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      51 26 290 197 -0.003 38.110    1  0.247    1  0.242    1  0.365    1 0.5387   16  1.100    1  0.375    1  0.355
HURRICANES     50 28 281 233  0.007 39.196    2  0.227    2  0.217    4  0.160    2 0.5353    7  1.195    4  0.289   16  0.032
LIGHTNING      48 30 281 221  0.010 39.190    3  0.194    3  0.178    2  0.218    3 0.5298   11  1.161    3  0.303    7  0.133
SABRES         47 31 270 233  0.014 39.419    4  0.174    4  0.163    5  0.143    4 0.5272   12  1.160    7  0.227   12  0.058
CANADIENS      46 32 273 245  0.013 39.446    5  0.149    5  0.143    8  0.106    5 0.5233    6  1.197    6  0.237   23 -0.025
STARS          46 32 262 214 -0.008 38.678    6  0.133    6  0.129    3  0.163    6 0.5202   21  1.031   12  0.089    2  0.237
WILD           45 33 261 225 -0.009 38.684    7  0.106    7  0.109    6  0.140    7 0.5167   20  1.064   11  0.106    3  0.174
BRUINS         43 36 264 246  0.018 40.120    8  0.065    8  0.076   10  0.083    8 0.5130   13  1.147    9  0.151   18  0.016
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.006 39.376    9  0.047    9  0.061   17 -0.001    9 0.5105   27  0.961   23 -0.156    6  0.154
SENATORS       41 37 264 240  0.014 39.470   10  0.037   10  0.047    9  0.105   10 0.5080    8  1.174    8  0.207   19  0.003
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAMMOTH        41 36 254 223 -0.003 38.450   11  0.035   11  0.046   11  0.078   11 0.5067   17  1.093   14  0.078    9  0.077
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.010 39.311   12  0.021   15  0.026    7  0.124   12 0.5050    3  1.251    2  0.325   25 -0.077
DEVILS         40 38 219 239  0.012 39.689   15  0.015   14  0.026   24 -0.095   13 0.5049   26  0.979   26 -0.229   13  0.039
RED WINGS      40 38 228 238  0.014 39.650   13  0.019   12  0.028   18 -0.026   14 0.5045   25  0.984   22 -0.155    8  0.102
FLYERS         40 38 233 232  0.012 39.549   14  0.018   13  0.027   16  0.003   15 0.5045   30  0.955   24 -0.159    5  0.164
DUCKS          41 37 257 276 -0.019 38.726   16  0.014   16  0.026   27 -0.113   16 0.5036    2  1.282   10  0.130   31 -0.356
CAPITALS       39 39 248 240  0.003 39.216   18  0.000   18  0.000   12  0.042   17 0.5015   15  1.127   13  0.084   20  0.000
BLUE JACKETS   39 39 245 241  0.007 39.408   17  0.002   17  0.005   15  0.008   18 0.5015   19  1.070   19 -0.019   15  0.034
OILERS         39 39 270 263 -0.023 38.420   19 -0.009   19 -0.014   13  0.025   19 0.4974    1  1.283    5  0.269   28 -0.219
PANTHERS       37 41 233 266  0.019 39.910   21 -0.021   21 -0.027   26 -0.102   20 0.4963    9  1.171   18 -0.004   27 -0.199
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SHARKS         37 39 234 269 -0.010 38.076   20 -0.020   20 -0.025   29 -0.145   21 0.4953    5  1.211   16  0.004   30 -0.294
PREDATORS      37 41 238 256 -0.004 39.160   22 -0.032   22 -0.041   22 -0.077   22 0.4921   14  1.132   20 -0.028   26 -0.127
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 36 42 249 241 -0.022 38.467   23 -0.056   23 -0.071   14  0.012   23 0.4884   18  1.084   17  0.003   17  0.022
JETS           34 43 221 234 -0.003 38.663   24 -0.077   24 -0.088   20 -0.062   24 0.4847   24  0.987   25 -0.188   11  0.063
RANGERS        33 45 229 238  0.008 39.504   25 -0.103   25 -0.110   19 -0.056   25 0.4827   22  1.016   21 -0.148   14  0.036
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.197   27 -0.115   27 -0.118   25 -0.096   26 0.4816    4  1.223   15  0.069   29 -0.261
BLUES          33 44 206 241 -0.014 38.349   26 -0.110   26 -0.114   23 -0.085   27 0.4811   28  0.959   28 -0.242   10  0.072
KINGS          32 45 211 236 -0.008 38.524   28 -0.130   28 -0.131   21 -0.074   28 0.4785   32  0.881   30 -0.318    4  0.171
KRAKEN         32 45 214 248 -0.022 38.175   29 -0.143   29 -0.140   28 -0.123   29 0.4774   23  1.001   27 -0.232   21 -0.013
FLAMES         32 45 202 247 -0.025 38.123   30 -0.147   30 -0.142   30 -0.187   30 0.4771   31  0.950   32 -0.355   22 -0.019
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     28 50 202 256 -0.008 39.161   31 -0.226   31 -0.218   31 -0.192   31 0.4640   29  0.957   31 -0.352   24 -0.032
CANUCKS        22 55 202 297 -0.011 38.789   32 -0.314   32 -0.330   32 -0.361   32 0.4465   10  1.164   29 -0.272   32 -0.450

