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      39 19 221 146  0.000 28.682    1  0.234    1  0.226    1  0.358    1 0.5433   18  1.087    1  0.360    1  0.356
OILERS         29 32 215 206 -0.034 29.739   22 -0.041   23 -0.052   15  0.026   22 0.4906    2  1.317    2  0.325   29 -0.273
CANADIENS      33 26 208 193  0.023 30.059    9  0.082    9  0.089    9  0.076   10 0.5144    3  1.246    3  0.280   24 -0.129
LIGHTNING      38 20 209 153  0.005 28.922    2  0.212    2  0.202    2  0.239    2 0.5395   16  1.097    4  0.254    4  0.224
DUCKS          32 26 196 204  0.002 29.258   11  0.058   11  0.068   22 -0.059   11 0.5120    1  1.318    5  0.241   32 -0.360
SABRES         35 25 206 181  0.015 30.325    5  0.116    5  0.117    6  0.107    5 0.5227    8  1.179    6  0.223   17 -0.010
HURRICANES     38 21 207 169 -0.005 29.304    3  0.195    3  0.187    3  0.154    3 0.5358   13  1.134    7  0.214   12  0.094
BRUINS         33 26 200 187  0.003 29.610   10  0.071   10  0.079   10  0.066    9 0.5150    6  1.203    8  0.213   22 -0.082
SENATORS       29 30 197 188  0.009 29.783   18 -0.005   19 -0.007   13  0.045   18 0.4990    7  1.199    9  0.188   23 -0.097
PENGUINS       30 28 198 173 -0.040 28.078   14  0.005   15  0.003    7  0.102   14 0.5017   12  1.140   10  0.169   16  0.034
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 28 31 199 186 -0.027 28.909   20 -0.038   21 -0.048   12  0.049   20 0.4922    9  1.164   11  0.147   20 -0.049
MAPLE LEAFS    27 33 193 208  0.009 30.397   25 -0.052   25 -0.060   19 -0.043   24 0.4887    5  1.226   12  0.135   28 -0.221
WILD           35 25 203 176 -0.010 29.724    6  0.102    6  0.104    5  0.125    6 0.5183   19  1.085   13  0.125   10  0.124
STARS          36 23 200 163 -0.024 28.874    4  0.133    4  0.131    4  0.143    4 0.5243   21  1.051   14  0.102    5  0.184
SHARKS         28 29 177 201  0.014 29.113   17 -0.005   16 -0.003   25 -0.115   19 0.4983    4  1.236   15  0.076   31 -0.306
CAPITALS       31 31 197 186 -0.007 30.874   16 -0.003   18 -0.006   11  0.058   15 0.5013   15  1.098   16  0.075   14  0.042
PANTHERS       30 29 181 195  0.022 30.215   13  0.018   13  0.023   21 -0.048   13 0.5046   10  1.161   17  0.047   25 -0.143
BLUE JACKETS   29 29 184 185  0.009 29.350   15  0.002   14  0.005   16 -0.007   16 0.5008   14  1.127   18  0.045   21 -0.059
MAMMOTH        31 28 190 163  0.009 29.681   12  0.033   12  0.037    8  0.089   12 0.5078   23  1.023   19  0.015    6  0.163
PREDATORS      27 32 175 203  0.005 29.941   24 -0.046   22 -0.051   26 -0.120   25 0.4880   11  1.159   20 -0.028   27 -0.212
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLYERS         27 32 174 186  0.015 30.043   21 -0.040   20 -0.047   20 -0.044   21 0.4910   24  1.018   21 -0.124   15  0.037
JETS           23 35 167 182 -0.004 29.142   29 -0.135   29 -0.137   24 -0.082   28 0.4747   22  1.041   22 -0.135   18 -0.030
RED WINGS      34 26 178 181  0.012 30.428    8  0.086    7  0.095   17 -0.013    8 0.5171   25  0.981   23 -0.136   11  0.110
ISLANDERS      34 26 177 168  0.011 30.330    7  0.087    8  0.093   14  0.043    7 0.5180   28  0.929   24 -0.139    3  0.225
KRAKEN         28 31 169 175 -0.035 28.828   23 -0.045   24 -0.053   18 -0.029   23 0.4905   27  0.950   25 -0.187    9  0.129
BLUES          21 38 153 207 -0.020 29.422   31 -0.205   31 -0.199   31 -0.195   31 0.4625   20  1.078   26 -0.204   26 -0.187
CANUCKS        18 41 152 218 -0.012 29.719   32 -0.258   32 -0.263   32 -0.291   32 0.4521   17  1.094   27 -0.279   30 -0.302
BLACKHAWKS     22 37 157 192 -0.019 29.370   30 -0.181   30 -0.177   30 -0.157   30 0.4666   26  0.978   28 -0.284   19 -0.031
RANGERS        23 36 156 185  0.039 30.726   27 -0.124   27 -0.124   28 -0.141   26 0.4775   29  0.917   29 -0.336   13  0.055
DEVILS         29 31 151 182  0.033 31.102   19 -0.007   17 -0.004   27 -0.133   17 0.4998   30  0.850   30 -0.403    7  0.136
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          24 35 153 175  0.005 29.843   26 -0.117   26 -0.119   23 -0.072   27 0.4774   32  0.791   31 -0.403    2  0.260
FLAMES         24 34 146 172 -0.036 28.428   28 -0.133   28 -0.131   29 -0.145   29 0.4742   31  0.841   32 -0.424    8  0.134

