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      46 23 257 175  0.008 34.535    1  0.246    1  0.241    1  0.353    1 0.5415   17  1.074    1  0.342    1  0.365
LIGHTNING      43 26 251 192  0.004 34.553    3  0.188    4  0.175    2  0.225    3 0.5317   10  1.165    2  0.327    8  0.124
CANADIENS      38 31 244 228  0.014 35.020   10  0.069   10  0.079   11  0.069   10 0.5127    3  1.265    3  0.299   26 -0.162
OILERS         34 37 245 244 -0.021 35.151   20 -0.029   22 -0.042   16  0.001   20 0.4930    1  1.308    4  0.290   29 -0.288
SABRES         44 27 251 207  0.007 35.738    4  0.187    3  0.175    4  0.172    4 0.5307    9  1.166    5  0.274   11  0.069
HURRICANES     45 25 250 206  0.000 35.057    2  0.213    2  0.203    5  0.153    2 0.5347    8  1.179    6  0.271   14  0.034
PENGUINS       35 35 241 219 -0.004 35.000   16  0.004   16 -0.001    7  0.098   17 0.5005    7  1.184    7  0.223   21 -0.027
SENATORS       36 33 234 213 -0.001 34.591   14  0.025   14  0.030    8  0.088   14 0.5055    6  1.185    8  0.214   23 -0.038
DUCKS          39 31 235 242  0.004 35.421    9  0.070    8  0.082   19 -0.057    8 0.5133    2  1.288    9  0.205   30 -0.319
BRUINS         39 31 234 217  0.002 35.196    8  0.072    9  0.081    9  0.081    7 0.5142   11  1.158   10  0.174   20 -0.012
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STARS          43 27 240 190 -0.015 34.597    5  0.163    5  0.154    3  0.180    5 0.5254   19  1.042   11  0.130    2  0.229
BLUE JACKETS   37 33 228 215  0.004 35.287   12  0.033   12  0.042   13  0.043   12 0.5075   14  1.118   12  0.085   17  0.001
MAPLE LEAFS    29 42 221 250  0.019 36.398   25 -0.116   25 -0.119   23 -0.080   25 0.4803    5  1.205   13  0.072   28 -0.232
WILD           40 31 233 202 -0.011 35.255    7  0.074    7  0.083    6  0.125    9 0.5130   20  1.033   14  0.064    4  0.186
SHARKS         32 36 208 243  0.007 34.629   21 -0.031   20 -0.037   29 -0.149   21 0.4930    4  1.221   15  0.024   31 -0.322
CAPITALS       35 36 220 208  0.002 35.726   19 -0.005   19 -0.010   12  0.065   18 0.5000   18  1.047   16  0.020    9  0.109
PANTHERS       34 35 206 229  0.014 35.249   18 -0.002   17 -0.002   22 -0.078   16 0.5007   12  1.158   17  0.014   27 -0.170
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 39 224 221 -0.007 35.536   23 -0.061   23 -0.075   15  0.002   23 0.4878   16  1.092   18  0.013   18 -0.009
MAMMOTH        37 34 223 198  0.006 35.816   13  0.026   13  0.033   10  0.070   13 0.5056   22  1.013   19 -0.014    6  0.153
PREDATORS      33 37 209 232 -0.000 35.377   22 -0.033   21 -0.040   24 -0.095   22 0.4911   13  1.134   20 -0.033   25 -0.158
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RED WINGS      38 32 205 208  0.009 35.514   11  0.054   11  0.067   17 -0.006   11 0.5115   27  0.957   21 -0.154    7  0.143
ISLANDERS      40 31 206 202  0.001 35.741    6  0.080    6  0.090   14  0.018    6 0.5161   30  0.931   22 -0.161    3  0.196
KRAKEN         31 38 196 213 -0.031 33.960   24 -0.080   24 -0.090   20 -0.069   24 0.4849   25  0.993   23 -0.177   13  0.038
FLYERS         34 35 202 211  0.012 35.132   17 -0.002   18 -0.004   18 -0.037   19 0.4992   26  0.960   24 -0.182   10  0.109
RANGERS        28 42 198 224  0.017 35.856   27 -0.134   27 -0.132   27 -0.119   26 0.4779   21  1.030   25 -0.182   24 -0.056
JETS           29 41 199 219 -0.015 34.943   26 -0.130   26 -0.130   25 -0.096   27 0.4776   23  1.010   26 -0.183   19 -0.009
BLUES          28 41 181 225 -0.019 34.380   30 -0.146   30 -0.143   28 -0.131   30 0.4753   24  0.999   27 -0.231   22 -0.031
CANUCKS        21 48 179 257 -0.015 34.718   32 -0.275   32 -0.286   32 -0.319   32 0.4511   15  1.112   28 -0.284   32 -0.354
DEVILS         35 34 187 209  0.012 35.226   15  0.011   15  0.017   26 -0.111   15 0.5035   29  0.934   29 -0.286   12  0.063
BLACKHAWKS     26 44 183 225 -0.004 35.333   31 -0.193   31 -0.185   30 -0.155   31 0.4670   28  0.943   30 -0.319   16  0.009
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          28 42 187 213  0.012 35.672   28 -0.136   28 -0.135   21 -0.071   28 0.4770   32  0.866   31 -0.321    5  0.179
FLAMES         29 41 177 217 -0.028 34.644   29 -0.142   29 -0.138   31 -0.185   29 0.4764   31  0.898   32 -0.400   15  0.030

