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      29  9 153  87  0.006 19.098    1  0.238    1  0.209    1  0.313    1 0.5655   18  1.081    1  0.327    4  0.299
DUCKS          21 18 134 137 -0.014 19.738   10  0.016   10  0.026   21 -0.041   10 0.5081    1  1.337    2  0.304   32 -0.385
OILERS         20 20 135 132 -0.002 20.343   17 -0.004   17 -0.002    9  0.023   15 0.5004    2  1.254    3  0.257   28 -0.210
CANADIENS      20 18 127 129 -0.024 19.015   13  0.005   12  0.012   13 -0.003   16 0.5004    3  1.240    4  0.212   29 -0.218
PANTHERS       21 17 124 121  0.021 19.688    6  0.039    7  0.047   10  0.017    8 0.5148    5  1.222    5  0.208   25 -0.174
SENATORS       18 20 125 124 -0.028 18.976   20 -0.025   20 -0.030   15 -0.012   20 0.4900    7  1.220    6  0.177   26 -0.200
STARS          25 14 139 105 -0.011 19.505    2  0.111    2  0.108    2  0.148    3 0.5330   16  1.091    7  0.174   10  0.121
MAPLE LEAFS    17 21 124 129 -0.044 18.758   24 -0.046   24 -0.055   20 -0.035   24 0.4837    6  1.221    8  0.155   30 -0.226
HURRICANES     24 14 129 110  0.013 19.466    3  0.108    3  0.108    5  0.077    2 0.5348   14  1.116    9  0.134   14  0.020
SHARKS         19 20 120 136  0.027 20.446   16 -0.003   16 -0.000   28 -0.077   17 0.4990    4  1.225   10  0.119   31 -0.273
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PENGUINS       16 21 117 122 -0.033 18.401   27 -0.052   28 -0.062   17 -0.015   28 0.4801    8  1.168   11  0.108   23 -0.138
CAPITALS       20 19 124 111  0.004 19.872   12  0.006   13  0.011    6  0.076   12 0.5055   20  1.073   12  0.081   13  0.071
LIGHTNING      22 16 126 101  0.014 19.454    5  0.061    5  0.065    4  0.106    5 0.5218   22  1.048   13  0.081    9  0.132
BRUINS         20 20 124 132  0.005 20.531   15 -0.001   15  0.002   19 -0.028   14 0.5021    9  1.157   14  0.080   22 -0.136
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 20 117 115  0.017 19.070   19 -0.023   19 -0.027    8  0.036   18 0.4946   17  1.091   15  0.062   15  0.010
SABRES         20 18 120 120 -0.010 19.253   11  0.010   11  0.017   16 -0.015   11 0.5062   12  1.131   16  0.061   18 -0.090
RED WINGS      23 17 125 129 -0.041 19.796    8  0.035    6  0.047   22 -0.041    6 0.5154   11  1.148   17  0.055   24 -0.138
BLUE JACKETS   17 21 116 128  0.019 19.765   21 -0.031   21 -0.035   25 -0.058   21 0.4894   13  1.128   18  0.014   21 -0.130
CANUCKS        16 22 109 130  0.004 19.617   28 -0.053   26 -0.061   31 -0.100   25 0.4828   10  1.152   19  0.002   27 -0.202
PREDATORS      17 21 109 127  0.013 19.729   22 -0.031   22 -0.036   27 -0.075   23 0.4875   15  1.103   20 -0.033   20 -0.116
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS           15 22 107 114  0.011 19.115   30 -0.059   30 -0.070   23 -0.043   30 0.4767   19  1.076   21 -0.035   16 -0.051
WILD           24 16 126 104  0.007 20.319    4  0.079    4  0.082    3  0.119    4 0.5230   28  0.909   22 -0.067    3  0.305
BLACKHAWKS     14 24 106 124 -0.040 18.898   31 -0.114   31 -0.115   30 -0.084   32 0.4639   21  1.062   23 -0.093   17 -0.076
MAMMOTH        18 22 119 116 -0.001 20.400   23 -0.033   23 -0.041   14 -0.007   22 0.4890   24  0.990   24 -0.100   12  0.086
FLYERS         19 18 112 106 -0.006 18.768   14  0.004   14  0.008   11  0.017   13 0.5039   25  0.943   25 -0.131    7  0.165
ISLANDERS      21 18 111 108  0.040 20.470    7  0.035    8  0.043    7  0.036    7 0.5152   29  0.903   26 -0.156    5  0.229
DEVILS         20 18 106 114  0.047 20.150    9  0.025    9  0.036   18 -0.022    9 0.5122   26  0.935   27 -0.178    8  0.134
BLUES          15 25 100 137 -0.056 19.656   32 -0.123   32 -0.120   32 -0.143   31 0.4640   23  1.027   28 -0.194   19 -0.092
FLAMES         17 22 103 116 -0.041 19.353   29 -0.056   29 -0.065   29 -0.079   29 0.4791   27  0.910   29 -0.264   11  0.106
KRAKEN         16 21  95 111 -0.019 18.680   26 -0.050   25 -0.059   26 -0.064   26 0.4809   30  0.832   30 -0.333    6  0.205
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          16 22  99 102  0.008 19.498   25 -0.050   27 -0.061   12  0.003   27 0.4804   32  0.698   31 -0.404    1  0.410
RANGERS        19 22 106 110  0.023 21.394   18 -0.022   18 -0.023   24 -0.051   19 0.4946   31  0.736   32 -0.420    2  0.318

