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      48 23 266 179  0.007 35.475    1  0.262    1  0.259    1  0.365    1 0.5435   17  1.074    1  0.355    1  0.376
HURRICANES     45 26 252 211  0.004 35.609    2  0.207    2  0.193    5  0.142    2 0.5328    7  1.180    6  0.263   17  0.022
LIGHTNING      44 27 260 199  0.004 35.512    3  0.189    3  0.172    2  0.230    3 0.5306    8  1.178    2  0.348    8  0.111
SABRES         44 28 254 211  0.010 36.272    4  0.180    4  0.166    3  0.170    4 0.5289   10  1.164    5  0.271   11  0.070
STARS          43 29 245 198 -0.016 35.518    5  0.135    5  0.130    4  0.164    5 0.5217   19  1.056   11  0.130    4  0.197
CANADIENS      40 31 251 231  0.016 36.030    6  0.093    6  0.099    9  0.086    6 0.5163    3  1.250    4  0.297   25 -0.126
DUCKS          41 31 243 247 -0.006 36.099    7  0.084    7  0.095   19 -0.053    8 0.5154    2  1.285    8  0.205   30 -0.311
ISLANDERS      41 32 211 207  0.001 36.688    8  0.078    8  0.089   14  0.019    7 0.5154   30  0.929   23 -0.162    3  0.199
WILD           41 32 239 210 -0.006 36.346    9  0.075    9  0.084    6  0.120   10 0.5133   21  1.041   13  0.069    5  0.171
BRUINS         40 32 240 224  0.005 36.246   10  0.072   10  0.081   10  0.076    9 0.5141   12  1.156   10  0.166   21 -0.014
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RED WINGS      38 33 207 211  0.011 36.015   11  0.043   11  0.057   16 -0.009   11 0.5098   29  0.954   22 -0.161    6  0.143
BLUE JACKETS   38 34 232 219  0.007 36.330   12  0.032   12  0.043   13  0.043   12 0.5078   15  1.097   14  0.060   15  0.027
SENATORS       38 34 242 220 -0.000 36.064   13  0.030   13  0.040    7  0.094   14 0.5070    9  1.165    9  0.196   19 -0.008
DEVILS         37 34 197 215  0.015 36.240   14  0.026   14  0.038   25 -0.093   13 0.5071   26  0.962   27 -0.236   12  0.050
MAMMOTH        37 36 229 210  0.005 36.781   15  0.008   15  0.013   12  0.048   15 0.5019   20  1.042   18 -0.001    9  0.098
PENGUINS       36 36 247 228  0.006 36.249   16  0.003   16  0.004    8  0.091   16 0.5012    6  1.189    7  0.223   23 -0.041
PANTHERS       35 36 213 236  0.015 36.225   17 -0.003   17 -0.002   23 -0.079   17 0.5006   11  1.162   16  0.018   27 -0.176
FLYERS         35 36 209 215  0.008 35.966   18 -0.004   18 -0.005   18 -0.027   19 0.4988   27  0.960   24 -0.172    7  0.118
CAPITALS       36 37 227 215  0.004 36.729   19 -0.004   19 -0.009   11  0.058   18 0.5000   18  1.061   15  0.031   10  0.084
OILERS         36 37 254 249 -0.017 36.161   20 -0.013   20 -0.020   15  0.015   20 0.4965    1  1.309    3  0.305   29 -0.275
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PREDATORS      34 38 217 239 -0.007 36.130   21 -0.034   21 -0.044   26 -0.096   21 0.4912   13  1.147   20 -0.018   26 -0.175
SHARKS         32 38 212 251  0.002 35.474   22 -0.049   22 -0.059   29 -0.162   22 0.4892    4  1.213   17  0.001   31 -0.325
KRAKEN         32 39 204 221 -0.026 35.037   23 -0.073   23 -0.086   21 -0.065   23 0.4859   23  1.005   21 -0.159   14  0.029
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 41 228 229 -0.008 36.465   24 -0.081   24 -0.094   17 -0.013   24 0.4844   16  1.086   19 -0.009   22 -0.017
MAPLE LEAFS    31 42 229 255  0.018 37.333   25 -0.087   25 -0.097   22 -0.067   25 0.4841    5  1.207   12  0.088   28 -0.222
BLUES          30 41 186 226 -0.023 35.188   26 -0.122   26 -0.123   27 -0.113   26 0.4789   25  0.967   28 -0.251   16  0.024
JETS           30 42 205 223 -0.009 36.052   27 -0.122   27 -0.125   24 -0.082   27 0.4786   24  1.003   25 -0.177   18  0.014
FLAMES         30 42 182 222 -0.031 35.493   29 -0.143   28 -0.137   31 -0.184   28 0.4768   31  0.884   32 -0.414   13  0.046
KINGS          29 43 193 216  0.002 36.332   28 -0.139   29 -0.138   20 -0.060   29 0.4767   32  0.853   31 -0.324    2  0.204
RANGERS        28 44 202 230  0.017 36.833   30 -0.156   30 -0.150   28 -0.125   30 0.4749   22  1.020   26 -0.201   24 -0.050
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     27 45 188 233 -0.004 36.310   31 -0.194   31 -0.182   30 -0.164   31 0.4683   28  0.955   30 -0.314   20 -0.014
CANUCKS        21 50 182 266 -0.017 35.611   32 -0.294   32 -0.305   32 -0.341   32 0.4489   14  1.108   29 -0.311   32 -0.371

