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
HURRICANES     63 30 328 260  0.012 47.173    1  0.298    1  0.305    2  0.221    1 0.5446   14  1.112    4  0.250    4  0.191
AVALANCHE      63 31 345 238 -0.009 46.640    2  0.280    2  0.280    1  0.366    2 0.5389   19  1.074    1  0.349    1  0.384
SABRES         57 38 331 280  0.023 48.639    3  0.210    3  0.182    4  0.187    3 0.5276    7  1.164    2  0.281   10  0.093
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.386    4  0.191    4  0.166    3  0.203    4 0.5262   17  1.081    7  0.194    3  0.212
CANADIENS      57 42 336 302  0.055 51.950    5  0.184    5  0.164    7  0.145    5 0.5246    9  1.141    6  0.210   11  0.081
STARS          52 36 294 249 -0.001 44.200    6  0.159    6  0.145    5  0.148    6 0.5209   21  1.054   12  0.107    5  0.190
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.022 47.535    7  0.092    7  0.091    6  0.147    7 0.5130   10  1.124    8  0.191    9  0.103
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.028 45.338    8  0.068    8  0.070   12  0.072    8 0.5116   16  1.104   13  0.092   14  0.052
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.516   10  0.036    9  0.036   17 -0.032    9 0.5065   29  0.948   25 -0.197    7  0.133
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.267    9  0.038   10  0.034   10  0.084   10 0.5065   15  1.107   11  0.108   13  0.060
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 47.392   11  0.033   11  0.032   14  0.022   12 0.5054   31  0.917   24 -0.178    2  0.221
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.015 43.783   12  0.031   12  0.026    8  0.111   11 0.5056   12  1.119    9  0.149   12  0.073
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.010 41.888   13  0.025   13  0.022   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.228   20 -0.010
DUCKS          49 45 312 330 -0.022 46.808   15  0.012   14  0.016   24 -0.110   15 0.5016    1  1.276   10  0.130   31 -0.349
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 50 47 321 287 -0.015 48.262   14  0.021   15  0.015    9  0.090   14 0.5023   18  1.077   14  0.076    8  0.104
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.060   16  0.011   16  0.009   13  0.041   17 0.5007   13  1.116   15  0.076   18  0.006
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.683   17  0.005   17  0.001   18 -0.055   16 0.5009   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.007
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.008 41.813   20 -0.008   18 -0.017   21 -0.087   20 0.4982    6  1.193   17  0.045   28 -0.218
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.519   18 -0.004   19 -0.018   11  0.074   18 0.4986    3  1.248    3  0.277   25 -0.129
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.661   19 -0.008   20 -0.018   16 -0.014   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.047   15  0.020
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 42.997   21 -0.028   21 -0.047   15  0.013   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.234   27 -0.208
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.732   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4909    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.336
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.016 41.055   23 -0.056   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4889   11  1.121   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.024 40.727   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 -0.014 41.142   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4803   24  1.022   26 -0.205   23 -0.046
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.010 41.830   26 -0.128   26 -0.133   20 -0.071   25 0.4808   25  1.016   23 -0.158   16  0.015
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.023 40.926   27 -0.159   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.011
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.027 40.742   28 -0.160   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.036
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.009 43.273   29 -0.163   29 -0.162   22 -0.087   29 0.4760   32  0.847   31 -0.363    6  0.189
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.918   30 -0.176   30 -0.173   28 -0.148   30 0.4749    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.342
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 41.071   31 -0.241   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4620   28  0.985   30 -0.352   24 -0.107
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.025 41.105   32 -0.313   32 -0.334   32 -0.394   32 0.4499    8  1.160   29 -0.305   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 46.808   15  0.012   14  0.016   24 -0.110   15 0.5016    1  1.276   10  0.130   31 -0.349
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 50 47 321 287 -0.015 48.262   14  0.021   15  0.015    9  0.090   14 0.5023   18  1.077   14  0.076    8  0.104
OILERS         43 45 303 295 -0.040 42.997   21 -0.028   21 -0.047   15  0.013   21 0.4941    2  1.262    5  0.234   27 -0.208
SHARKS         39 43 251 292 -0.028 40.732   22 -0.047   22 -0.060   29 -0.177   22 0.4909    5  1.214   18 -0.019   29 -0.336
FLAMES         34 48 212 259 -0.023 40.926   27 -0.159   27 -0.155   30 -0.195   27 0.4767   30  0.931   32 -0.379   21 -0.011
KRAKEN         34 48 226 263 -0.027 40.742   28 -0.160   28 -0.159   27 -0.144   28 0.4762   26  0.997   28 -0.253   22 -0.036
KINGS          35 51 230 260 -0.009 43.273   29 -0.163   29 -0.162   22 -0.087   29 0.4760   32  0.847   31 -0.363    6  0.189
CANUCKS        25 57 216 316 -0.025 41.105   32 -0.313   32 -0.334   32 -0.394   32 0.4499    8  1.160   29 -0.305   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 31 345 238 -0.009 46.640    2  0.280    2  0.280    1  0.366    2 0.5389   19  1.074    1  0.349    1  0.384
STARS          52 36 294 249 -0.001 44.200    6  0.159    6  0.145    5  0.148    6 0.5209   21  1.054   12  0.107    5  0.190
WILD           51 42 313 279  0.022 47.535    7  0.092    7  0.091    6  0.147    7 0.5130   10  1.124    8  0.191    9  0.103
MAMMOTH        45 43 286 263 -0.009 44.060   16  0.011   16  0.009   13  0.041   17 0.5007   13  1.116   15  0.076   18  0.006
PREDATORS      38 44 247 269 -0.016 41.055   23 -0.056   23 -0.072   23 -0.102   23 0.4889   11  1.121   20 -0.062   26 -0.142
BLUES          37 45 231 258 -0.024 40.727   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 -0.014 41.142   25 -0.124   25 -0.128   26 -0.125   26 0.4803   24  1.022   26 -0.205   23 -0.046
BLACKHAWKS     29 53 213 275 -0.019 41.071   31 -0.241   31 -0.252   31 -0.229   31 0.4620   28  0.985   30 -0.352   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
HURRICANES     63 30 328 260  0.012 47.173    1  0.298    1  0.305    2  0.221    1 0.5446   14  1.112    4  0.250    4  0.191
ISLANDERS      43 39 233 241  0.002 41.516   10  0.036    9  0.036   17 -0.032    9 0.5065   29  0.948   25 -0.197    7  0.133
CAPITALS       43 39 263 244 -0.001 41.267    9  0.038   10  0.034   10  0.084   10 0.5065   15  1.107   11  0.108   13  0.060
FLYERS         47 45 271 267  0.025 47.392   11  0.033   11  0.032   14  0.022   12 0.5054   31  0.917   24 -0.178    2  0.221
DEVILS         42 40 230 254  0.010 41.888   13  0.025   13  0.022   25 -0.119   13 0.5043   27  0.996   27 -0.228   20 -0.010
PENGUINS       43 45 304 284  0.005 44.519   18 -0.004   19 -0.018   11  0.074   18 0.4986    3  1.248    3  0.277   25 -0.129
BLUE JACKETS   40 42 253 253  0.007 41.661   19 -0.008   20 -0.018   16 -0.014   19 0.4985   20  1.060   19 -0.047   15  0.020
RANGERS        34 48 238 250  0.010 41.830   26 -0.128   26 -0.133   20 -0.071   25 0.4808   25  1.016   23 -0.158   16  0.015