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 37 257 276 -0.019 38.726   16  0.014   16  0.026   27 -0.113   16 0.5036    2  1.282   10  0.130   31 -0.356
OILERS         39 39 270 263 -0.023 38.420   19 -0.009   19 -0.014   13  0.025   19 0.4974    1  1.283    5  0.269   28 -0.219
SHARKS         37 39 234 269 -0.010 38.076   20 -0.020   20 -0.025   29 -0.145   21 0.4953    5  1.211   16  0.004   30 -0.294
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 36 42 249 241 -0.022 38.467   23 -0.056   23 -0.071   14  0.012   23 0.4884   18  1.084   17  0.003   17  0.022
KINGS          32 45 211 236 -0.008 38.524   28 -0.130   28 -0.131   21 -0.074   28 0.4785   32  0.881   30 -0.318    4  0.171
KRAKEN         32 45 214 248 -0.022 38.175   29 -0.143   29 -0.140   28 -0.123   29 0.4774   23  1.001   27 -0.232   21 -0.013
FLAMES         32 45 202 247 -0.025 38.123   30 -0.147   30 -0.142   30 -0.187   30 0.4771   31  0.950   32 -0.355   22 -0.019
CANUCKS        22 55 202 297 -0.011 38.789   32 -0.314   32 -0.330   32 -0.361   32 0.4465   10  1.164   29 -0.272   32 -0.450

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      51 26 290 197 -0.003 38.110    1  0.247    1  0.242    1  0.365    1 0.5387   16  1.100    1  0.375    1  0.355
STARS          46 32 262 214 -0.008 38.678    6  0.133    6  0.129    3  0.163    6 0.5202   21  1.031   12  0.089    2  0.237
WILD           45 33 261 225 -0.009 38.684    7  0.106    7  0.109    6  0.140    7 0.5167   20  1.064   11  0.106    3  0.174
MAMMOTH        41 36 254 223 -0.003 38.450   11  0.035   11  0.046   11  0.078   11 0.5067   17  1.093   14  0.078    9  0.077
PREDATORS      37 41 238 256 -0.004 39.160   22 -0.032   22 -0.041   22 -0.077   22 0.4921   14  1.132   20 -0.028   26 -0.127
JETS           34 43 221 234 -0.003 38.663   24 -0.077   24 -0.088   20 -0.062   24 0.4847   24  0.987   25 -0.188   11  0.063
BLUES          33 44 206 241 -0.014 38.349   26 -0.110   26 -0.114   23 -0.085   27 0.4811   28  0.959   28 -0.242   10  0.072
BLACKHAWKS     28 50 202 256 -0.008 39.161   31 -0.226   31 -0.218   31 -0.192   31 0.4640   29  0.957   31 -0.352   24 -0.032

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     50 28 281 233  0.007 39.196    2  0.227    2  0.217    4  0.160    2 0.5353    7  1.195    4  0.289   16  0.032
ISLANDERS      42 36 226 229  0.006 39.376    9  0.047    9  0.061   17 -0.001    9 0.5105   27  0.961   23 -0.156    6  0.154
PENGUINS       40 38 280 250  0.010 39.311   12  0.021   15  0.026    7  0.124   12 0.5050    3  1.251    2  0.325   25 -0.077
DEVILS         40 38 219 239  0.012 39.689   15  0.015   14  0.026   24 -0.095   13 0.5049   26  0.979   26 -0.229   13  0.039
FLYERS         40 38 233 232  0.012 39.549   14  0.018   13  0.027   16  0.003   15 0.5045   30  0.955   24 -0.159    5  0.164
CAPITALS       39 39 248 240  0.003 39.216   18  0.000   18  0.000   12  0.042   17 0.5015   15  1.127   13  0.084   20  0.000
BLUE JACKETS   39 39 245 241  0.007 39.408   17  0.002   17  0.005   15  0.008   18 0.5015   19  1.070   19 -0.019   15  0.034
RANGERS        33 45 229 238  0.008 39.504   25 -0.103   25 -0.110   19 -0.056   25 0.4827   22  1.016   21 -0.148   14  0.036

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 30 281 221  0.010 39.190    3  0.194    3  0.178    2  0.218    3 0.5298   11  1.161    3  0.303    7  0.133
SABRES         47 31 270 233  0.014 39.419    4  0.174    4  0.163    5  0.143    4 0.5272   12  1.160    7  0.227   12  0.058
CANADIENS      46 32 273 245  0.013 39.446    5  0.149    5  0.143    8  0.106    5 0.5233    6  1.197    6  0.237   23 -0.025
BRUINS         43 36 264 246  0.018 40.120    8  0.065    8  0.076   10  0.083    8 0.5130   13  1.147    9  0.151   18  0.016
SENATORS       41 37 264 240  0.014 39.470   10  0.037   10  0.047    9  0.105   10 0.5080    8  1.174    8  0.207   19  0.003
RED WINGS      40 38 228 238  0.014 39.650   13  0.019   12  0.028   18 -0.026   14 0.5045   25  0.984   22 -0.155    8  0.102
PANTHERS       37 41 233 266  0.019 39.910   21 -0.021   21 -0.027   26 -0.102   20 0.4963    9  1.171   18 -0.004   27 -0.199
MAPLE LEAFS    32 45 242 275  0.013 39.197   27 -0.115   27 -0.118   25 -0.096   26 0.4816    4  1.223   15  0.069   29 -0.261

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     334 290 0.535    1  0.078
CENTRAL DIVISION      315 305 0.508    2  0.058
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 323 301 0.518    3  0.033
PACIFIC DIVISION      271 347 0.439    4 -0.173

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.054 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: Wed Apr  8 05:30:07 2026
games through: Tue Apr  7 2026

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