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      44 21 247 163  0.005 32.438    1  0.249    1  0.243    1  0.364    1 0.5442   17  1.084    1  0.362    1  0.367
OILERS         32 35 235 231 -0.015 33.313   21 -0.027   21 -0.039   14  0.019   21 0.4928    1  1.327    2  0.331   30 -0.292
CANADIENS      36 29 230 216  0.014 33.016    9  0.068    9  0.080    9  0.069    9 0.5129    3  1.267    3  0.299   26 -0.162
LIGHTNING      40 25 231 182  0.010 32.761    4  0.170    4  0.160    2  0.196    3 0.5308   12  1.147    4  0.272    8  0.121
SABRES         41 26 235 200  0.008 33.787    5  0.164    5  0.157    6  0.130    5 0.5286    6  1.185    5  0.253   18  0.006
HURRICANES     42 24 234 192 -0.005 32.919    2  0.193    2  0.183    4  0.150    2 0.5332    8  1.166    6  0.249   13  0.050
SENATORS       33 32 218 201  0.001 32.651   15  0.008   15  0.011    8  0.079   15 0.5022    7  1.170    7  0.184   21 -0.025
DUCKS          36 30 219 230  0.002 33.404   10  0.048   10  0.062   22 -0.075   11 0.5102    2  1.287    8  0.183   31 -0.334
STARS          42 24 232 178 -0.025 32.321    3  0.182    3  0.171    3  0.192    4 0.5300   19  1.062    9  0.164    2  0.220
PENGUINS       33 33 223 202 -0.021 32.587   18 -0.004   18 -0.011    7  0.089   18 0.4989   13  1.142   10  0.159   16  0.019
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRUINS         37 29 219 207  0.002 33.222    8  0.071    8  0.082   10  0.060    8 0.5147   10  1.163   11  0.157   23 -0.037
WILD           38 29 224 192 -0.002 33.483    6  0.079    6  0.089    5  0.143    7 0.5149   20  1.056   12  0.107    4  0.179
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 31 36 220 209 -0.012 33.377   22 -0.044   22 -0.058   13  0.040   22 0.4903   14  1.128   13  0.092   20 -0.012
MAPLE LEAFS    28 39 211 236  0.007 34.030   26 -0.102   26 -0.108   23 -0.076   26 0.4814    4  1.214   14  0.085   28 -0.236
SHARKS         32 32 200 222  0.008 32.593   16  0.002   16  0.005   26 -0.099   17 0.5001    5  1.211   15  0.058   29 -0.256
BLUE JACKETS   34 32 212 208  0.003 33.299   12  0.016   12  0.022   16  0.013   13 0.5040   15  1.119   16  0.054   22 -0.028
PANTHERS       33 32 197 214  0.018 33.298   13  0.013   13  0.020   20 -0.058   12 0.5051   11  1.155   17  0.029   25 -0.145
CAPITALS       33 35 212 203 -0.005 34.064   19 -0.014   19 -0.024   12  0.045   19 0.4978   18  1.071   18  0.027   12  0.062
PREDATORS      29 36 194 222  0.006 33.072   23 -0.059   23 -0.069   27 -0.112   24 0.4860    9  1.164   19 -0.014   27 -0.209
MAMMOTH        34 33 208 188  0.008 33.867   14  0.010   14  0.014   11  0.054   14 0.5025   23  1.001   20 -0.046    6  0.154
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ISLANDERS      38 29 197 191 -0.006 33.577    7  0.074    7  0.088   15  0.014    6 0.5167   29  0.948   21 -0.148    5  0.176
RED WINGS      36 31 195 201  0.012 34.106   11  0.045   11  0.058   17 -0.017   10 0.5107   28  0.956   22 -0.169    7  0.135
RANGERS        28 38 189 205  0.022 33.940   25 -0.081   25 -0.090   25 -0.083   25 0.4842   22  1.003   23 -0.180   17  0.015
JETS           27 38 185 200 -0.012 32.527   28 -0.117   28 -0.120   24 -0.080   28 0.4784   24  1.000   24 -0.182   15  0.021
KRAKEN         30 35 185 197 -0.033 31.948   24 -0.059   24 -0.071   18 -0.049   23 0.4873   25  0.972   25 -0.184    9  0.085
FLYERS         31 35 191 205  0.016 33.735   20 -0.023   20 -0.032   19 -0.053   20 0.4935   26  0.971   26 -0.188   10  0.083
BLUES          27 39 175 219 -0.008 33.182   29 -0.128   29 -0.128   29 -0.128   29 0.4770   21  1.024   27 -0.202   24 -0.055
CANUCKS        20 46 171 246 -0.012 33.314   32 -0.272   32 -0.276   32 -0.309   32 0.4511   16  1.107   28 -0.282   32 -0.335
BLACKHAWKS     25 41 175 213 -0.014 33.069   31 -0.183   31 -0.173   30 -0.153   31 0.4680   27  0.963   29 -0.298   19 -0.009
DEVILS         33 33 176 201  0.009 33.639   17  0.001   17  0.005   28 -0.122   16 0.5016   30  0.924   30 -0.311   11  0.066
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          27 39 176 200  0.016 33.760   27 -0.110   27 -0.115   21 -0.067   27 0.4796   32  0.856   31 -0.330    3  0.197
FLAMES         26 40 165 207 -0.024 32.791   30 -0.168   30 -0.158   31 -0.193   30 0.4714   31  0.901   32 -0.407   14  0.022

