 31 167 180  0.013 28.443   25 -0.049   25 -0.060   20 -0.048   24 0.4882   22  1.048   21 -0.093   16 -0.003
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 27 30 191 179 -0.027 27.893   23 -0.036   23 -0.048   12  0.048   22 0.4923   12  1.146   12  0.122   17 -0.026
BLACKHAWKS     22 35 154 185 -0.025 28.176   30 -0.163   30 -0.157   29 -0.143   30 0.4693   26  0.991   28 -0.256   18 -0.029
JETS           22 34 160 175  0.003 28.240   28 -0.132   29 -0.134   24 -0.079   28 0.4741   23  1.044   23 -0.129   19 -0.029
BLUE JACKETS   29 27 179 177  0.009 28.259   13  0.023   13  0.026   16  0.003   13 0.5048   13  1.126   17  0.052   20 -0.045
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SABRES         32 25 195 176  0.008 28.652    8  0.074    8  0.080    8  0.077    7 0.5163    8  1.189    6  0.207   21 -0.052
BRUINS         32 25 195 182  0.003 28.557    9  0.072    9  0.079    9  0.068    8 0.5154    7  1.216    4  0.232   22 -0.096
CANADIENS      32 25 199 187  0.022 28.999    7  0.081    7  0.088   10  0.062    9 0.5149    3  1.234    2  0.249   23 -0.126
SENATORS       28 29 191 184  0.009 28.751   18 -0.002   18 -0.006   14  0.036   19 0.4988    6  1.217    8  0.201   24 -0.129
PANTHERS       29 28 174 191  0.023 29.199   14  0.020   14  0.023   23 -0.061   14 0.5046    9  1.173   18  0.047   25 -0.170
MAPLE LEAFS    27 30 188 194  0.002 28.647   20 -0.023   20 -0.030   18 -0.008   20 0.4938    5  1.229   10  0.172   26 -0.188
BLUES          20 37 147 203 -0.016 28.495   31 -0.206   31 -0.196   31 -0.201   31 0.4616   18  1.078   26 -0.210   27 -0.192
OILERS         28 30 198 194 -0.032 28.310   22 -0.028   22 -0.039   15  0.010   23 0.4922    2  1.269    3  0.243   28 -0.223
PREDATORS      26 31 169 198  0.004 28.882   24 -0.044   24 -0.052   27 -0.128   25 0.4876   10  1.168   20 -0.026   29 -0.231
SHARKS         27 28 171 193  0.025 28.270   17  0.002   17  0.002   25 -0.099   18 0.4994    4  1.230   16  0.083   30 -0.280
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CANUCKS        18 39 149 210 -0.009 28.733   32 -0.243   32 -0.238   32 -0.270   32 0.4554   16  1.105   27 -0.246   31 -0.294
DUCKS          30 26 185 195  0.010 28.389   11  0.040   11  0.050   22 -0.061   11 0.5092    1  1.291    7  0.202   32 -0.323

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
KINGS          23 33 146 161  0.012 28.431   26 -0.096   26 -0.105   21 -0.049   26 0.4795   32  0.757   32 -0.417    2  0.320
KRAKEN         27 29 162 165 -0.027 27.488   21 -0.027   21 -0.036   19 -0.009   21 0.4931   27  0.952   25 -0.166    7  0.149
FLAMES         23 33 142 169 -0.035 27.452   29 -0.132   28 -0.130   30 -0.145   29 0.4738   31  0.863   31 -0.402    9  0.111
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 27 30 191 179 -0.027 27.893   23 -0.036   23 -0.048   12  0.048   22 0.4923   12  1.146   12  0.122   17 -0.026
OILERS         28 30 198 194 -0.032 28.310   22 -0.028   22 -0.039   15  0.010   23 0.4922    2  1.269    3  0.243   28 -0.223
SHARKS         27 28 171 193  0.025 28.270   17  0.002   17  0.002   25 -0.099   18 0.4994    4  1.230   16  0.083   30 -0.280
CANUCKS        18 39 149 210 -0.009 28.733   32 -0.243   32 -0.238   32 -0.270   32 0.4554   16  1.105   27 -0.246   31 -0.294
DUCKS          30 26 185 195  0.010 28.389   11  0.040   11  0.050   22 -0.061   11 0.5092    1  1.291    7  0.202   32 -0.323

