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      48 24 268 183  0.004 35.853    1  0.252    1  0.244    1  0.352    1 0.5407   17  1.078    1  0.343    1  0.361
LIGHTNING      46 27 267 203  0.002 36.401    2  0.205    3  0.188    2  0.236    2 0.5328    8  1.168    2  0.339    7  0.133
OILERS         37 37 258 251 -0.018 36.578   19 -0.007   19 -0.011   15  0.022   19 0.4983    1  1.302    3  0.300   29 -0.256
CANADIENS      42 31 258 233  0.017 37.009    6  0.117    6  0.119    7  0.107    6 0.5196    3  1.229    4  0.288   25 -0.075
SABRES         45 29 259 218  0.007 37.183    4  0.174    4  0.162    4  0.157    4 0.5280   11  1.162    5  0.252   11  0.062
HURRICANES     46 27 258 216  0.002 36.548    3  0.203    2  0.190    5  0.141    3 0.5322    7  1.171    6  0.248   14  0.034
PENGUINS       36 37 250 234  0.009 36.825   18 -0.001   18 -0.004   10  0.083   18 0.4998    6  1.201    7  0.228   24 -0.063
BRUINS         42 32 250 230  0.009 37.305    7  0.095    7  0.102    9  0.088    7 0.5174    9  1.167    8  0.191   20 -0.014
SENATORS       38 35 244 224  0.007 36.738   12  0.027   13  0.034    8  0.090   13 0.5059   10  1.162    9  0.186   19 -0.006
DUCKS          41 32 245 251 -0.005 36.598    9  0.069    9  0.085   19 -0.060    9 0.5135    2  1.277   10  0.185   30 -0.305
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STARS          44 30 252 203 -0.013 36.548    5  0.133    5  0.129    3  0.169    5 0.5211   21  1.051   11  0.129    2  0.210
WILD           41 33 242 216 -0.004 36.863   10  0.062   10  0.075    6  0.110   10 0.5116   19  1.054   12  0.073    5  0.148
MAPLE LEAFS    31 43 230 260  0.017 37.785   25 -0.101   25 -0.107   23 -0.083   25 0.4826    4  1.206   13  0.068   28 -0.234
CAPITALS       37 37 232 219  0.005 37.239   17  0.002   17  0.001   12  0.060   17 0.5017   18  1.070   14  0.042   10  0.078
BLUE JACKETS   38 36 237 226  0.003 37.210   15  0.016   14  0.021   13  0.034   14 0.5041   16  1.088   15  0.038   16  0.030
MAMMOTH        38 36 235 212  0.003 37.168   14  0.016   15  0.021   11  0.060   15 0.5030   20  1.053   16  0.022    9  0.098
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 42 232 234 -0.008 36.942   24 -0.093   24 -0.104   17 -0.015   24 0.4828   15  1.095   17 -0.003   22 -0.027
SHARKS         33 38 215 253  0.005 35.998   21 -0.037   21 -0.047   29 -0.155   21 0.4912    5  1.205   18 -0.004   31 -0.306
PANTHERS       35 38 216 244  0.013 37.178   20 -0.017   20 -0.022   26 -0.099   20 0.4973   12  1.156   19 -0.011   27 -0.186
PREDATORS      34 40 220 246 -0.001 37.288   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   28 -0.107   22 0.4887   13  1.130   20 -0.052   26 -0.163
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RED WINGS      39 34 215 218  0.013 37.045   11  0.043   11  0.058   16 -0.003   11 0.5099   26  0.974   21 -0.135    8  0.129
ISLANDERS      42 32 216 209 -0.001 37.101    8  0.085    8  0.097   14  0.028    8 0.5169   30  0.934   22 -0.149    3  0.206
JETS           31 42 209 225 -0.003 36.677   26 -0.104   26 -0.110   21 -0.069   26 0.4810   23  1.004   23 -0.166   18  0.028
FLYERS         37 36 216 219  0.010 36.988   16  0.010   16  0.016   18 -0.015   16 0.5024   29  0.956   24 -0.168    6  0.137
KRAKEN         32 40 206 224 -0.022 35.604   23 -0.082   23 -0.093   20 -0.064   23 0.4848   24  0.994   25 -0.172   12  0.044
RANGERS        30 44 211 232  0.010 37.587   28 -0.133   29 -0.131   27 -0.100   28 0.4783   22  1.017   26 -0.181   21 -0.019
DEVILS         38 35 204 223  0.012 37.151   13  0.025   12  0.036   24 -0.097   12 0.5068   25  0.978   27 -0.224   17  0.029
BLUES          31 41 191 227 -0.024 35.584   27 -0.110   27 -0.114   25 -0.098   27 0.4805   28  0.967   28 -0.237   13  0.042
CANUCKS        21 51 185 273 -0.020 36.006   32 -0.302   32 -0.314   32 -0.353   32 0.4477   14  1.126   29 -0.302   32 -0.403
BLACKHAWKS     27 47 192 244 -0.007 37.204   31 -0.214   31 -0.201   31 -0.189   31 0.4656   27  0.973   30 -0.321   23 -0.056
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          29 44 195 222  0.002 36.825   30 -0.151   30 -0.147   22 -0.073   30 0.4752   32  0.865   31 -0.326    4  0.180
FLAMES         31 42 189 225 -0.038 35.739   29 -0.134   28 -0.131   30 -0.175   29 0.4780   31  0.905   32 -0.384   15  0.034

