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      43 20 241 159  0.008 31.484    1  0.258    1  0.255    1  0.373    1 0.5463   18  1.088    1  0.374    1  0.373
LIGHTNING      39 24 225 177  0.008 31.678    3  0.174    4  0.165    2  0.197    3 0.5312   13  1.148    5  0.272    9  0.122
STARS          40 24 222 174 -0.024 31.356    5  0.164    5  0.158    3  0.180    5 0.5272   20  1.057   11  0.143    3  0.218
WILD           38 27 220 185  0.003 32.581    6  0.113    6  0.117    4  0.163    6 0.5197   19  1.060   12  0.129    4  0.196
HURRICANES     41 23 229 187 -0.008 31.820    2  0.198    2  0.189    5  0.155    2 0.5339    8  1.176    6  0.265   13  0.045
SABRES         40 25 231 196  0.012 32.841    4  0.173    3  0.165    6  0.140    4 0.5300    5  1.210    4  0.294   18 -0.014
PENGUINS       32 32 217 193 -0.026 31.440   17 -0.005   17 -0.014    7  0.101   18 0.4986   15  1.123   10  0.145   11  0.057
CANADIENS      35 28 225 210  0.016 32.017    9  0.073   10  0.084    8  0.076   11 0.5132    3  1.276    3  0.317   25 -0.165
SENATORS       32 31 214 198  0.003 31.691   14  0.011   14  0.012    9  0.075   16 0.5021    7  1.200    7  0.216   22 -0.065
BRUINS         36 28 214 201  0.004 32.244    8  0.077    8  0.087   10  0.070    8 0.5152    9  1.172    9  0.176   20 -0.036
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAMMOTH        34 31 203 181  0.010 32.888   12  0.029   12  0.036   11  0.064   12 0.5070   23  0.999   20 -0.042    6  0.169
CAPITALS       32 33 207 195 -0.008 32.438   18 -0.008   18 -0.017   12  0.055   17 0.4989   17  1.098   15  0.068   14  0.042
OILERS         32 33 231 221 -0.018 32.200   19 -0.011   20 -0.021   13  0.038   19 0.4960    1  1.327    2  0.347   29 -0.271
ISLANDERS      37 28 192 186  0.002 32.745    7  0.083    7  0.096   14  0.020    7 0.5183   29  0.945   21 -0.148    5  0.187
BLUE JACKETS   33 31 209 205  0.005 32.333   13  0.018   13  0.024   15  0.015   13 0.5041   12  1.159   13  0.104   23 -0.074
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 29 36 210 207 -0.010 32.441   24 -0.068   24 -0.081   16  0.008   24 0.4868   14  1.127   16  0.056   21 -0.041
RED WINGS      36 29 192 194  0.003 32.827   11  0.065   11  0.077   17 -0.008   10 0.5137   27  0.966   22 -0.151    7  0.136
KRAKEN         29 34 179 190 -0.035 30.891   23 -0.061   23 -0.074   18 -0.047   23 0.4869   28  0.964   24 -0.192   10  0.099
DUCKS          36 28 215 222  0.000 32.315   10  0.073    9  0.085   19 -0.060    9 0.5142    2  1.297    8  0.209   32 -0.328
PANTHERS       32 32 195 213  0.019 32.792   15  0.008   15  0.011   20 -0.062   14 0.5034   10  1.172   17  0.043   26 -0.168
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          26 38 169 192  0.017 32.755   27 -0.116   27 -0.119   21 -0.066   27 0.4784   32  0.822   30 -0.369    2  0.236
FLYERS         29 34 183 200  0.011 32.109   21 -0.036   21 -0.047   22 -0.072   21 0.4910   22  1.001   23 -0.174   16  0.031
MAPLE LEAFS    27 38 203 229  0.006 33.005   25 -0.108   25 -0.112   23 -0.083   25 0.4803    6  1.208   14  0.068   28 -0.235
JETS           26 37 179 193 -0.014 31.476   28 -0.126   28 -0.127   24 -0.084   28 0.4778   24  0.986   26 -0.204   15  0.037
RANGERS        26 38 179 200  0.020 32.882   26 -0.115   26 -0.117   25 -0.107   26 0.4799   26  0.975   27 -0.240   17  0.027
PREDATORS      29 35 191 218  0.013 32.728   22 -0.045   22 -0.056   26 -0.108   22 0.4884   11  1.162   19 -0.016   27 -0.200
SHARKS         30 32 192 218  0.002 31.454   20 -0.014   19 -0.020   27 -0.124   20 0.4955    4  1.218   18  0.041   30 -0.288
DEVILS         32 32 166 192  0.018 32.846   16  0.006   16  0.010   28 -0.125   15 0.5028   31  0.867   31 -0.379    8  0.130
BLACKHAWKS     24 40 172 207 -0.018 31.964   31 -0.191   31 -0.181   29 -0.143   31 0.4670   25  0.979   28 -0.271   19 -0.015
BLUES          25 39 169 216 -0.013 32.069   29 -0.165   29 -0.157   30 -0.148   29 0.4721   21  1.044   25 -0.201   24 -0.096
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         25 39 158 200 -0.025 31.783   30 -0.175   30 -0.164   31 -0.199   30 0.4699   30  0.875   32 -0.445   12  0.047
CANUCKS        19 45 165 238 -0.006 32.454   32 -0.279   32 -0.283   32 -0.306   32 0.4502   16  1.100   29 -0.290   31 -0.322