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      37 18 212 138 -0.001 27.125    1  0.224    1  0.216    1  0.357    1 0.5436   17  1.089    1  0.360    1  0.353
MAMMOTH        30 27 183 157 -0.003 28.396   12  0.028   12  0.031    7  0.079   12 0.5072   24  1.014   19 -0.007    5  0.165
STARS          34 23 193 160 -0.019 27.982    4  0.109    4  0.112    4  0.130    4 0.5215   20  1.071   13  0.112    6  0.149
WILD           34 24 196 169 -0.025 28.367    5  0.091    5  0.097    5  0.117    5 0.5178   19  1.071   14  0.099    8  0.134
BLACKHAWKS     22 35 154 185 -0.025 28.176   30 -0.163   30 -0.157   29 -0.143   30 0.4693   26  0.991   28 -0.256   18 -0.029
JETS           22 34 160 175  0.003 28.240   28 -0.132   29 -0.134   24 -0.079   28 0.4741   23  1.044   23 -0.129   19 -0.029
BLUES          20 37 147 203 -0.016 28.495   31 -0.206   31 -0.196   31 -0.201   31 0.4616   18  1.078   26 -0.210   27 -0.192
PREDATORS      26 31 169 198  0.004 28.882   24 -0.044   24 -0.052   27 -0.128   25 0.4876   10  1.168   20 -0.026   29 -0.231

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
ISLANDERS      32 26 169 162  0.008 29.216   10  0.060   10  0.070   13  0.037   10 0.5139   29  0.922   24 -0.154    4  0.228
DEVILS         28 29 146 175  0.035 29.544   16  0.005   16  0.007   26 -0.126   16 0.5020   30  0.881   30 -0.362   10  0.110
HURRICANES     36 21 197 163 -0.011 28.165    3  0.168    3  0.162    3  0.136    3 0.5317   15  1.107   11  0.162   11  0.109
RANGERS        22 35 151 180  0.039 29.646   27 -0.122   27 -0.125   28 -0.143   27 0.4766   28  0.936   29 -0.318   13  0.033
CAPITALS       29 30 189 177 -0.007 29.338   19 -0.009   19 -0.016   11  0.060   17 0.4996   14  1.108   15  0.088   14  0.033
PENGUINS       29 27 192 169 -0.032 27.260   15  0.011   15  0.008    6  0.096   15 0.5025   11  1.151    9  0.177   15  0.015
FLYERS         25 31 167 180  0.013 28.443   25 -0.049   25 -0.060   20 -0.048   24 0.4882   22  1.048   21 -0.093   16 -0.003
BLUE JACKETS   29 27 179 177  0.009 28.259   13  0.023   13  0.026   16  0.003   13 0.5048   13  1.126   17  0.052   20 -0.045

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      37 18 199 140 -0.001 27.230    2  0.219    2  0.213    2  0.251    2 0.5430   21  1.065    5  0.226    3  0.276
RED WINGS      33 25 174 175  0.009 29.296    6  0.085    6  0.093   17 -0.005    6 0.5171   25  1.000   22 -0.107   12  0.097
SABRES         32 25 195 176  0.008 28.652    8  0.074    8  0.080    8  0.077    7 0.5163    8  1.189    6  0.207   21 -0.052
BRUINS         32 25 195 182  0.003 28.557    9  0.072    9  0.079    9  0.068    8 0.5154    7  1.216    4  0.232   22 -0.096
CANADIENS      32 25 199 187  0.022 28.999    7  0.081    7  0.088   10  0.062    9 0.5149    3  1.234    2  0.249   23 -0.126
SENATORS       28 29 191 184  0.009 28.751   18 -0.002   18 -0.006   14  0.036   19 0.4988    6  1.217    8  0.201   24 -0.129
PANTHERS       29 28 174 191  0.023 29.199   14  0.020   14  0.023   23 -0.061   14 0.5046    9  1.173   18  0.047   25 -0.170
MAPLE LEAFS    27 30 188 194  0.002 28.647   20 -0.023   20 -0.030   18 -0.008   20 0.4938    5  1.229   10  0.172   26 -0.188

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     250 205 0.549    1  0.086
CENTRAL DIVISION      225 229 0.496    2  0.025
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 230 226 0.504    3  0.003
PACIFIC DIVISION      203 248 0.450    4 -0.117

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.057 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 Feb  6 05:30:09 2026
games through: Thu Feb  5 2026

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