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      63 30 342 233 -0.010 46.060    1  0.284    1  0.291    1  0.375    2 0.5405   19  1.065    1  0.347    1  0.404
HURRICANES     61 30 322 256  0.009 46.025    2  0.281    2  0.290    2  0.218    1 0.5425   10  1.128    4  0.268    6  0.169
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.024 48.658    3  0.206    3  0.184    4  0.189    3 0.5278    7  1.162    2  0.280   10  0.097
CANADIENS      57 40 332 296  0.050 50.715    4  0.200    4  0.180    7  0.148    4 0.5268    9  1.155    6  0.230   12  0.065
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.404    5  0.190    5  0.167    3  0.204    5 0.5265   17  1.079    7  0.193    3  0.215
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.000 44.215    6  0.162    6  0.147    5  0.149    6 0.5210   21  1.054   11  0.108    4  0.191
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.024 47.567    7  0.095    7  0.092    6  0.149    7 0.5131   11  1.124    8  0.193    9  0.104
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.029 45.349    8  0.070    8  0.071   12  0.073    8 0.5117   16  1.104   13  0.092   14  0.053
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.525   10  0.037    9  0.037   17 -0.031   10 0.5066   29  0.947   25 -0.197    7  0.134
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.275    9  0.039   10  0.034    9  0.085    9 0.5066   15  1.107   12  0.108   13  0.061
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 47.396   11  0.034   11  0.033   14  0.022   12 0.5054   31  0.916   24 -0.179    2  0.223
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.015 43.789   12  0.033   12  0.026    8  0.112   11 0.5056   13  1.118    9  0.148   11  0.075
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.010 41.896   13  0.026   13  0.023   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.229   20 -0.008
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.022 46.791   15  0.013   14  0.016   24 -0.110   14 0.5015    1  1.276   10  0.130   31 -0.350
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.048   16  0.012   15  0.010   13  0.042   17 0.5007   14  1.117   14  0.077   18  0.006
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 49 47 316 284 -0.019 47.613   14  0.015   16  0.004   10  0.082   16 0.5008   18  1.069   15  0.059    8  0.106
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.692   17  0.006   17  0.002   18 -0.054   15 0.5010   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.008
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.009 41.822   20 -0.008   18 -0.017   21 -0.086   20 0.4982    6  1.192   17  0.044   28 -0.217
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.528   18 -0.003   19 -0.017   11  0.075   18 0.4987    3  1.248    3  0.277   25 -0.127
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.668   19 -0.007   20 -0.018   16 -0.013   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.048   15  0.021
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 43.000   21 -0.027   21 -0.047   15  0.014   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.235   27 -0.207
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.736   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4910    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.335
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.015 41.067   23 -0.056   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4889   12  1.121   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.023 40.735   24 -0.080   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4854   23  1.027   22 -0.143   19  0.003
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.013 41.154   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4804   24  1.022   26 -0.204   23 -0.045
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.010 41.838   26 -0.128   26 -0.132   20 -0.071   25 0.4809   25  1.015   23 -0.158   16  0.017
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.929   27 -0.160   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.011
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.746   28 -0.162   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.036
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.008 43.292   29 -0.164   29 -0.162   22 -0.087   29 0.4761   32  0.847   31 -0.363    5  0.189
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.928   30 -0.178   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4750    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.341
TEAM            W  L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.019 41.080   31 -0.243   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4621   28  0.985   30 -0.352   24 -0.106
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.112   32 -0.316   32 -0.335   32 -0.394   32 0.4500    8  1.160   29 -0.306   32 -0.483

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 46.791   15  0.013   14  0.016   24 -0.110   14 0.5015    1  1.276   10  0.130   31 -0.350
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 49 47 316 284 -0.019 47.613   14  0.015   16  0.004   10  0.082   16 0.5008   18  1.069   15  0.059    8  0.106
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 43.000   21 -0.027   21 -0.047   15  0.014   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.235   27 -0.207
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.736   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4910    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.335
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.022 40.929   27 -0.160   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.011
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.026 40.746   28 -0.162   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.036
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.008 43.292   29 -0.164   29 -0.162   22 -0.087   29 0.4761   32  0.847   31 -0.363    5  0.189
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.024 41.112   32 -0.316   32 -0.335   32 -0.394   32 0.4500    8  1.160   29 -0.306   32 -0.483

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      63 30 342 233 -0.010 46.060    1  0.284    1  0.291    1  0.375    2 0.5405   19  1.065    1  0.347    1  0.404
STARS          52 36 294 249  0.000 44.215    6  0.162    6  0.147    5  0.149    6 0.5210   21  1.054   11  0.108    4  0.191
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.024 47.567    7  0.095    7  0.092    6  0.149    7 0.5131   11  1.124    8  0.193    9  0.104
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.048   16  0.012   15  0.010   13  0.042   17 0.5007   14  1.117   14  0.077   18  0.006
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.015 41.067   23 -0.056   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4889   12  1.121   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.023 40.735   24 -0.080   24 -0.095   19 -0.070   24 0.4854   23  1.027   22 -0.143   19  0.003
JETS           35 47 231 260 -0.013 41.154   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4804   24  1.022   26 -0.204   23 -0.045
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.019 41.080   31 -0.243   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4621   28  0.985   30 -0.352   24 -0.106

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     61 30 322 256  0.009 46.025    2  0.281    2  0.290    2  0.218    1 0.5425   10  1.128    4  0.268    6  0.169
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.525   10  0.037    9  0.037   17 -0.031   10 0.5066   29  0.947   25 -0.197    7  0.134
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.275    9  0.039   10  0.034    9  0.085    9 0.5066   15  1.107   12  0.108   13  0.061
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.025 47.396   11  0.034   11  0.033   14  0.022   12 0.5054   31  0.916   24 -0.179    2  0.223
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.010 41.896   13  0.026   13  0.023   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.229   20 -0.008
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.528   18 -0.003   19 -0.017   11  0.075   18 0.4987    3  1.248    3  0.277   25 -0.127
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.668   19 -0.007   20 -0.018   16 -0.013   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.048   15  0.021
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.010 41.838   26 -0.128   26 -0.132   20 -0.071   25 0.4809   25  1.015   23 -0.158   16  0.017

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
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.024 48.658    3  0.206    3  0.184    4  0.189    3 0.5278    7  1.162    2  0.280   10  0.097
CANADIENS      57 40 332 296  0.050 50.715    4  0.200    4  0.180    7  0.148    4 0.5268    9  1.155    6  0.230   12  0.065
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.020 45.404    5  0.190    5  0.167    3  0.204    5 0.5265   17  1.079    7  0.193    3  0.215
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.029 45.349    8  0.070    8  0.071   12  0.073    8 0.5117   16  1.104   13  0.092   14  0.053
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.015 43.789   12  0.033   12  0.026    8  0.112   11 0.5056   13  1.118    9  0.148   11  0.075
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.692   17  0.006   17  0.002   18 -0.054   15 0.5010   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.008
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.009 41.822   20 -0.008   18 -0.017   21 -0.086   20 0.4982    6  1.192   17  0.044   28 -0.217
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.928   30 -0.178   30 -0.172   28 -0.148   30 0.4750    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.341

DIVISION                W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
ATLANTIC DIVISION     371 330 0.529    1  0.074
CENTRAL DIVISION      350 340 0.507    2  0.031
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 353 328 0.518    3  0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION      308 384 0.445    4 -0.168

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.045 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: Sat May 23 05:30:12 2026
games through: Fri May 22 2026

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