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      59 27 315 208 -0.020 42.083    1  0.288    1  0.294    1  0.395    1 0.5423   23  1.024    1  0.317    1  0.472
HURRICANES     57 29 307 245  0.011 43.419    2  0.270    2  0.275    2  0.213    2 0.5407   10  1.145    3  0.283    7  0.144
SABRES         53 34 304 252  0.014 44.047    3  0.208    3  0.189    4  0.196    3 0.5286    9  1.147    4  0.268    9  0.124
LIGHTNING      52 34 301 242  0.016 43.580    4  0.199    4  0.179    3  0.213    4 0.5282   12  1.117    5  0.248    5  0.178
STARS          52 35 292 244  0.001 43.595    5  0.176    5  0.160    5  0.163    5 0.5229   20  1.052   11  0.120    2  0.207
CANADIENS      50 36 294 267  0.027 44.064    6  0.162    6  0.150    8  0.110    6 0.5226    7  1.167    7  0.207   18  0.013
WILD           49 38 290 253  0.000 43.565    7  0.098    7  0.102    6  0.144    7 0.5149   18  1.078   10  0.131    6  0.156
BRUINS         47 40 283 266  0.031 44.754    8  0.076    8  0.084   10  0.088    8 0.5135   15  1.107   12  0.111   12  0.065
FLYERS         46 41 265 254  0.019 44.378    9  0.048    9  0.058   13  0.044    9 0.5086   29  0.964   21 -0.103    4  0.191
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.004 41.291   10  0.035   11  0.039    9  0.089   10 0.5071   16  1.104   13  0.108   11  0.070
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.007 41.541   11  0.033   10  0.042   17 -0.027   11 0.5071   30  0.945   25 -0.196    8  0.142
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.019 43.766   12  0.027   12  0.030    7  0.116   12 0.5059   13  1.115    9  0.148   10  0.084
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.014 41.900   14  0.022   14  0.027   25 -0.114   13 0.5048   27  0.993   27 -0.228   20 -0.000
DUCKS          46 41 294 307 -0.026 43.027   15  0.021   15  0.027   24 -0.101   14 0.5036    1  1.297    8  0.167   31 -0.369
MAMMOTH        45 41 281 253 -0.010 42.838   13  0.025   13  0.029   12  0.059   15 0.5035   14  1.108   14  0.082   13  0.036
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.011 41.707   16  0.008   16  0.007   18 -0.050   16 0.5014   21  1.033   22 -0.116   17  0.016
PENGUINS       43 44 304 283  0.011 44.043   17  0.005   17 -0.003   11  0.084   17 0.5005    2  1.264    2  0.307   26 -0.139
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.012 41.673   18 -0.005   19 -0.013   16 -0.009   18 0.4990   19  1.057   19 -0.047   15  0.029
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.014 41.833   19 -0.005   18 -0.012   21 -0.082   19 0.4987    6  1.190   16  0.045   28 -0.208
OILERS         43 44 301 290 -0.035 42.499   20 -0.018   20 -0.033   15  0.029   20 0.4958    3  1.260    6  0.247   27 -0.189
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 41 45 278 263 -0.019 42.561   21 -0.033   21 -0.051   14  0.034   21 0.4919   17  1.091   17  0.037   14  0.031
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.024 40.719   22 -0.046   22 -0.056   29 -0.174   22 0.4913    5  1.213   18 -0.017   29 -0.330
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.010 41.083   23 -0.054   23 -0.067   23 -0.097   23 0.4895   11  1.121   20 -0.057   25 -0.138
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.019 40.748   24 -0.077   24 -0.090   19 -0.065   24 0.4859   22  1.027   23 -0.139   19  0.009
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.015 41.851   26 -0.126   26 -0.128   20 -0.066   25 0.4814   25  1.012   24 -0.158   16  0.025
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.009 41.168   25 -0.121   25 -0.124   26 -0.120   26 0.4809   24  1.022   26 -0.199   23 -0.041
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.019 40.913   27 -0.158   27 -0.151   30 -0.191   27 0.4771   31  0.930   32 -0.377   21 -0.006
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.023 40.731   28 -0.160   28 -0.155   27 -0.140   28 0.4766   26  0.996   28 -0.251   22 -0.030
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.004 43.307   29 -0.162   29 -0.157   22 -0.082   29 0.4766   32  0.848   31 -0.357    3  0.193
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.014 41.916   30 -0.176   30 -0.169   28 -0.144   30 0.4754    4  1.239   15  0.045   30 -0.334
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.014 41.089   31 -0.244   31 -0.248   31 -0.225   31 0.4626   28  0.985   30 -0.348   24 -0.102
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.020 41.122   32 -0.315   32 -0.331   32 -0.390   32 0.4505    8  1.159   29 -0.303   32 -0.478