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 33 231 221 -0.018 32.200   19 -0.011   20 -0.021   13  0.038   19 0.4960    1  1.327    2  0.347   29 -0.271
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 29 36 210 207 -0.010 32.441   24 -0.068   24 -0.081   16  0.008   24 0.4868   14  1.127   16  0.056   21 -0.041
KRAKEN         29 34 179 190 -0.035 30.891   23 -0.061   23 -0.074   18 -0.047   23 0.4869   28  0.964   24 -0.192   10  0.099
DUCKS          36 28 215 222  0.000 32.315   10  0.073    9  0.085   19 -0.060    9 0.5142    2  1.297    8  0.209   32 -0.328
KINGS          26 38 169 192  0.017 32.755   27 -0.116   27 -0.119   21 -0.066   27 0.4784   32  0.822   30 -0.369    2  0.236
SHARKS         30 32 192 218  0.002 31.454   20 -0.014   19 -0.020   27 -0.124   20 0.4955    4  1.218   18  0.041   30 -0.288
FLAMES         25 39 158 200 -0.025 31.783   30 -0.175   30 -0.164   31 -0.199   30 0.4699   30  0.875   32 -0.445   12  0.047
CANUCKS        19 45 165 238 -0.006 32.454   32 -0.279   32 -0.283   32 -0.306   32 0.4502   16  1.100   29 -0.290   31 -0.322

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      43 20 241 159  0.008 31.484    1  0.258    1  0.255    1  0.373    1 0.5463   18  1.088    1  0.374    1  0.373
STARS          40 24 222 174 -0.024 31.356    5  0.164    5  0.158    3  0.180    5 0.5272   20  1.057   11  0.143    3  0.218
WILD           38 27 220 185  0.003 32.581    6  0.113    6  0.117    4  0.163    6 0.5197   19  1.060   12  0.129    4  0.196
MAMMOTH        34 31 203 181  0.010 32.888   12  0.029   12  0.036   11  0.064   12 0.5070   23  0.999   20 -0.042    6  0.169
JETS           26 37 179 193 -0.014 31.476   28 -0.126   28 -0.127   24 -0.084   28 0.4778   24  0.986   26 -0.204   15  0.037
PREDATORS      29 35 191 218  0.013 32.728   22 -0.045   22 -0.056   26 -0.108   22 0.4884   11  1.162   19 -0.016   27 -0.200
BLACKHAWKS     24 40 172 207 -0.018 31.964   31 -0.191   31 -0.181   29 -0.143   31 0.4670   25  0.979   28 -0.271   19 -0.015
BLUES          25 39 169 216 -0.013 32.069   29 -0.165   29 -0.157   30 -0.148   29 0.4721   21  1.044   25 -0.201   24 -0.096

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     41 23 229 187 -0.008 31.820    2  0.198    2  0.189    5  0.155    2 0.5339    8  1.176    6  0.265   13  0.045
PENGUINS       32 32 217 193 -0.026 31.440   17 -0.005   17 -0.014    7  0.101   18 0.4986   15  1.123   10  0.145   11  0.057
CAPITALS       32 33 207 195 -0.008 32.438   18 -0.008   18 -0.017   12  0.055   17 0.4989   17  1.098   15  0.068   14  0.042
ISLANDERS      37 28 192 186  0.002 32.745    7  0.083    7  0.096   14  0.020    7 0.5183   29  0.945   21 -0.148    5  0.187
BLUE JACKETS   33 31 209 205  0.005 32.333   13  0.018   13  0.024   15  0.015   13 0.5041   12  1.159   13  0.104   23 -0.074
FLYERS         29 34 183 200  0.011 32.109   21 -0.036   21 -0.047   22 -0.072   21 0.4910   22  1.001   23 -0.174   16  0.031
RANGERS        26 38 179 200  0.020 32.882   26 -0.115   26 -0.117   25 -0.107   26 0.4799   26  0.975   27 -0.240   17  0.027
DEVILS         32 32 166 192  0.018 32.846   16  0.006   16  0.010   28 -0.125   15 0.5028   31  0.867   31 -0.379    8  0.130

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      39 24 225 177  0.008 31.678    3  0.174    4  0.165    2  0.197    3 0.5312   13  1.148    5  0.272    9  0.122
SABRES         40 25 231 196  0.012 32.841    4  0.173    3  0.165    6  0.140    4 0.5300    5  1.210    4  0.294   18 -0.014
CANADIENS      35 28 225 210  0.016 32.017    9  0.073   10  0.084    8  0.076   11 0.5132    3  1.276    3  0.317   25 -0.165
SENATORS       32 31 214 198  0.003 31.691   14  0.011   14  0.012    9  0.075   16 0.5021    7  1.200    7  0.216   22 -0.065
BRUINS         36 28 214 201  0.004 32.244    8  0.077    8  0.087   10  0.070    8 0.5152    9  1.172    9  0.176   20 -0.036
RED WINGS      36 29 192 194  0.003 32.827   11  0.065   11  0.077   17 -0.008   10 0.5137   27  0.966   22 -0.151    7  0.136
PANTHERS       32 32 195 213  0.019 32.792   15  0.008   15  0.011   20 -0.062   14 0.5034   10  1.172   17  0.043   26 -0.168
MAPLE LEAFS    27 38 203 229  0.006 33.005   25 -0.108   25 -0.112   23 -0.083   25 0.4803    6  1.208   14  0.068   28 -0.235

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     277 235 0.541    1  0.078
CENTRAL DIVISION      259 253 0.506    2  0.055
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 262 251 0.511    3  0.008
PACIFIC DIVISION      226 285 0.442    4 -0.145

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.056 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: Wed Mar 11 05:30:07 2026
games through: Tue Mar 10 2026

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