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      33 12 182 103  0.004 22.332    1  0.249    1  0.244    1  0.390    1 0.5585   21  1.057    1  0.365    1  0.415
KINGS          19 27 122 131  0.022 23.664   27 -0.075   27 -0.081   18 -0.018   27 0.4791   32  0.773   32 -0.360    2  0.324
ISLANDERS      26 21 139 130  0.037 24.333    5  0.068    5  0.072    6  0.065    5 0.5171   28  0.914   23 -0.126    3  0.255
WILD           26 22 150 136 -0.015 23.813   11  0.034   11  0.038    4  0.085   12 0.5067   25  0.984   20 -0.026    4  0.195
KRAKEN         21 25 127 135 -0.029 22.721   25 -0.051   25 -0.059   22 -0.036   25 0.4867   31  0.881   29 -0.263    5  0.191
LIGHTNING      29 16 160 116  0.021 22.807    2  0.162    2  0.155    2  0.196    2 0.5384   15  1.086    4  0.205    6  0.186
MAMMOTH        24 24 147 132  0.004 24.225   14  0.003   14  0.002   10  0.048   14 0.5015   26  0.963   21 -0.088    7  0.183
STARS          27 21 162 135 -0.017 23.743    8  0.057    8  0.059    3  0.123    8 0.5138   19  1.070   12  0.114    8  0.133
DEVILS         24 23 126 145  0.050 24.785   13  0.025   13  0.033   24 -0.068   11 0.5082   27  0.935   28 -0.235    9  0.100
RANGERS        20 28 126 147  0.028 24.931   26 -0.070   26 -0.077   28 -0.109   26 0.4833   30  0.898   31 -0.317   10  0.099
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         20 27 122 141 -0.039 23.110   29 -0.095   29 -0.095   29 -0.111   29 0.4773   29  0.901   30 -0.316   11  0.094
CAPITALS       24 24 155 138 -0.015 23.848   15 -0.003   15 -0.007    5  0.081   16 0.5002   18  1.073   15  0.074   12  0.087
FLYERS         22 24 138 143 -0.008 23.119   22 -0.022   20 -0.026   21 -0.031   19 0.4959   24  1.014   22 -0.108   13  0.045
PENGUINS       22 24 147 140 -0.033 22.563   23 -0.027   23 -0.036   11  0.029   21 0.4934   16  1.083   17  0.035   14  0.023
HURRICANES     28 19 158 142  0.004 23.704    3  0.101    3  0.104    7  0.064    3 0.5253   11  1.137   11  0.137   15 -0.010
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 23 23 153 143 -0.018 22.805   16 -0.004   16 -0.009    9  0.049   15 0.5003   13  1.126   13  0.107   16 -0.010
RED WINGS      28 20 149 148 -0.021 23.828    4  0.072    4  0.080   16 -0.015    4 0.5188   17  1.074   19 -0.019   17 -0.011
BLACKHAWKS     19 28 131 149 -0.037 23.154   30 -0.116   30 -0.116   27 -0.095   30 0.4718   22  1.019   26 -0.165   18 -0.024
BRUINS         27 21 159 148 -0.003 24.085    6  0.063    6  0.065    8  0.054    6 0.5158    8  1.166    8  0.162   19 -0.055
BLUES          18 29 117 161 -0.031 23.343   31 -0.144   31 -0.137   31 -0.159   31 0.4688   23  1.017   27 -0.231   20 -0.087
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SABRES         26 20 153 143 -0.013 22.939    7  0.059    7  0.062   12  0.026    7 0.5153    7  1.172   10  0.143   21 -0.091
PREDATORS      22 24 129 151 -0.005 23.318   20 -0.019   19 -0.023   30 -0.113   23 0.4919   20  1.063   24 -0.131   22 -0.096
JETS           19 27 141 144  0.005 23.354   28 -0.083   28 -0.088   20 -0.028   28 0.4773   10  1.145   16  0.054   23 -0.111
PANTHERS       24 21 139 145  0.019 23.096   10  0.038    9  0.043   19 -0.018    9 0.5111    9  1.162   14  0.086   24 -0.122
BLUE JACKETS   21 26 144 157  0.015 24.114   24 -0.043   24 -0.050   23 -0.065   24 0.4886   12  1.126   18 -0.005   25 -0.124
MAPLE LEAFS    23 24 158 155 -0.012 23.457   17 -0.010   17 -0.015   13  0.022   17 0.4977    6  1.222    5  0.203   26 -0.159
CANADIENS      26 22 162 159 -0.006 24.097    9  0.039   10  0.041   15  0.012   10 0.5083    5  1.224    6  0.196   27 -0.172
OILERS         23 25 159 158 -0.010 24.018   19 -0.019   22 -0.027   14  0.013   22 0.4932    4  1.234    3  0.210   28 -0.183
SENATORS       22 24 151 153 -0.008 23.100   21 -0.021   21 -0.026   17 -0.017   20 0.4934    3  1.239    7  0.187   29 -0.220
CANUCKS        16 31 126 170 -0.005 23.940   32 -0.182   32 -0.169   32 -0.210   32 0.4624   14  1.123   25 -0.154   30 -0.265
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SHARKS         24 22 146 164  0.028 23.863   12  0.027   12  0.036   26 -0.089   13 0.5058    2  1.266    9  0.149   31 -0.328
DUCKS          22 24 153 169  0.015 23.612   18 -0.011   18 -0.017   25 -0.079   18 0.4966    1  1.353    2  0.277   32 -0.436

