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
LIGHTNING      4 1 16 12  0.117  2.616    1  0.128    1  0.126    3  0.128    1 0.5534   12  1.126    7  0.228   12  0.027 P
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5 1 23 14 -0.142  2.516    2  0.121    2  0.112    9  0.095    4 0.5436   25  0.927   21 -0.039    5  0.228 P
CAPITALS       3 1 14  9  0.253  2.344    4  0.101    3  0.097    5  0.111    2 0.5479   16  1.060   11  0.131   11  0.091 P
SENATORS       4 1 15 11 -0.018  2.372    3  0.102    4  0.095   12  0.053    7 0.5344   24  0.969   20 -0.034    9  0.140 P
RANGERS        4 2 17 11  0.167  3.299    7  0.082    5  0.088    7  0.104    5 0.5377   29  0.741   27 -0.229    3  0.436 P
OILERS         4 1 25 17 -0.135  2.106    5  0.090    6  0.082    6  0.106    3 0.5449    3  1.375    2  0.536   30 -0.323 P
DUCKS          4 1 18 13  0.014  2.473    8  0.075    7  0.082   20 -0.005    6 0.5375    7  1.205    8  0.197   22 -0.206 P
BRUINS         4 2 20 13  0.078  3.057    6  0.085    8  0.078    4  0.112    8 0.5344   19  1.051   12  0.122   10  0.103 P
WILD           3 2 15  9  0.164  2.729   10  0.051    9  0.055    2  0.134    9 0.5269   28  0.805   22 -0.133    4  0.400 P
HURRICANES     4 2 23 16 -0.156  2.483    9  0.058   10  0.055    8  0.096   11 0.5215   10  1.153    6  0.231   18 -0.039 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAMMOTH        4 2 22 15 -0.017  2.836   11  0.047   11  0.054   11  0.069   10 0.5252   13  1.117   10  0.159   16 -0.022 P
JETS           3 2 13 15  0.083  2.615   12  0.041   12  0.046   16  0.009   12 0.5185   26  0.888   25 -0.168    7  0.186 P
AVALANCHE      3 2 26 17 -0.117  2.123   13  0.031   13  0.034    1  0.144   13 0.5099    1  1.617    1  0.928   31 -0.640 P
MAPLE LEAFS    3 3 20 18  0.090  3.137   14  0.013   14  0.013   14  0.039   14 0.5019   15  1.072   15  0.074   14  0.004 P
SHARKS         3 2 13 17 -0.000  2.520   15  0.006   15  0.009   29 -0.168   18 0.4938   21  1.033   26 -0.180   21 -0.157 P
KRAKEN         3 2 21 14 -0.155  2.111   16  0.003   16  0.001   18  0.008   15 0.4981    4  1.301    4  0.336   28 -0.320 P
PENGUINS       3 3 22 17 -0.025  2.839   17 -0.000   17 -0.006   13  0.046   17 0.4954    6  1.205    5  0.247   20 -0.155 P
BLUE JACKETS   2 2 13 14 -0.079  1.846   18 -0.009   18 -0.017   24 -0.066   19 0.4894    9  1.173   14  0.094   25 -0.226 P
PANTHERS       2 3  9 12  0.078  2.605   19 -0.010   19 -0.018   17  0.008   16 0.4964   31  0.400   32 -0.638    2  0.655 P
PREDATORS      2 3 14 14  0.154  2.769   21 -0.018   20 -0.022   19  0.005   21 0.4862   20  1.036   17 -0.003   13  0.012 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DEVILS         2 2 10 14 -0.199  1.670   20 -0.015   21 -0.025   25 -0.096   23 0.4836   23  0.994   23 -0.154   17 -0.038 P
STARS          2 3 11  8 -0.076  2.245   22 -0.029   22 -0.033   10  0.073   20 0.4865   32  0.339   31 -0.624    1  0.769 P
CANADIENS      2 3 15 19  0.016  2.499   23 -0.034   23 -0.034   22 -0.045   25 0.4784    5  1.219    9  0.175   27 -0.264 P
SABRES         2 3 11 19 -0.094  2.322   24 -0.037   24 -0.040   27 -0.120   24 0.4796   11  1.136   18 -0.006   26 -0.233 P
ISLANDERS      2 3 16 13 -0.027  2.373   25 -0.042   25 -0.042   15  0.021   22 0.4847   17  1.057   16  0.037   15  0.004 P
BLUES          2 3 14 16 -0.099  2.259   26 -0.048   26 -0.050   21 -0.029   26 0.4779   18  1.056   19 -0.014   19 -0.044 P
CANUCKS        2 4 22 29 -0.007  3.022   27 -0.075   27 -0.074   28 -0.124   27 0.4738    2  1.530    3  0.528   32 -0.777 P
RED WINGS      1 4 10 15 -0.011  2.460   28 -0.106   28 -0.108   26 -0.106   28 0.4565   27  0.824   29 -0.352    8  0.141 P
KINGS          0 4 10 17  0.090  2.134   29 -0.121   29 -0.125   23 -0.051   29 0.4474    8  1.175   13  0.111   23 -0.213 P
BLACKHAWKS     1 5 12 26  0.043  3.173   30 -0.144   30 -0.142   31 -0.241   30 0.4424   14  1.109   24 -0.161   29 -0.321 P
TEAM           W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FLAMES         0 5  8 27 -0.045  2.462   31 -0.170   31 -0.174   32 -0.253   32 0.4262   22  1.012   28 -0.289   24 -0.217 P
FLYERS         0 6  7 24  0.133  3.378   32 -0.177   32 -0.178   30 -0.196   31 0.4340   30  0.680   30 -0.590    6  0.197 P