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          46 41 294 307 -0.026 43.027   15  0.021   15  0.027   24 -0.101   14 0.5036    1  1.297    8  0.167   31 -0.369
OILERS         43 44 301 290 -0.035 42.499   20 -0.018   20 -0.033   15  0.029   20 0.4958    3  1.260    6  0.247   27 -0.189
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 41 45 278 263 -0.019 42.561   21 -0.033   21 -0.051   14  0.034   21 0.4919   17  1.091   17  0.037   14  0.031
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.024 40.719   22 -0.046   22 -0.056   29 -0.174   22 0.4913    5  1.213   18 -0.017   29 -0.330
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.019 40.913   27 -0.158   27 -0.151   30 -0.191   27 0.4771   31  0.930   32 -0.377   21 -0.006
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.023 40.731   28 -0.160   28 -0.155   27 -0.140   28 0.4766   26  0.996   28 -0.251   22 -0.030
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.004 43.307   29 -0.162   29 -0.157   22 -0.082   29 0.4766   32  0.848   31 -0.357    3  0.193
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.020 41.122   32 -0.315   32 -0.331   32 -0.390   32 0.4505    8  1.159   29 -0.303   32 -0.478

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      59 27 315 208 -0.020 42.083    1  0.288    1  0.294    1  0.395    1 0.5423   23  1.024    1  0.317    1  0.472
STARS          52 35 292 244  0.001 43.595    5  0.176    5  0.160    5  0.163    5 0.5229   20  1.052   11  0.120    2  0.207
WILD           49 38 290 253  0.000 43.565    7  0.098    7  0.102    6  0.144    7 0.5149   18  1.078   10  0.131    6  0.156
MAMMOTH        45 41 281 253 -0.010 42.838   13  0.025   13  0.029   12  0.059   15 0.5035   14  1.108   14  0.082   13  0.036
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.010 41.083   23 -0.054   23 -0.067   23 -0.097   23 0.4895   11  1.121   20 -0.057   25 -0.138
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.019 40.748   24 -0.077   24 -0.090   19 -0.065   24 0.4859   22  1.027   23 -0.139   19  0.009
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.009 41.168   25 -0.121   25 -0.124   26 -0.120   26 0.4809   24  1.022   26 -0.199   23 -0.041
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.014 41.089   31 -0.244   31 -0.248   31 -0.225   31 0.4626   28  0.985   30 -0.348   24 -0.102

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     57 29 307 245  0.011 43.419    2  0.270    2  0.275    2  0.213    2 0.5407   10  1.145    3  0.283    7  0.144
FLYERS         46 41 265 254  0.019 44.378    9  0.048    9  0.058   13  0.044    9 0.5086   29  0.964   21 -0.103    4  0.191
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244  0.004 41.291   10  0.035   11  0.039    9  0.089   10 0.5071   16  1.104   13  0.108   11  0.070
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.007 41.541   11  0.033   10  0.042   17 -0.027   11 0.5071   30  0.945   25 -0.196    8  0.142
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.014 41.900   14  0.022   14  0.027   25 -0.114   13 0.5048   27  0.993   27 -0.228   20 -0.000
PENGUINS       43 44 304 283  0.011 44.043   17  0.005   17 -0.003   11  0.084   17 0.5005    2  1.264    2  0.307   26 -0.139
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.012 41.673   18 -0.005   19 -0.013   16 -0.009   18 0.4990   19  1.057   19 -0.047   15  0.029
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.015 41.851   26 -0.126   26 -0.128   20 -0.066   25 0.4814   25  1.012   24 -0.158   16  0.025

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
SABRES         53 34 304 252  0.014 44.047    3  0.208    3  0.189    4  0.196    3 0.5286    9  1.147    4  0.268    9  0.124
LIGHTNING      52 34 301 242  0.016 43.580    4  0.199    4  0.179    3  0.213    4 0.5282   12  1.117    5  0.248    5  0.178
CANADIENS      50 36 294 267  0.027 44.064    6  0.162    6  0.150    8  0.110    6 0.5226    7  1.167    7  0.207   18  0.013
BRUINS         47 40 283 266  0.031 44.754    8  0.076    8  0.084   10  0.088    8 0.5135   15  1.107   12  0.111   12  0.065
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.019 43.766   12  0.027   12  0.030    7  0.116   12 0.5059   13  1.115    9  0.148   10  0.084
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.011 41.707   16  0.008   16  0.007   18 -0.050   16 0.5014   21  1.033   22 -0.116   17  0.016
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.014 41.833   19 -0.005   18 -0.012   21 -0.082   19 0.4987    6  1.190   16  0.045   28 -0.208
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.014 41.916   30 -0.176   30 -0.169   28 -0.144   30 0.4754    4  1.239   15  0.045   30 -0.334

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     359 319 0.529    1  0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION      344 330 0.510    2  0.041
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 348 322 0.519    3  0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION      297 377 0.441    4 -0.170

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.052 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: Wed Apr 29 05:30:12 2026
games through: Tue Apr 28 2026

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