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          41 31 243 247 -0.006 36.099    7  0.084    7  0.095   19 -0.053    8 0.5154    2  1.285    8  0.205   30 -0.311
OILERS         36 37 254 249 -0.017 36.161   20 -0.013   20 -0.020   15  0.015   20 0.4965    1  1.309    3  0.305   29 -0.275
SHARKS         32 38 212 251  0.002 35.474   22 -0.049   22 -0.059   29 -0.162   22 0.4892    4  1.213   17  0.001   31 -0.325
KRAKEN         32 39 204 221 -0.026 35.037   23 -0.073   23 -0.086   21 -0.065   23 0.4859   23  1.005   21 -0.159   14  0.029
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 32 41 228 229 -0.008 36.465   24 -0.081   24 -0.094   17 -0.013   24 0.4844   16  1.086   19 -0.009   22 -0.017
FLAMES         30 42 182 222 -0.031 35.493   29 -0.143   28 -0.137   31 -0.184   28 0.4768   31  0.884   32 -0.414   13  0.046
KINGS          29 43 193 216  0.002 36.332   28 -0.139   29 -0.138   20 -0.060   29 0.4767   32  0.853   31 -0.324    2  0.204
CANUCKS        21 50 182 266 -0.017 35.611   32 -0.294   32 -0.305   32 -0.341   32 0.4489   14  1.108   29 -0.311   32 -0.371

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      48 23 266 179  0.007 35.475    1  0.262    1  0.259    1  0.365    1 0.5435   17  1.074    1  0.355    1  0.376
STARS          43 29 245 198 -0.016 35.518    5  0.135    5  0.130    4  0.164    5 0.5217   19  1.056   11  0.130    4  0.197
WILD           41 32 239 210 -0.006 36.346    9  0.075    9  0.084    6  0.120   10 0.5133   21  1.041   13  0.069    5  0.171
MAMMOTH        37 36 229 210  0.005 36.781   15  0.008   15  0.013   12  0.048   15 0.5019   20  1.042   18 -0.001    9  0.098
PREDATORS      34 38 217 239 -0.007 36.130   21 -0.034   21 -0.044   26 -0.096   21 0.4912   13  1.147   20 -0.018   26 -0.175
BLUES          30 41 186 226 -0.023 35.188   26 -0.122   26 -0.123   27 -0.113   26 0.4789   25  0.967   28 -0.251   16  0.024
JETS           30 42 205 223 -0.009 36.052   27 -0.122   27 -0.125   24 -0.082   27 0.4786   24  1.003   25 -0.177   18  0.014
BLACKHAWKS     27 45 188 233 -0.004 36.310   31 -0.194   31 -0.182   30 -0.164   31 0.4683   28  0.955   30 -0.314   20 -0.014

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 26 252 211  0.004 35.609    2  0.207    2  0.193    5  0.142    2 0.5328    7  1.180    6  0.263   17  0.022
ISLANDERS      41 32 211 207  0.001 36.688    8  0.078    8  0.089   14  0.019    7 0.5154   30  0.929   23 -0.162    3  0.199
BLUE JACKETS   38 34 232 219  0.007 36.330   12  0.032   12  0.043   13  0.043   12 0.5078   15  1.097   14  0.060   15  0.027
DEVILS         37 34 197 215  0.015 36.240   14  0.026   14  0.038   25 -0.093   13 0.5071   26  0.962   27 -0.236   12  0.050
PENGUINS       36 36 247 228  0.006 36.249   16  0.003   16  0.004    8  0.091   16 0.5012    6  1.189    7  0.223   23 -0.041
FLYERS         35 36 209 215  0.008 35.966   18 -0.004   18 -0.005   18 -0.027   19 0.4988   27  0.960   24 -0.172    7  0.118
CAPITALS       36 37 227 215  0.004 36.729   19 -0.004   19 -0.009   11  0.058   18 0.5000   18  1.061   15  0.031   10  0.084
RANGERS        28 44 202 230  0.017 36.833   30 -0.156   30 -0.150   28 -0.125   30 0.4749   22  1.020   26 -0.201   24 -0.050

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      44 27 260 199  0.004 35.512    3  0.189    3  0.172    2  0.230    3 0.5306    8  1.178    2  0.348    8  0.111
SABRES         44 28 254 211  0.010 36.272    4  0.180    4  0.166    3  0.170    4 0.5289   10  1.164    5  0.271   11  0.070
CANADIENS      40 31 251 231  0.016 36.030    6  0.093    6  0.099    9  0.086    6 0.5163    3  1.250    4  0.297   25 -0.126
BRUINS         40 32 240 224  0.005 36.246   10  0.072   10  0.081   10  0.076    9 0.5141   12  1.156   10  0.166   21 -0.014
RED WINGS      38 33 207 211  0.011 36.015   11  0.043   11  0.057   16 -0.009   11 0.5098   29  0.954   22 -0.161    6  0.143
SENATORS       38 34 242 220 -0.000 36.064   13  0.030   13  0.040    7  0.094   14 0.5070    9  1.165    9  0.196   19 -0.008
PANTHERS       35 36 213 236  0.015 36.225   17 -0.003   17 -0.002   23 -0.079   17 0.5006   11  1.162   16  0.018   27 -0.176
MAPLE LEAFS    31 42 229 255  0.018 37.333   25 -0.087   25 -0.097   22 -0.067   25 0.4841    5  1.207   12  0.088   28 -0.222

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     310 263 0.541    1  0.093
CENTRAL DIVISION      290 286 0.503    2  0.043
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 296 279 0.515    3  0.020
PACIFIC DIVISION      253 321 0.441    4 -0.159

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.048 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: Fri Mar 27 05:30:07 2026
games through: Thu Mar 26 2026

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