Testing the Metric: Does Balance Really Matter?

Let’s get honest — does Team Balance Index (TBI) actually predict winning hockey?

When we ran the first Power BI tests using 2024-25 NHL data, the results were intriguing: teams with higher TBI scores tended to post better Win Percentages and Win/Loss ratios. For example, here's a chart that shows the TBI and Win/Loss ratio of NHL teams moving in the same direction – a lower Balance score corresponds to a lower Win/Loss ratio (or losing more games).

The relationship wasn’t perfect — hockey never is — but directionally, Balance appeared to show where certain teams had a competitive edge.

Think about Florida’s Cup run (with an undergird of significant grit) versus Edmonton’s firepower-heavy offense. Florida didn’t lead every stat category, but its even mix of goaltending, defense depth, and grit was enough to outlast a team that leaned pretty hard on one dimension.

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The takeaway? Balance doesn’t always win the night — but it often wins the series.

So this week, pull up the test dashboard and explore the relationship between Balance and other statistics (and even build it out to test it for yourself).

And ask yourself: who’s quietly climbing because their structure is solid — and who’s teetering because they’re built on streaks?

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