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          21 18 134 137 -0.014 19.738   10  0.016   10  0.026   21 -0.041   10 0.5081    1  1.337    2  0.304   32 -0.385
OILERS         20 20 135 132 -0.002 20.343   17 -0.004   17 -0.002    9  0.023   15 0.5004    2  1.254    3  0.257   28 -0.210
SHARKS         19 20 120 136  0.027 20.446   16 -0.003   16 -0.000   28 -0.077   17 0.4990    4  1.225   10  0.119   31 -0.273
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 17 20 117 115  0.017 19.070   19 -0.023   19 -0.027    8  0.036   18 0.4946   17  1.091   15  0.062   15  0.010
CANUCKS        16 22 109 130  0.004 19.617   28 -0.053   26 -0.061   31 -0.100   25 0.4828   10  1.152   19  0.002   27 -0.202
FLAMES         17 22 103 116 -0.041 19.353   29 -0.056   29 -0.065   29 -0.079   29 0.4791   27  0.910   29 -0.264   11  0.106
KRAKEN         16 21  95 111 -0.019 18.680   26 -0.050   25 -0.059   26 -0.064   26 0.4809   30  0.832   30 -0.333    6  0.205
KINGS          16 22  99 102  0.008 19.498   25 -0.050   27 -0.061   12  0.003   27 0.4804   32  0.698   31 -0.404    1  0.410

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      29  9 153  87  0.006 19.098    1  0.238    1  0.209    1  0.313    1 0.5655   18  1.081    1  0.327    4  0.299
STARS          25 14 139 105 -0.011 19.505    2  0.111    2  0.108    2  0.148    3 0.5330   16  1.091    7  0.174   10  0.121
PREDATORS      17 21 109 127  0.013 19.729   22 -0.031   22 -0.036   27 -0.075   23 0.4875   15  1.103   20 -0.033   20 -0.116
JETS           15 22 107 114  0.011 19.115   30 -0.059   30 -0.070   23 -0.043   30 0.4767   19  1.076   21 -0.035   16 -0.051
WILD           24 16 126 104  0.007 20.319    4  0.079    4  0.082    3  0.119    4 0.5230   28  0.909   22 -0.067    3  0.305
BLACKHAWKS     14 24 106 124 -0.040 18.898   31 -0.114   31 -0.115   30 -0.084   32 0.4639   21  1.062   23 -0.093   17 -0.076
MAMMOTH        18 22 119 116 -0.001 20.400   23 -0.033   23 -0.041   14 -0.007   22 0.4890   24  0.990   24 -0.100   12  0.086
BLUES          15 25 100 137 -0.056 19.656   32 -0.123   32 -0.120   32 -0.143   31 0.4640   23  1.027   28 -0.194   19 -0.092

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     24 14 129 110  0.013 19.466    3  0.108    3  0.108    5  0.077    2 0.5348   14  1.116    9  0.134   14  0.020
PENGUINS       16 21 117 122 -0.033 18.401   27 -0.052   28 -0.062   17 -0.015   28 0.4801    8  1.168   11  0.108   23 -0.138
CAPITALS       20 19 124 111  0.004 19.872   12  0.006   13  0.011    6  0.076   12 0.5055   20  1.073   12  0.081   13  0.071
BLUE JACKETS   17 21 116 128  0.019 19.765   21 -0.031   21 -0.035   25 -0.058   21 0.4894   13  1.128   18  0.014   21 -0.130
FLYERS         19 18 112 106 -0.006 18.768   14  0.004   14  0.008   11  0.017   13 0.5039   25  0.943   25 -0.131    7  0.165
ISLANDERS      21 18 111 108  0.040 20.470    7  0.035    8  0.043    7  0.036    7 0.5152   29  0.903   26 -0.156    5  0.229
DEVILS         20 18 106 114  0.047 20.150    9  0.025    9  0.036   18 -0.022    9 0.5122   26  0.935   27 -0.178    8  0.134
RANGERS        19 22 106 110  0.023 21.394   18 -0.022   18 -0.023   24 -0.051   19 0.4946   31  0.736   32 -0.420    2  0.318

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      20 18 127 129 -0.024 19.015   13  0.005   12  0.012   13 -0.003   16 0.5004    3  1.240    4  0.212   29 -0.218
PANTHERS       21 17 124 121  0.021 19.688    6  0.039    7  0.047   10  0.017    8 0.5148    5  1.222    5  0.208   25 -0.174
SENATORS       18 20 125 124 -0.028 18.976   20 -0.025   20 -0.030   15 -0.012   20 0.4900    7  1.220    6  0.177   26 -0.200
MAPLE LEAFS    17 21 124 129 -0.044 18.758   24 -0.046   24 -0.055   20 -0.035   24 0.4837    6  1.221    8  0.155   30 -0.226
LIGHTNING      22 16 126 101  0.014 19.454    5  0.061    5  0.065    4  0.106    5 0.5218   22  1.048   13  0.081    9  0.132
BRUINS         20 20 124 132  0.005 20.531   15 -0.001   15  0.002   19 -0.028   14 0.5021    9  1.157   14  0.080   22 -0.136
SABRES         20 18 120 120 -0.010 19.253   11  0.010   11  0.017   16 -0.015   11 0.5062   12  1.131   16  0.061   18 -0.090
RED WINGS      23 17 125 129 -0.041 19.796    8  0.035    6  0.047   22 -0.041    6 0.5154   11  1.148   17  0.055   24 -0.138

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      157 153 0.506    1  0.064
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 156 151 0.508    2  0.019
ATLANTIC DIVISION     161 147 0.523    3 -0.002
PACIFIC DIVISION      142 165 0.463    4 -0.088

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.038 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: Tue Dec 30 05:30:12 2025
games through: Mon Dec 29 2025

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