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      34 15 194 121 -0.004 24.162    1  0.224    1  0.203    1  0.342    1 0.5484   17  1.101    1  0.365    1  0.318
LIGHTNING      32 18 177 130  0.007 25.037    2  0.161    2  0.150    2  0.195    2 0.5365   18  1.078    5  0.190    3  0.200
HURRICANES     32 20 180 150 -0.000 26.004    3  0.129    3  0.126    3  0.116    3 0.5299   14  1.119    9  0.161   11  0.072
STARS          29 23 172 144 -0.017 25.682    7  0.047    7  0.055    4  0.113    8 0.5129   22  1.039   15  0.061    5  0.165
WILD           29 24 171 154 -0.013 26.284   10  0.037   10  0.046    5  0.088   11 0.5093   23  1.029   17  0.025    6  0.151
PENGUINS       25 25 166 150 -0.030 24.484   17 -0.005   17 -0.013    6  0.067   17 0.4987   16  1.110   12  0.101   15  0.033
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 25 25 170 154 -0.020 24.666   16 -0.003   16 -0.010    7  0.063   16 0.5004   10  1.147   11  0.144   18 -0.017
MAMMOTH        27 24 163 141 -0.011 25.348   15  0.024   15  0.027    8  0.062   14 0.5072   24  1.014   19 -0.019    7  0.143
SABRES         29 22 172 155 -0.004 25.508    6  0.063    6  0.071    9  0.061    6 0.5175    8  1.162   10  0.160   19 -0.039
BRUINS         30 22 174 162  0.000 26.102    5  0.076    5  0.083   10  0.057    5 0.5188    7  1.188    6  0.189   22 -0.076
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAPITALS       25 28 170 159 -0.012 26.341   23 -0.025   23 -0.038   11  0.056   22 0.4936   15  1.111   14  0.091   16  0.021
OILERS         26 27 179 171 -0.029 26.012   19 -0.016   20 -0.024   12  0.031   20 0.4937    4  1.228    3  0.216   25 -0.153
RED WINGS      32 21 167 159 -0.020 26.233    4  0.100    4  0.106   13  0.015    4 0.5236   21  1.043   21 -0.031   12  0.061
ISLANDERS      27 24 146 146  0.024 26.140   12  0.033   12  0.042   14  0.012   10 0.5101   29  0.924   25 -0.173    4  0.197
CANADIENS      28 24 177 175  0.002 26.211   11  0.034   11  0.042   15  0.008   13 0.5080    3  1.242    4  0.211   28 -0.195
MAPLE LEAFS    24 27 169 172 -0.002 25.646   22 -0.021   22 -0.031   16  0.003   21 0.4937    6  1.222    7  0.179   26 -0.173
FLYERS         24 26 154 158  0.010 25.389   18 -0.012   18 -0.017   17 -0.013   18 0.4968   20  1.069   20 -0.028   17  0.002
KINGS          21 29 134 143  0.005 25.301   26 -0.073   26 -0.083   18 -0.025   26 0.4800   32  0.780   31 -0.364    2  0.314
SENATORS       23 28 167 173 -0.009 25.519   24 -0.044   24 -0.057   19 -0.029   24 0.4879    2  1.243    8  0.175   29 -0.233
PANTHERS       27 23 152 164  0.029 25.814    8  0.044    8  0.055   20 -0.036    7 0.5132    9  1.148   16  0.045   24 -0.117
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DUCKS          27 24 169 178  0.024 26.220   13  0.032   13  0.042   21 -0.043   12 0.5092    1  1.300    2  0.236   32 -0.323
KRAKEN         22 28 139 152 -0.022 24.775   25 -0.063   25 -0.074   22 -0.049   25 0.4833   27  0.935   27 -0.220    9  0.123
BLUE JACKETS   24 27 158 169  0.023 26.219   20 -0.017   19 -0.022   23 -0.052   19 0.4944   13  1.129   18  0.007   23 -0.110
JETS           20 31 149 158 -0.008 25.584   30 -0.115   30 -0.120   24 -0.059   30 0.4712   19  1.070   23 -0.074   20 -0.044
DEVILS         27 24 136 155  0.042 26.637    9  0.038    9  0.050   25 -0.069    9 0.5121   30  0.911   28 -0.268    8  0.130
SHARKS         26 24 156 174  0.031 25.913   14  0.026   14  0.035   26 -0.080   15 0.5070    5  1.223   13  0.098   30 -0.257
BLACKHAWKS     21 30 140 159 -0.027 25.227   28 -0.101   28 -0.106   27 -0.085   28 0.4745   26  0.973   26 -0.214   14  0.044
RANGERS        21 31 139 162  0.026 26.873   27 -0.086   27 -0.093   28 -0.114   27 0.4798   28  0.932   30 -0.289   13  0.061
PREDATORS      24 27 148 174  0.008 26.033   21 -0.021   21 -0.026   29 -0.116   23 0.4907   12  1.139   22 -0.046   27 -0.185
FLAMES         21 30 129 152 -0.033 25.126   29 -0.107   29 -0.110   30 -0.122   29 0.4741   31  0.869   32 -0.367   10  0.123
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLUES          19 33 127 179 -0.014 26.118   31 -0.161   31 -0.153   31 -0.179   31 0.4649   25  0.990   29 -0.288   21 -0.069
CANUCKS        17 34 137 188 -0.008 25.813   32 -0.197   32 -0.183   32 -0.230   32 0.4599   11  1.147   24 -0.150   31 -0.311