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         32 35 235 231 -0.015 33.313   21 -0.027   21 -0.039   14  0.019   21 0.4928    1  1.327    2  0.331   30 -0.292
DUCKS          36 30 219 230  0.002 33.404   10  0.048   10  0.062   22 -0.075   11 0.5102    2  1.287    8  0.183   31 -0.334
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 31 36 220 209 -0.012 33.377   22 -0.044   22 -0.058   13  0.040   22 0.4903   14  1.128   13  0.092   20 -0.012
SHARKS         32 32 200 222  0.008 32.593   16  0.002   16  0.005   26 -0.099   17 0.5001    5  1.211   15  0.058   29 -0.256
KRAKEN         30 35 185 197 -0.033 31.948   24 -0.059   24 -0.071   18 -0.049   23 0.4873   25  0.972   25 -0.184    9  0.085
CANUCKS        20 46 171 246 -0.012 33.314   32 -0.272   32 -0.276   32 -0.309   32 0.4511   16  1.107   28 -0.282   32 -0.335
KINGS          27 39 176 200  0.016 33.760   27 -0.110   27 -0.115   21 -0.067   27 0.4796   32  0.856   31 -0.330    3  0.197
FLAMES         26 40 165 207 -0.024 32.791   30 -0.168   30 -0.158   31 -0.193   30 0.4714   31  0.901   32 -0.407   14  0.022

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      44 21 247 163  0.005 32.438    1  0.249    1  0.243    1  0.364    1 0.5442   17  1.084    1  0.362    1  0.367
STARS          42 24 232 178 -0.025 32.321    3  0.182    3  0.171    3  0.192    4 0.5300   19  1.062    9  0.164    2  0.220
WILD           38 29 224 192 -0.002 33.483    6  0.079    6  0.089    5  0.143    7 0.5149   20  1.056   12  0.107    4  0.179
PREDATORS      29 36 194 222  0.006 33.072   23 -0.059   23 -0.069   27 -0.112   24 0.4860    9  1.164   19 -0.014   27 -0.209
MAMMOTH        34 33 208 188  0.008 33.867   14  0.010   14  0.014   11  0.054   14 0.5025   23  1.001   20 -0.046    6  0.154
JETS           27 38 185 200 -0.012 32.527   28 -0.117   28 -0.120   24 -0.080   28 0.4784   24  1.000   24 -0.182   15  0.021
BLUES          27 39 175 219 -0.008 33.182   29 -0.128   29 -0.128   29 -0.128   29 0.4770   21  1.024   27 -0.202   24 -0.055
BLACKHAWKS     25 41 175 213 -0.014 33.069   31 -0.183   31 -0.173   30 -0.153   31 0.4680   27  0.963   29 -0.298   19 -0.009

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     42 24 234 192 -0.005 32.919    2  0.193    2  0.183    4  0.150    2 0.5332    8  1.166    6  0.249   13  0.050
PENGUINS       33 33 223 202 -0.021 32.587   18 -0.004   18 -0.011    7  0.089   18 0.4989   13  1.142   10  0.159   16  0.019
BLUE JACKETS   34 32 212 208  0.003 33.299   12  0.016   12  0.022   16  0.013   13 0.5040   15  1.119   16  0.054   22 -0.028
CAPITALS       33 35 212 203 -0.005 34.064   19 -0.014   19 -0.024   12  0.045   19 0.4978   18  1.071   18  0.027   12  0.062
ISLANDERS      38 29 197 191 -0.006 33.577    7  0.074    7  0.088   15  0.014    6 0.5167   29  0.948   21 -0.148    5  0.176
RANGERS        28 38 189 205  0.022 33.940   25 -0.081   25 -0.090   25 -0.083   25 0.4842   22  1.003   23 -0.180   17  0.015
FLYERS         31 35 191 205  0.016 33.735   20 -0.023   20 -0.032   19 -0.053   20 0.4935   26  0.971   26 -0.188   10  0.083
DEVILS         33 33 176 201  0.009 33.639   17  0.001   17  0.005   28 -0.122   16 0.5016   30  0.924   30 -0.311   11  0.066

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      36 29 230 216  0.014 33.016    9  0.068    9  0.080    9  0.069    9 0.5129    3  1.267    3  0.299   26 -0.162
LIGHTNING      40 25 231 182  0.010 32.761    4  0.170    4  0.160    2  0.196    3 0.5308   12  1.147    4  0.272    8  0.121
SABRES         41 26 235 200  0.008 33.787    5  0.164    5  0.157    6  0.130    5 0.5286    6  1.185    5  0.253   18  0.006
SENATORS       33 32 218 201  0.001 32.651   15  0.008   15  0.011    8  0.079   15 0.5022    7  1.170    7  0.184   21 -0.025
BRUINS         37 29 219 207  0.002 33.222    8  0.071    8  0.082   10  0.060    8 0.5147   10  1.163   11  0.157   23 -0.037
MAPLE LEAFS    28 39 211 236  0.007 34.030   26 -0.102   26 -0.108   23 -0.076   26 0.4814    4  1.214   14  0.085   28 -0.236
PANTHERS       33 32 197 214  0.018 33.298   13  0.013   13  0.020   20 -0.058   12 0.5051   11  1.155   17  0.029   25 -0.145
RED WINGS      36 31 195 201  0.012 34.106   11  0.045   11  0.058   17 -0.017   10 0.5107   28  0.956   22 -0.169    7  0.135

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     284 243 0.539    1  0.075
CENTRAL DIVISION      266 261 0.505    2  0.053
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 272 259 0.512    3  0.010
PACIFIC DIVISION      234 293 0.444    4 -0.141

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.055 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: Sun Mar 15 05:30:07 2026
games through: Sat Mar 14 2026

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