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  0.023 48.639    3  0.210    3  0.182    4  0.187    3 0.5276    7  1.164    2  0.281   10  0.093
LIGHTNING      53 36 305 247  0.019 45.386    4  0.191    4  0.166    3  0.203    4 0.5262   17  1.081    7  0.194    3  0.212
CANADIENS      57 42 336 302  0.055 51.950    5  0.184    5  0.164    7  0.145    5 0.5246    9  1.141    6  0.210   11  0.081
BRUINS         47 41 284 270  0.028 45.338    8  0.068    8  0.070   12  0.072    8 0.5116   16  1.104   13  0.092   14  0.052
SENATORS       44 42 283 257  0.015 43.783   12  0.031   12  0.026    8  0.111   11 0.5056   12  1.119    9  0.149   12  0.073
RED WINGS      41 41 241 258  0.006 41.683   17  0.005   17  0.001   18 -0.055   16 0.5009   22  1.036   21 -0.117   17  0.007
PANTHERS       40 42 251 276  0.008 41.813   20 -0.008   18 -0.017   21 -0.087   20 0.4982    6  1.193   17  0.045   28 -0.218
MAPLE LEAFS    32 50 253 299  0.010 41.918   30 -0.176   30 -0.173   28 -0.148   30 0.4749    4  1.241   16  0.045   30 -0.342

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      350 341 0.507    3  0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION      309 384 0.446    4 -0.168

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: Tue May 26 05:30:09 2026
games through: Mon May 25 2026

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