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 13 185 110 -0.001 22.780    1  0.227    1  0.211    1  0.345    1 0.5542   16  1.096    1  0.365    2  0.324
LIGHTNING      29 17 162 119  0.012 23.190    2  0.131    2  0.128    2  0.175    2 0.5343   19  1.073    8  0.168    6  0.182
HURRICANES     29 19 167 143  0.001 24.128    3  0.099    3  0.104    4  0.085    3 0.5273   10  1.157    7  0.181   16 -0.011
RED WINGS      29 20 153 150 -0.024 24.279    4  0.070    4  0.082   16 -0.007    4 0.5209   20  1.071   19 -0.016   15  0.003
ISLANDERS      26 21 139 130  0.036 24.329    5  0.057    5  0.066    7  0.060    5 0.5169   28  0.913   24 -0.133    3  0.253
BRUINS         27 21 159 148 -0.003 24.103    6  0.053    6  0.060    8  0.050    6 0.5158    9  1.166    9  0.157   20 -0.057
SABRES         26 20 153 143 -0.013 22.949    7  0.049    7  0.057   12  0.024    7 0.5154    8  1.171   11  0.138   21 -0.089
STARS          27 21 162 135 -0.017 23.765    8  0.047    8  0.055    3  0.116    8 0.5137   21  1.069   12  0.104    8  0.128
PANTHERS       24 22 140 154  0.023 23.726   11  0.024   11  0.030   22 -0.044    9 0.5087    7  1.183   14  0.085   27 -0.172
CANADIENS      26 22 162 159 -0.006 24.102    9  0.031    9  0.038   15  0.011   10 0.5082    5  1.224    5  0.193   26 -0.171
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DEVILS         24 23 126 145  0.047 24.742   12  0.023   12  0.029   24 -0.066   11 0.5078   27  0.934   28 -0.236   11  0.104
WILD           26 22 150 136 -0.014 23.855   10  0.028   10  0.035    5  0.080   12 0.5066   25  0.984   20 -0.033    5  0.193
SHARKS         24 23 148 168  0.027 24.376   13  0.017   13  0.022   28 -0.093   13 0.5033    2  1.262   10  0.139   31 -0.324
MAMMOTH        24 24 147 132  0.003 24.216   14  0.006   14  0.001   10  0.044   14 0.5014   26  0.962   22 -0.094    7  0.181
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 23 23 153 143 -0.020 22.788   18 -0.003   18 -0.009    9  0.044   15 0.5000   12  1.126   13  0.102   17 -0.013
CAPITALS       24 24 155 138 -0.015 23.856   16 -0.000   17 -0.007    6  0.076   16 0.5000   18  1.074   15  0.069   12  0.082
DUCKS          23 24 156 171  0.015 24.119   17 -0.003   16 -0.006   25 -0.072   17 0.4987    1  1.341    2  0.267   32 -0.410
MAPLE LEAFS    23 24 158 155 -0.011 23.491   19 -0.007   19 -0.014   13  0.021   18 0.4978    6  1.219    4  0.197   25 -0.155
PREDATORS      23 24 136 154  0.010 24.090   15 -0.000   15 -0.004   26 -0.084   19 0.4960   15  1.097   21 -0.062   23 -0.106
FLYERS         22 24 138 143 -0.008 23.137   22 -0.017   20 -0.024   20 -0.030   20 0.4958   23  1.012   23 -0.110   13  0.051
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PENGUINS       22 24 147 140 -0.032 22.600   23 -0.021   23 -0.033   11  0.028   21 0.4934   17  1.084   17  0.034   14  0.022
OILERS         23 25 159 158 -0.008 24.068   20 -0.015   21 -0.025   14  0.013   22 0.4933    4  1.233    3  0.207   28 -0.181
SENATORS       22 24 151 153 -0.010 23.077   21 -0.016   22 -0.025   17 -0.017   23 0.4933    3  1.240    6  0.186   29 -0.219
BLUE JACKETS   21 26 144 157  0.015 24.120   24 -0.036   24 -0.046   23 -0.061   24 0.4886   13  1.126   18 -0.004   24 -0.119
KRAKEN         21 25 127 135 -0.028 22.760   25 -0.042   25 -0.054   21 -0.033   25 0.4867   31  0.882   29 -0.261    4  0.194
RANGERS        20 28 126 147  0.031 24.996   26 -0.060   26 -0.070   29 -0.101   26 0.4834   30  0.896   31 -0.314    9  0.111
FLAMES         20 27 122 141 -0.036 23.181   28 -0.083   28 -0.087   30 -0.103   27 0.4775   29  0.899   30 -0.312   10  0.105
JETS           19 27 141 144  0.009 23.427   27 -0.071   27 -0.081   19 -0.025   28 0.4774   11  1.144   16  0.055   22 -0.105
KINGS          19 28 124 134  0.015 24.053   29 -0.083   29 -0.088   18 -0.023   29 0.4765   32  0.758   32 -0.382    1  0.336
BLUES          19 29 120 163 -0.021 24.017   31 -0.118   31 -0.112   31 -0.141   30 0.4727   24  1.004   27 -0.231   19 -0.052
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     19 28 131 149 -0.035 23.191   30 -0.109   30 -0.107   27 -0.088   31 0.4720   22  1.020   26 -0.159   18 -0.018
CANUCKS        16 31 126 170 -0.003 23.973   32 -0.176   32 -0.156   32 -0.197   32 0.4624   14  1.121   25 -0.145   30 -0.248