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          19 27 122 131  0.022 23.664   27 -0.075   27 -0.081   18 -0.018   27 0.4791   32  0.773   32 -0.360    2  0.324
KRAKEN         21 25 127 135 -0.029 22.721   25 -0.051   25 -0.059   22 -0.036   25 0.4867   31  0.881   29 -0.263    5  0.191
FLAMES         20 27 122 141 -0.039 23.110   29 -0.095   29 -0.095   29 -0.111   29 0.4773   29  0.901   30 -0.316   11  0.094
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 23 23 153 143 -0.018 22.805   16 -0.004   16 -0.009    9  0.049   15 0.5003   13  1.126   13  0.107   16 -0.010
OILERS         23 25 159 158 -0.010 24.018   19 -0.019   22 -0.027   14  0.013   22 0.4932    4  1.234    3  0.210   28 -0.183
CANUCKS        16 31 126 170 -0.005 23.940   32 -0.182   32 -0.169   32 -0.210   32 0.4624   14  1.123   25 -0.154   30 -0.265
SHARKS         24 22 146 164  0.028 23.863   12  0.027   12  0.036   26 -0.089   13 0.5058    2  1.266    9  0.149   31 -0.328
DUCKS          22 24 153 169  0.015 23.612   18 -0.011   18 -0.017   25 -0.079   18 0.4966    1  1.353    2  0.277   32 -0.436

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      33 12 182 103  0.004 22.332    1  0.249    1  0.244    1  0.390    1 0.5585   21  1.057    1  0.365    1  0.415
WILD           26 22 150 136 -0.015 23.813   11  0.034   11  0.038    4  0.085   12 0.5067   25  0.984   20 -0.026    4  0.195
MAMMOTH        24 24 147 132  0.004 24.225   14  0.003   14  0.002   10  0.048   14 0.5015   26  0.963   21 -0.088    7  0.183
STARS          27 21 162 135 -0.017 23.743    8  0.057    8  0.059    3  0.123    8 0.5138   19  1.070   12  0.114    8  0.133
BLACKHAWKS     19 28 131 149 -0.037 23.154   30 -0.116   30 -0.116   27 -0.095   30 0.4718   22  1.019   26 -0.165   18 -0.024
BLUES          18 29 117 161 -0.031 23.343   31 -0.144   31 -0.137   31 -0.159   31 0.4688   23  1.017   27 -0.231   20 -0.087
PREDATORS      22 24 129 151 -0.005 23.318   20 -0.019   19 -0.023   30 -0.113   23 0.4919   20  1.063   24 -0.131   22 -0.096
JETS           19 27 141 144  0.005 23.354   28 -0.083   28 -0.088   20 -0.028   28 0.4773   10  1.145   16  0.054   23 -0.111

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      26 21 139 130  0.037 24.333    5  0.068    5  0.072    6  0.065    5 0.5171   28  0.914   23 -0.126    3  0.255
DEVILS         24 23 126 145  0.050 24.785   13  0.025   13  0.033   24 -0.068   11 0.5082   27  0.935   28 -0.235    9  0.100
RANGERS        20 28 126 147  0.028 24.931   26 -0.070   26 -0.077   28 -0.109   26 0.4833   30  0.898   31 -0.317   10  0.099
CAPITALS       24 24 155 138 -0.015 23.848   15 -0.003   15 -0.007    5  0.081   16 0.5002   18  1.073   15  0.074   12  0.087
FLYERS         22 24 138 143 -0.008 23.119   22 -0.022   20 -0.026   21 -0.031   19 0.4959   24  1.014   22 -0.108   13  0.045
PENGUINS       22 24 147 140 -0.033 22.563   23 -0.027   23 -0.036   11  0.029   21 0.4934   16  1.083   17  0.035   14  0.023
HURRICANES     28 19 158 142  0.004 23.704    3  0.101    3  0.104    7  0.064    3 0.5253   11  1.137   11  0.137   15 -0.010
BLUE JACKETS   21 26 144 157  0.015 24.114   24 -0.043   24 -0.050   23 -0.065   24 0.4886   12  1.126   18 -0.005   25 -0.124

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      29 16 160 116  0.021 22.807    2  0.162    2  0.155    2  0.196    2 0.5384   15  1.086    4  0.205    6  0.186
RED WINGS      28 20 149 148 -0.021 23.828    4  0.072    4  0.080   16 -0.015    4 0.5188   17  1.074   19 -0.019   17 -0.011
BRUINS         27 21 159 148 -0.003 24.085    6  0.063    6  0.065    8  0.054    6 0.5158    8  1.166    8  0.162   19 -0.055
SABRES         26 20 153 143 -0.013 22.939    7  0.059    7  0.062   12  0.026    7 0.5153    7  1.172   10  0.143   21 -0.091
PANTHERS       24 21 139 145  0.019 23.096   10  0.038    9  0.043   19 -0.018    9 0.5111    9  1.162   14  0.086   24 -0.122
MAPLE LEAFS    23 24 158 155 -0.012 23.457   17 -0.010   17 -0.015   13  0.022   17 0.4977    6  1.222    5  0.203   26 -0.159
CANADIENS      26 22 162 159 -0.006 24.097    9  0.039   10  0.041   15  0.012   10 0.5083    5  1.224    6  0.196   27 -0.172
SENATORS       22 24 151 153 -0.008 23.100   21 -0.021   21 -0.026   17 -0.017   20 0.4934    3  1.239    7  0.187   29 -0.220

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     205 168 0.550    1  0.062
CENTRAL DIVISION      188 187 0.501    2  0.055
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 187 189 0.497    3 -0.009
PACIFIC DIVISION      168 204 0.452    4 -0.113

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Jan 16 05:30:08 2026
games through: Thu Jan 15 2026

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