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         34 37 245 244 -0.021 35.151   20 -0.029   22 -0.042   16  0.001   20 0.4930    1  1.308    4  0.290   29 -0.288
DUCKS          39 31 235 242  0.004 35.421    9  0.070    8  0.082   19 -0.057    8 0.5133    2  1.288    9  0.205   30 -0.319
SHARKS         32 36 208 243  0.007 34.629   21 -0.031   20 -0.037   29 -0.149   21 0.4930    4  1.221   15  0.024   31 -0.322
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 39 224 221 -0.007 35.536   23 -0.061   23 -0.075   15  0.002   23 0.4878   16  1.092   18  0.013   18 -0.009
KRAKEN         31 38 196 213 -0.031 33.960   24 -0.080   24 -0.090   20 -0.069   24 0.4849   25  0.993   23 -0.177   13  0.038
CANUCKS        21 48 179 257 -0.015 34.718   32 -0.275   32 -0.286   32 -0.319   32 0.4511   15  1.112   28 -0.284   32 -0.354
KINGS          28 42 187 213  0.012 35.672   28 -0.136   28 -0.135   21 -0.071   28 0.4770   32  0.866   31 -0.321    5  0.179
FLAMES         29 41 177 217 -0.028 34.644   29 -0.142   29 -0.138   31 -0.185   29 0.4764   31  0.898   32 -0.400   15  0.030

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      46 23 257 175  0.008 34.535    1  0.246    1  0.241    1  0.353    1 0.5415   17  1.074    1  0.342    1  0.365
STARS          43 27 240 190 -0.015 34.597    5  0.163    5  0.154    3  0.180    5 0.5254   19  1.042   11  0.130    2  0.229
WILD           40 31 233 202 -0.011 35.255    7  0.074    7  0.083    6  0.125    9 0.5130   20  1.033   14  0.064    4  0.186
MAMMOTH        37 34 223 198  0.006 35.816   13  0.026   13  0.033   10  0.070   13 0.5056   22  1.013   19 -0.014    6  0.153
PREDATORS      33 37 209 232 -0.000 35.377   22 -0.033   21 -0.040   24 -0.095   22 0.4911   13  1.134   20 -0.033   25 -0.158
JETS           29 41 199 219 -0.015 34.943   26 -0.130   26 -0.130   25 -0.096   27 0.4776   23  1.010   26 -0.183   19 -0.009
BLUES          28 41 181 225 -0.019 34.380   30 -0.146   30 -0.143   28 -0.131   30 0.4753   24  0.999   27 -0.231   22 -0.031
BLACKHAWKS     26 44 183 225 -0.004 35.333   31 -0.193   31 -0.185   30 -0.155   31 0.4670   28  0.943   30 -0.319   16  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     45 25 250 206  0.000 35.057    2  0.213    2  0.203    5  0.153    2 0.5347    8  1.179    6  0.271   14  0.034
PENGUINS       35 35 241 219 -0.004 35.000   16  0.004   16 -0.001    7  0.098   17 0.5005    7  1.184    7  0.223   21 -0.027
BLUE JACKETS   37 33 228 215  0.004 35.287   12  0.033   12  0.042   13  0.043   12 0.5075   14  1.118   12  0.085   17  0.001
CAPITALS       35 36 220 208  0.002 35.726   19 -0.005   19 -0.010   12  0.065   18 0.5000   18  1.047   16  0.020    9  0.109
ISLANDERS      40 31 206 202  0.001 35.741    6  0.080    6  0.090   14  0.018    6 0.5161   30  0.931   22 -0.161    3  0.196
FLYERS         34 35 202 211  0.012 35.132   17 -0.002   18 -0.004   18 -0.037   19 0.4992   26  0.960   24 -0.182   10  0.109
RANGERS        28 42 198 224  0.017 35.856   27 -0.134   27 -0.132   27 -0.119   26 0.4779   21  1.030   25 -0.182   24 -0.056
DEVILS         35 34 187 209  0.012 35.226   15  0.011   15  0.017   26 -0.111   15 0.5035   29  0.934   29 -0.286   12  0.063

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      43 26 251 192  0.004 34.553    3  0.188    4  0.175    2  0.225    3 0.5317   10  1.165    2  0.327    8  0.124
CANADIENS      38 31 244 228  0.014 35.020   10  0.069   10  0.079   11  0.069   10 0.5127    3  1.265    3  0.299   26 -0.162
SABRES         44 27 251 207  0.007 35.738    4  0.187    3  0.175    4  0.172    4 0.5307    9  1.166    5  0.274   11  0.069
SENATORS       36 33 234 213 -0.001 34.591   14  0.025   14  0.030    8  0.088   14 0.5055    6  1.185    8  0.214   23 -0.038
BRUINS         39 31 234 217  0.002 35.196    8  0.072    9  0.081    9  0.081    7 0.5142   11  1.158   10  0.174   20 -0.012
MAPLE LEAFS    29 42 221 250  0.019 36.398   25 -0.116   25 -0.119   23 -0.080   25 0.4803    5  1.205   13  0.072   28 -0.232
PANTHERS       34 35 206 229  0.014 35.249   18 -0.002   17 -0.002   22 -0.078   16 0.5007   12  1.158   17  0.014   27 -0.170
RED WINGS      38 32 205 208  0.009 35.514   11  0.054   11  0.067   17 -0.006   11 0.5115   27  0.957   21 -0.154    7  0.143

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     301 257 0.539    1  0.089
CENTRAL DIVISION      282 278 0.504    2  0.046
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 289 271 0.516    3  0.020
PACIFIC DIVISION      246 312 0.441    4 -0.158

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.049 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: Mon Mar 23 05:30:07 2026
games through: Sun Mar 22 2026

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