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
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.022 46.818   15  0.016   15  0.016   24 -0.109   15 0.5016    1  1.276   10  0.132   31 -0.350
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 42.993   21 -0.025   21 -0.047   15  0.013   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.235   27 -0.209
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.510   18 -0.001   19 -0.018   11  0.074   18 0.4986    3  1.248    3  0.277   25 -0.130
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.009 41.909   30 -0.176   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4749    4  1.241   16  0.046   30 -0.343
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.727   22 -0.044   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4909    5  1.214   18 -0.018   29 -0.336
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.008 41.805   20 -0.005   18 -0.018   21 -0.087   20 0.4982    6  1.193   17  0.045   28 -0.218
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.023 48.629    3  0.209    3  0.182    4  0.187    3 0.5276    7  1.164    2  0.282   10  0.092
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.025 41.097   32 -0.314   32 -0.334   32 -0.394   32 0.4499    8  1.160   29 -0.304   32 -0.483
CANADIENS      57 42 336 302  0.055 51.940    5  0.183    5  0.164    7  0.145    5 0.5246    9  1.141    6  0.211   11  0.080
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.022 47.507    7  0.088    7  0.090    6  0.146    7 0.5129   10  1.125    8  0.192    9  0.101
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.016 41.044   23 -0.053   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4888   11  1.121   20 -0.061   26 -0.143
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.014 43.774   12  0.027   13  0.025    8  0.111   11 0.5056   12  1.119    9  0.150   12  0.072
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.067   16  0.015   16  0.009   13  0.041   17 0.5008   13  1.118   14  0.078   18  0.005
HURRICANES     63 30 328 260  0.012 47.164    1  0.299    1  0.305    2  0.220    1 0.5446   14  1.112    4  0.250    4  0.190
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.258    9  0.034   10  0.033   10  0.083    9 0.5065   15  1.108   11  0.108   13  0.059
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.028 45.329    8  0.064    8  0.070   12  0.072    8 0.5116   16  1.104   13  0.092   14  0.051
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.377    4  0.190    4  0.166    3  0.203    4 0.5262   17  1.081    7  0.195    3  0.210
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 51 47 323 288 -0.011 48.907   13  0.025   12  0.027    9  0.097   14 0.5038   18  1.067   15  0.072    8  0.122
AVALANCHE      63 32 346 240 -0.007 47.223    2  0.274    2  0.270    1  0.360    2 0.5373   19  1.065    1  0.332    1  0.388
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.652   19 -0.004   20 -0.018   16 -0.014   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.047   15  0.019
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STARS          52 36 294 249 -0.001 44.187    6  0.156    6  0.145    5  0.148    6 0.5208   21  1.054   12  0.107    5  0.189
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.675   17  0.008   17  0.001   18 -0.055   16 0.5009   22  1.037   21 -0.116   17  0.006
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.024 40.718   24 -0.077   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4853   23  1.028   22 -0.142   19  0.002
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.014 41.131   25 -0.122   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4802   24  1.022   26 -0.204   23 -0.046
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.009 41.821   26 -0.127   26 -0.133   20 -0.071   25 0.4808   25  1.016   23 -0.157   16  0.015
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.027 40.737   28 -0.160   28 -0.158   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.252   22 -0.037
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.009 41.879   14  0.022   14  0.022   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.228   20 -0.010
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.019 41.063   31 -0.242   31 -0.251   31 -0.229   31 0.4620   28  0.985   30 -0.351   24 -0.107
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.508   10  0.032    9  0.036   17 -0.032   10 0.5065   29  0.948   25 -0.197    7  0.132
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.023 40.921   27 -0.158   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.932   32 -0.378   21 -0.012
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.025 47.382   11  0.029   11  0.032   14  0.021   12 0.5054   31  0.917   24 -0.178    2  0.220
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.009 43.256   29 -0.163   29 -0.162   22 -0.088   29 0.4759   32  0.848   31 -0.362    6  0.187