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 5 1 23 14 -0.142  2.516    2  0.121    2  0.112    9  0.095    4 0.5436   25  0.927   21 -0.039    5  0.228 P
OILERS         4 1 25 17 -0.135  2.106    5  0.090    6  0.082    6  0.106    3 0.5449    3  1.375    2  0.536   30 -0.323 P
DUCKS          4 1 18 13  0.014  2.473    8  0.075    7  0.082   20 -0.005    6 0.5375    7  1.205    8  0.197   22 -0.206 P
SHARKS         3 2 13 17 -0.000  2.520   15  0.006   15  0.009   29 -0.168   18 0.4938   21  1.033   26 -0.180   21 -0.157 P
KRAKEN         3 2 21 14 -0.155  2.111   16  0.003   16  0.001   18  0.008   15 0.4981    4  1.301    4  0.336   28 -0.320 P
CANUCKS        2 4 22 29 -0.007  3.022   27 -0.075   27 -0.074   28 -0.124   27 0.4738    2  1.530    3  0.528   32 -0.777 P
KINGS          0 4 10 17  0.090  2.134   29 -0.121   29 -0.125   23 -0.051   29 0.4474    8  1.175   13  0.111   23 -0.213 P
FLAMES         0 5  8 27 -0.045  2.462   31 -0.170   31 -0.174   32 -0.253   32 0.4262   22  1.012   28 -0.289   24 -0.217 P

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           3 2 15  9  0.164  2.729   10  0.051    9  0.055    2  0.134    9 0.5269   28  0.805   22 -0.133    4  0.400 P
MAMMOTH        4 2 22 15 -0.017  2.836   11  0.047   11  0.054   11  0.069   10 0.5252   13  1.117   10  0.159   16 -0.022 P
JETS           3 2 13 15  0.083  2.615   12  0.041   12  0.046   16  0.009   12 0.5185   26  0.888   25 -0.168    7  0.186 P
AVALANCHE      3 2 26 17 -0.117  2.123   13  0.031   13  0.034    1  0.144   13 0.5099    1  1.617    1  0.928   31 -0.640 P
PREDATORS      2 3 14 14  0.154  2.769   21 -0.018   20 -0.022   19  0.005   21 0.4862   20  1.036   17 -0.003   13  0.012 P
STARS          2 3 11  8 -0.076  2.245   22 -0.029   22 -0.033   10  0.073   20 0.4865   32  0.339   31 -0.624    1  0.769 P
BLUES          2 3 14 16 -0.099  2.259   26 -0.048   26 -0.050   21 -0.029   26 0.4779   18  1.056   19 -0.014   19 -0.044 P
BLACKHAWKS     1 5 12 26  0.043  3.173   30 -0.144   30 -0.142   31 -0.241   30 0.4424   14  1.109   24 -0.161   29 -0.321 P