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
OILERS         37 37 258 251 -0.018 36.578   19 -0.007   19 -0.011   15  0.022   19 0.4983    1  1.302    3  0.300   29 -0.256
DUCKS          41 32 245 251 -0.005 36.598    9  0.069    9  0.085   19 -0.060    9 0.5135    2  1.277   10  0.185   30 -0.305
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 42 232 234 -0.008 36.942   24 -0.093   24 -0.104   17 -0.015   24 0.4828   15  1.095   17 -0.003   22 -0.027
SHARKS         33 38 215 253  0.005 35.998   21 -0.037   21 -0.047   29 -0.155   21 0.4912    5  1.205   18 -0.004   31 -0.306
KRAKEN         32 40 206 224 -0.022 35.604   23 -0.082   23 -0.093   20 -0.064   23 0.4848   24  0.994   25 -0.172   12  0.044
CANUCKS        21 51 185 273 -0.020 36.006   32 -0.302   32 -0.314   32 -0.353   32 0.4477   14  1.126   29 -0.302   32 -0.403
KINGS          29 44 195 222  0.002 36.825   30 -0.151   30 -0.147   22 -0.073   30 0.4752   32  0.865   31 -0.326    4  0.180
FLAMES         31 42 189 225 -0.038 35.739   29 -0.134   28 -0.131   30 -0.175   29 0.4780   31  0.905   32 -0.384   15  0.034

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      48 24 268 183  0.004 35.853    1  0.252    1  0.244    1  0.352    1 0.5407   17  1.078    1  0.343    1  0.361
STARS          44 30 252 203 -0.013 36.548    5  0.133    5  0.129    3  0.169    5 0.5211   21  1.051   11  0.129    2  0.210
WILD           41 33 242 216 -0.004 36.863   10  0.062   10  0.075    6  0.110   10 0.5116   19  1.054   12  0.073    5  0.148
MAMMOTH        38 36 235 212  0.003 37.168   14  0.016   15  0.021   11  0.060   15 0.5030   20  1.053   16  0.022    9  0.098
PREDATORS      34 40 220 246 -0.001 37.288   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   28 -0.107   22 0.4887   13  1.130   20 -0.052   26 -0.163
JETS           31 42 209 225 -0.003 36.677   26 -0.104   26 -0.110   21 -0.069   26 0.4810   23  1.004   23 -0.166   18  0.028
BLUES          31 41 191 227 -0.024 35.584   27 -0.110   27 -0.114   25 -0.098   27 0.4805   28  0.967   28 -0.237   13  0.042
BLACKHAWKS     27 47 192 244 -0.007 37.204   31 -0.214   31 -0.201   31 -0.189   31 0.4656   27  0.973   30 -0.321   23 -0.056

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     46 27 258 216  0.002 36.548    3  0.203    2  0.190    5  0.141    3 0.5322    7  1.171    6  0.248   14  0.034
PENGUINS       36 37 250 234  0.009 36.825   18 -0.001   18 -0.004   10  0.083   18 0.4998    6  1.201    7  0.228   24 -0.063
CAPITALS       37 37 232 219  0.005 37.239   17  0.002   17  0.001   12  0.060   17 0.5017   18  1.070   14  0.042   10  0.078
BLUE JACKETS   38 36 237 226  0.003 37.210   15  0.016   14  0.021   13  0.034   14 0.5041   16  1.088   15  0.038   16  0.030
ISLANDERS      42 32 216 209 -0.001 37.101    8  0.085    8  0.097   14  0.028    8 0.5169   30  0.934   22 -0.149    3  0.206
FLYERS         37 36 216 219  0.010 36.988   16  0.010   16  0.016   18 -0.015   16 0.5024   29  0.956   24 -0.168    6  0.137
RANGERS        30 44 211 232  0.010 37.587   28 -0.133   29 -0.131   27 -0.100   28 0.4783   22  1.017   26 -0.181   21 -0.019
DEVILS         38 35 204 223  0.012 37.151   13  0.025   12  0.036   24 -0.097   12 0.5068   25  0.978   27 -0.224   17  0.029

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      46 27 267 203  0.002 36.401    2  0.205    3  0.188    2  0.236    2 0.5328    8  1.168    2  0.339    7  0.133
CANADIENS      42 31 258 233  0.017 37.009    6  0.117    6  0.119    7  0.107    6 0.5196    3  1.229    4  0.288   25 -0.075
SABRES         45 29 259 218  0.007 37.183    4  0.174    4  0.162    4  0.157    4 0.5280   11  1.162    5  0.252   11  0.062
BRUINS         42 32 250 230  0.009 37.305    7  0.095    7  0.102    9  0.088    7 0.5174    9  1.167    8  0.191   20 -0.014
SENATORS       38 35 244 224  0.007 36.738   12  0.027   13  0.034    8  0.090   13 0.5059   10  1.162    9  0.186   19 -0.006
MAPLE LEAFS    31 43 230 260  0.017 37.785   25 -0.101   25 -0.107   23 -0.083   25 0.4826    4  1.206   13  0.068   28 -0.234
PANTHERS       35 38 216 244  0.013 37.178   20 -0.017   20 -0.022   26 -0.099   20 0.4973   12  1.156   19 -0.011   27 -0.186
RED WINGS      39 34 215 218  0.013 37.045   11  0.043   11  0.058   16 -0.003   11 0.5099   26  0.974   21 -0.135    8  0.129

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     318 269 0.542    1  0.091
CENTRAL DIVISION      294 293 0.501    2  0.041
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 304 284 0.517    3  0.025
PACIFIC DIVISION      256 326 0.440    4 -0.160

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.049 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: Mon Mar 30 05:30:08 2026
games through: Sun Mar 29 2026

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