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          49 45 312 330 -0.022 46.818   15  0.016   15  0.016   24 -0.109   15 0.5016    1  1.276   10  0.132   31 -0.350
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 42.993   21 -0.025   21 -0.047   15  0.013   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.235   27 -0.209
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.727   22 -0.044   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4909    5  1.214   18 -0.018   29 -0.336
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.025 41.097   32 -0.314   32 -0.334   32 -0.394   32 0.4499    8  1.160   29 -0.304   32 -0.483
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 51 47 323 288 -0.011 48.907   13  0.025   12  0.027    9  0.097   14 0.5038   18  1.067   15  0.072    8  0.122
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.027 40.737   28 -0.160   28 -0.158   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.252   22 -0.037
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.023 40.921   27 -0.158   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.932   32 -0.378   21 -0.012
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.009 43.256   29 -0.163   29 -0.162   22 -0.088   29 0.4759   32  0.848   31 -0.362    6  0.187

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
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.022 47.507    7  0.088    7  0.090    6  0.146    7 0.5129   10  1.125    8  0.192    9  0.101
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.016 41.044   23 -0.053   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4888   11  1.121   20 -0.061   26 -0.143
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.067   16  0.015   16  0.009   13  0.041   17 0.5008   13  1.118   14  0.078   18  0.005
AVALANCHE      63 32 346 240 -0.007 47.223    2  0.274    2  0.270    1  0.360    2 0.5373   19  1.065    1  0.332    1  0.388
STARS          52 36 294 249 -0.001 44.187    6  0.156    6  0.145    5  0.148    6 0.5208   21  1.054   12  0.107    5  0.189
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.024 40.718   24 -0.077   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4853   23  1.028   22 -0.142   19  0.002
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.014 41.131   25 -0.122   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4802   24  1.022   26 -0.204   23 -0.046
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.019 41.063   31 -0.242   31 -0.251   31 -0.229   31 0.4620   28  0.985   30 -0.351   24 -0.107

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
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.510   18 -0.001   19 -0.018   11  0.074   18 0.4986    3  1.248    3  0.277   25 -0.130
HURRICANES     63 30 328 260  0.012 47.164    1  0.299    1  0.305    2  0.220    1 0.5446   14  1.112    4  0.250    4  0.190
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.258    9  0.034   10  0.033   10  0.083    9 0.5065   15  1.108   11  0.108   13  0.059
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.652   19 -0.004   20 -0.018   16 -0.014   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.047   15  0.019
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.009 41.821   26 -0.127   26 -0.133   20 -0.071   25 0.4808   25  1.016   23 -0.157   16  0.015
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.009 41.879   14  0.022   14  0.022   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.228   20 -0.010
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.508   10  0.032    9  0.036   17 -0.032   10 0.5065   29  0.948   25 -0.197    7  0.132
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.025 47.382   11  0.029   11  0.032   14  0.021   12 0.5054   31  0.917   24 -0.178    2  0.220

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
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.009 41.909   30 -0.176   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4749    4  1.241   16  0.046   30 -0.343
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.008 41.805   20 -0.005   18 -0.018   21 -0.087   20 0.4982    6  1.193   17  0.045   28 -0.218
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.023 48.629    3  0.209    3  0.182    4  0.187    3 0.5276    7  1.164    2  0.282   10  0.092
CANADIENS      57 42 336 302  0.055 51.940    5  0.183    5  0.164    7  0.145    5 0.5246    9  1.141    6  0.211   11  0.080
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.014 43.774   12  0.027   13  0.025    8  0.111   11 0.5056   12  1.119    9  0.150   12  0.072
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.028 45.329    8  0.064    8  0.070   12  0.072    8 0.5116   16  1.104   13  0.092   14  0.051
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.377    4  0.190    4  0.166    3  0.203    4 0.5262   17  1.081    7  0.195    3  0.210
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.675   17  0.008   17  0.001   18 -0.055   16 0.5009   22  1.037   21 -0.116   17  0.006

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     371 332 0.528    1  0.073
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 355 328 0.520    2  0.029
CENTRAL DIVISION      350 342 0.506    3  0.027
PACIFIC DIVISION      310 384 0.447    4 -0.167

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.046 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: Wed May 27 05:30:12 2026
games through: Tue May 26 2026

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