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
CAPITALS       3 1 14  9  0.253  2.344    4  0.101    3  0.097    5  0.111    2 0.5479   16  1.060   11  0.131   11  0.091 P
RANGERS        4 2 17 11  0.167  3.299    7  0.082    5  0.088    7  0.104    5 0.5377   29  0.741   27 -0.229    3  0.436 P
HURRICANES     4 2 23 16 -0.156  2.483    9  0.058   10  0.055    8  0.096   11 0.5215   10  1.153    6  0.231   18 -0.039 P
PENGUINS       3 3 22 17 -0.025  2.839   17 -0.000   17 -0.006   13  0.046   17 0.4954    6  1.205    5  0.247   20 -0.155 P
BLUE JACKETS   2 2 13 14 -0.079  1.846   18 -0.009   18 -0.017   24 -0.066   19 0.4894    9  1.173   14  0.094   25 -0.226 P
DEVILS         2 2 10 14 -0.199  1.670   20 -0.015   21 -0.025   25 -0.096   23 0.4836   23  0.994   23 -0.154   17 -0.038 P
ISLANDERS      2 3 16 13 -0.027  2.373   25 -0.042   25 -0.042   15  0.021   22 0.4847   17  1.057   16  0.037   15  0.004 P
FLYERS         0 6  7 24  0.133  3.378   32 -0.177   32 -0.178   30 -0.196   31 0.4340   30  0.680   30 -0.590    6  0.197 P

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      4 1 16 12  0.117  2.616    1  0.128    1  0.126    3  0.128    1 0.5534   12  1.126    7  0.228   12  0.027 P
SENATORS       4 1 15 11 -0.018  2.372    3  0.102    4  0.095   12  0.053    7 0.5344   24  0.969   20 -0.034    9  0.140 P
BRUINS         4 2 20 13  0.078  3.057    6  0.085    8  0.078    4  0.112    8 0.5344   19  1.051   12  0.122   10  0.103 P
MAPLE LEAFS    3 3 20 18  0.090  3.137   14  0.013   14  0.013   14  0.039   14 0.5019   15  1.072   15  0.074   14  0.004 P
PANTHERS       2 3  9 12  0.078  2.605   19 -0.010   19 -0.018   17  0.008   16 0.4964   31  0.400   32 -0.638    2  0.655 P
CANADIENS      2 3 15 19  0.016  2.499   23 -0.034   23 -0.034   22 -0.045   25 0.4784    5  1.219    9  0.175   27 -0.264 P
SABRES         2 3 11 19 -0.094  2.322   24 -0.037   24 -0.040   27 -0.120   24 0.4796   11  1.136   18 -0.006   26 -0.233 P
RED WINGS      1 4 10 15 -0.011  2.460   28 -0.106   28 -0.108   26 -0.106   28 0.4565   27  0.824   29 -0.352    8  0.141 P

DIVISION               W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION      20 22 0.476    1  0.070
ATLANTIC DIVISION     22 20 0.524    2  0.030
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 20 21 0.488    3  0.017
PACIFIC DIVISION      21 20 0.512    4 -0.115

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.116 points in main ratings (0.079 for semineutral)
     0.012 points in improved RPI (0.008 for semineutral)
Average of 1.00 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Oct 11 05:30:19 2026
games through: Sat Oct 10 2026

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