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
SHARKS         24 23 148 168  0.027 24.376   13  0.017   13  0.022   28 -0.093   13 0.5033    2  1.262   10  0.139   31 -0.324
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 23 23 153 143 -0.020 22.788   18 -0.003   18 -0.009    9  0.044   15 0.5000   12  1.126   13  0.102   17 -0.013
DUCKS          23 24 156 171  0.015 24.119   17 -0.003   16 -0.006   25 -0.072   17 0.4987    1  1.341    2  0.267   32 -0.410
OILERS         23 25 159 158 -0.008 24.068   20 -0.015   21 -0.025   14  0.013   22 0.4933    4  1.233    3  0.207   28 -0.181
KRAKEN         21 25 127 135 -0.028 22.760   25 -0.042   25 -0.054   21 -0.033   25 0.4867   31  0.882   29 -0.261    4  0.194
FLAMES         20 27 122 141 -0.036 23.181   28 -0.083   28 -0.087   30 -0.103   27 0.4775   29  0.899   30 -0.312   10  0.105
KINGS          19 28 124 134  0.015 24.053   29 -0.083   29 -0.088   18 -0.023   29 0.4765   32  0.758   32 -0.382    1  0.336
CANUCKS        16 31 126 170 -0.003 23.973   32 -0.176   32 -0.156   32 -0.197   32 0.4624   14  1.121   25 -0.145   30 -0.248

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 13 185 110 -0.001 22.780    1  0.227    1  0.211    1  0.345    1 0.5542   16  1.096    1  0.365    2  0.324
STARS          27 21 162 135 -0.017 23.765    8  0.047    8  0.055    3  0.116    8 0.5137   21  1.069   12  0.104    8  0.128
WILD           26 22 150 136 -0.014 23.855   10  0.028   10  0.035    5  0.080   12 0.5066   25  0.984   20 -0.033    5  0.193
MAMMOTH        24 24 147 132  0.003 24.216   14  0.006   14  0.001   10  0.044   14 0.5014   26  0.962   22 -0.094    7  0.181
PREDATORS      23 24 136 154  0.010 24.090   15 -0.000   15 -0.004   26 -0.084   19 0.4960   15  1.097   21 -0.062   23 -0.106
JETS           19 27 141 144  0.009 23.427   27 -0.071   27 -0.081   19 -0.025   28 0.4774   11  1.144   16  0.055   22 -0.105
BLUES          19 29 120 163 -0.021 24.017   31 -0.118   31 -0.112   31 -0.141   30 0.4727   24  1.004   27 -0.231   19 -0.052
BLACKHAWKS     19 28 131 149 -0.035 23.191   30 -0.109   30 -0.107   27 -0.088   31 0.4720   22  1.020   26 -0.159   18 -0.018

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     29 19 167 143  0.001 24.128    3  0.099    3  0.104    4  0.085    3 0.5273   10  1.157    7  0.181   16 -0.011
ISLANDERS      26 21 139 130  0.036 24.329    5  0.057    5  0.066    7  0.060    5 0.5169   28  0.913   24 -0.133    3  0.253
DEVILS         24 23 126 145  0.047 24.742   12  0.023   12  0.029   24 -0.066   11 0.5078   27  0.934   28 -0.236   11  0.104
CAPITALS       24 24 155 138 -0.015 23.856   16 -0.000   17 -0.007    6  0.076   16 0.5000   18  1.074   15  0.069   12  0.082
FLYERS         22 24 138 143 -0.008 23.137   22 -0.017   20 -0.024   20 -0.030   20 0.4958   23  1.012   23 -0.110   13  0.051
PENGUINS       22 24 147 140 -0.032 22.600   23 -0.021   23 -0.033   11  0.028   21 0.4934   17  1.084   17  0.034   14  0.022
BLUE JACKETS   21 26 144 157  0.015 24.120   24 -0.036   24 -0.046   23 -0.061   24 0.4886   13  1.126   18 -0.004   24 -0.119
RANGERS        20 28 126 147  0.031 24.996   26 -0.060   26 -0.070   29 -0.101   26 0.4834   30  0.896   31 -0.314    9  0.111

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 17 162 119  0.012 23.190    2  0.131    2  0.128    2  0.175    2 0.5343   19  1.073    8  0.168    6  0.182
RED WINGS      29 20 153 150 -0.024 24.279    4  0.070    4  0.082   16 -0.007    4 0.5209   20  1.071   19 -0.016   15  0.003
BRUINS         27 21 159 148 -0.003 24.103    6  0.053    6  0.060    8  0.050    6 0.5158    9  1.166    9  0.157   20 -0.057
SABRES         26 20 153 143 -0.013 22.949    7  0.049    7  0.057   12  0.024    7 0.5154    8  1.171   11  0.138   21 -0.089
PANTHERS       24 22 140 154  0.023 23.726   11  0.024   11  0.030   22 -0.044    9 0.5087    7  1.183   14  0.085   27 -0.172
CANADIENS      26 22 162 159 -0.006 24.102    9  0.031    9  0.038   15  0.011   10 0.5082    5  1.224    5  0.193   26 -0.171
MAPLE LEAFS    23 24 158 155 -0.011 23.491   19 -0.007   19 -0.014   13  0.021   18 0.4978    6  1.219    4  0.197   25 -0.155
SENATORS       22 24 151 153 -0.010 23.077   21 -0.016   22 -0.025   17 -0.017   23 0.4933    3  1.240    6  0.186   29 -0.219

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      190 188 0.503    1  0.059
ATLANTIC DIVISION     206 170 0.548    2  0.054
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 188 189 0.499    3 -0.003
PACIFIC DIVISION      169 206 0.451    4 -0.115

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.066 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: Sat Jan 17 05:30:08 2026
games through: Fri Jan 16 2026

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