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
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 25 25 170 154 -0.020 24.666   16 -0.003   16 -0.010    7  0.063   16 0.5004   10  1.147   11  0.144   18 -0.017
OILERS         26 27 179 171 -0.029 26.012   19 -0.016   20 -0.024   12  0.031   20 0.4937    4  1.228    3  0.216   25 -0.153
KINGS          21 29 134 143  0.005 25.301   26 -0.073   26 -0.083   18 -0.025   26 0.4800   32  0.780   31 -0.364    2  0.314
DUCKS          27 24 169 178  0.024 26.220   13  0.032   13  0.042   21 -0.043   12 0.5092    1  1.300    2  0.236   32 -0.323
KRAKEN         22 28 139 152 -0.022 24.775   25 -0.063   25 -0.074   22 -0.049   25 0.4833   27  0.935   27 -0.220    9  0.123
SHARKS         26 24 156 174  0.031 25.913   14  0.026   14  0.035   26 -0.080   15 0.5070    5  1.223   13  0.098   30 -0.257
FLAMES         21 30 129 152 -0.033 25.126   29 -0.107   29 -0.110   30 -0.122   29 0.4741   31  0.869   32 -0.367   10  0.123
CANUCKS        17 34 137 188 -0.008 25.813   32 -0.197   32 -0.183   32 -0.230   32 0.4599   11  1.147   24 -0.150   31 -0.311

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      34 15 194 121 -0.004 24.162    1  0.224    1  0.203    1  0.342    1 0.5484   17  1.101    1  0.365    1  0.318
STARS          29 23 172 144 -0.017 25.682    7  0.047    7  0.055    4  0.113    8 0.5129   22  1.039   15  0.061    5  0.165
WILD           29 24 171 154 -0.013 26.284   10  0.037   10  0.046    5  0.088   11 0.5093   23  1.029   17  0.025    6  0.151
MAMMOTH        27 24 163 141 -0.011 25.348   15  0.024   15  0.027    8  0.062   14 0.5072   24  1.014   19 -0.019    7  0.143
JETS           20 31 149 158 -0.008 25.584   30 -0.115   30 -0.120   24 -0.059   30 0.4712   19  1.070   23 -0.074   20 -0.044
BLACKHAWKS     21 30 140 159 -0.027 25.227   28 -0.101   28 -0.106   27 -0.085   28 0.4745   26  0.973   26 -0.214   14  0.044
PREDATORS      24 27 148 174  0.008 26.033   21 -0.021   21 -0.026   29 -0.116   23 0.4907   12  1.139   22 -0.046   27 -0.185
BLUES          19 33 127 179 -0.014 26.118   31 -0.161   31 -0.153   31 -0.179   31 0.4649   25  0.990   29 -0.288   21 -0.069

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     32 20 180 150 -0.000 26.004    3  0.129    3  0.126    3  0.116    3 0.5299   14  1.119    9  0.161   11  0.072
PENGUINS       25 25 166 150 -0.030 24.484   17 -0.005   17 -0.013    6  0.067   17 0.4987   16  1.110   12  0.101   15  0.033
CAPITALS       25 28 170 159 -0.012 26.341   23 -0.025   23 -0.038   11  0.056   22 0.4936   15  1.111   14  0.091   16  0.021
ISLANDERS      27 24 146 146  0.024 26.140   12  0.033   12  0.042   14  0.012   10 0.5101   29  0.924   25 -0.173    4  0.197
FLYERS         24 26 154 158  0.010 25.389   18 -0.012   18 -0.017   17 -0.013   18 0.4968   20  1.069   20 -0.028   17  0.002
BLUE JACKETS   24 27 158 169  0.023 26.219   20 -0.017   19 -0.022   23 -0.052   19 0.4944   13  1.129   18  0.007   23 -0.110
DEVILS         27 24 136 155  0.042 26.637    9  0.038    9  0.050   25 -0.069    9 0.5121   30  0.911   28 -0.268    8  0.130
RANGERS        21 31 139 162  0.026 26.873   27 -0.086   27 -0.093   28 -0.114   27 0.4798   28  0.932   30 -0.289   13  0.061

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      32 18 177 130  0.007 25.037    2  0.161    2  0.150    2  0.195    2 0.5365   18  1.078    5  0.190    3  0.200
SABRES         29 22 172 155 -0.004 25.508    6  0.063    6  0.071    9  0.061    6 0.5175    8  1.162   10  0.160   19 -0.039
BRUINS         30 22 174 162  0.000 26.102    5  0.076    5  0.083   10  0.057    5 0.5188    7  1.188    6  0.189   22 -0.076
RED WINGS      32 21 167 159 -0.020 26.233    4  0.100    4  0.106   13  0.015    4 0.5236   21  1.043   21 -0.031   12  0.061
CANADIENS      28 24 177 175  0.002 26.211   11  0.034   11  0.042   15  0.008   13 0.5080    3  1.242    4  0.211   28 -0.195
MAPLE LEAFS    24 27 169 172 -0.002 25.646   22 -0.021   22 -0.031   16  0.003   21 0.4937    6  1.222    7  0.179   26 -0.173
SENATORS       23 28 167 173 -0.009 25.519   24 -0.044   24 -0.057   19 -0.029   24 0.4879    2  1.243    8  0.175   29 -0.233
PANTHERS       27 23 152 164  0.029 25.814    8  0.044    8  0.055   20 -0.036    7 0.5132    9  1.148   16  0.045   24 -0.117

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     225 185 0.549    1  0.063
CENTRAL DIVISION      203 207 0.495    2  0.037
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 205 205 0.500    3  0.001
PACIFIC DIVISION      185 221 0.456    4 -0.105

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.050 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: Sun Jan 25 05:30:11 2026
games through: Sat Jan 24 2026

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