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         29 32 215 206 -0.034 29.739   22 -0.041   23 -0.052   15  0.026   22 0.4906    2  1.317    2  0.325   29 -0.273
DUCKS          32 26 196 204  0.002 29.258   11  0.058   11  0.068   22 -0.059   11 0.5120    1  1.318    5  0.241   32 -0.360
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 28 31 199 186 -0.027 28.909   20 -0.038   21 -0.048   12  0.049   20 0.4922    9  1.164   11  0.147   20 -0.049
SHARKS         28 29 177 201  0.014 29.113   17 -0.005   16 -0.003   25 -0.115   19 0.4983    4  1.236   15  0.076   31 -0.306
KRAKEN         28 31 169 175 -0.035 28.828   23 -0.045   24 -0.053   18 -0.029   23 0.4905   27  0.950   25 -0.187    9  0.129
CANUCKS        18 41 152 218 -0.012 29.719   32 -0.258   32 -0.263   32 -0.291   32 0.4521   17  1.094   27 -0.279   30 -0.302
KINGS          24 35 153 175  0.005 29.843   26 -0.117   26 -0.119   23 -0.072   27 0.4774   32  0.791   31 -0.403    2  0.260
FLAMES         24 34 146 172 -0.036 28.428   28 -0.133   28 -0.131   29 -0.145   29 0.4742   31  0.841   32 -0.424    8  0.134

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      39 19 221 146  0.000 28.682    1  0.234    1  0.226    1  0.358    1 0.5433   18  1.087    1  0.360    1  0.356
WILD           35 25 203 176 -0.010 29.724    6  0.102    6  0.104    5  0.125    6 0.5183   19  1.085   13  0.125   10  0.124
STARS          36 23 200 163 -0.024 28.874    4  0.133    4  0.131    4  0.143    4 0.5243   21  1.051   14  0.102    5  0.184
MAMMOTH        31 28 190 163  0.009 29.681   12  0.033   12  0.037    8  0.089   12 0.5078   23  1.023   19  0.015    6  0.163
PREDATORS      27 32 175 203  0.005 29.941   24 -0.046   22 -0.051   26 -0.120   25 0.4880   11  1.159   20 -0.028   27 -0.212
JETS           23 35 167 182 -0.004 29.142   29 -0.135   29 -0.137   24 -0.082   28 0.4747   22  1.041   22 -0.135   18 -0.030
BLUES          21 38 153 207 -0.020 29.422   31 -0.205   31 -0.199   31 -0.195   31 0.4625   20  1.078   26 -0.204   26 -0.187
BLACKHAWKS     22 37 157 192 -0.019 29.370   30 -0.181   30 -0.177   30 -0.157   30 0.4666   26  0.978   28 -0.284   19 -0.031

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     38 21 207 169 -0.005 29.304    3  0.195    3  0.187    3  0.154    3 0.5358   13  1.134    7  0.214   12  0.094
PENGUINS       30 28 198 173 -0.040 28.078   14  0.005   15  0.003    7  0.102   14 0.5017   12  1.140   10  0.169   16  0.034
CAPITALS       31 31 197 186 -0.007 30.874   16 -0.003   18 -0.006   11  0.058   15 0.5013   15  1.098   16  0.075   14  0.042
BLUE JACKETS   29 29 184 185  0.009 29.350   15  0.002   14  0.005   16 -0.007   16 0.5008   14  1.127   18  0.045   21 -0.059
FLYERS         27 32 174 186  0.015 30.043   21 -0.040   20 -0.047   20 -0.044   21 0.4910   24  1.018   21 -0.124   15  0.037
ISLANDERS      34 26 177 168  0.011 30.330    7  0.087    8  0.093   14  0.043    7 0.5180   28  0.929   24 -0.139    3  0.225
RANGERS        23 36 156 185  0.039 30.726   27 -0.124   27 -0.124   28 -0.141   26 0.4775   29  0.917   29 -0.336   13  0.055
DEVILS         29 31 151 182  0.033 31.102   19 -0.007   17 -0.004   27 -0.133   17 0.4998   30  0.850   30 -0.403    7  0.136

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
CANADIENS      33 26 208 193  0.023 30.059    9  0.082    9  0.089    9  0.076   10 0.5144    3  1.246    3  0.280   24 -0.129
LIGHTNING      38 20 209 153  0.005 28.922    2  0.212    2  0.202    2  0.239    2 0.5395   16  1.097    4  0.254    4  0.224
SABRES         35 25 206 181  0.015 30.325    5  0.116    5  0.117    6  0.107    5 0.5227    8  1.179    6  0.223   17 -0.010
BRUINS         33 26 200 187  0.003 29.610   10  0.071   10  0.079   10  0.066    9 0.5150    6  1.203    8  0.213   22 -0.082
SENATORS       29 30 197 188  0.009 29.783   18 -0.005   19 -0.007   13  0.045   18 0.4990    7  1.199    9  0.188   23 -0.097
MAPLE LEAFS    27 33 193 208  0.009 30.397   25 -0.052   25 -0.060   19 -0.043   24 0.4887    5  1.226   12  0.135   28 -0.221
PANTHERS       30 29 181 195  0.022 30.215   13  0.018   13  0.023   21 -0.048   13 0.5046   10  1.161   17  0.047   25 -0.143
RED WINGS      34 26 178 181  0.012 30.428    8  0.086    7  0.095   17 -0.013    8 0.5171   25  0.981   23 -0.136   11  0.110

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     259 215 0.546    1  0.085
CENTRAL DIVISION      234 237 0.497    2  0.030
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 241 234 0.507    3  0.006
PACIFIC DIVISION      211 259 0.449    4 -0.126

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.062 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: Sun Mar  1 05:30:16 2026
games through: Sat Feb 28 2026

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