Worth the replay?

1. #1

   DucksatKings

   NHLDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

2. #2

   BlackhawksatBlues

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

3. #3

   BruinsatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

4. #4

   PredatorsatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   25/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

5. #5

   Blue JacketsatPenguins

   NHL· NHL Net

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

6. #6

   StarsatAvalanche

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

7. #7

   Red WingsatSabres

   NHLOne-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

8. #8

   FlamesatJets

   NHLOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

9. #9

   CanadiensatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

Ranked from each game's win probability as it was played (ESPN's for football and basketball; ours, from the goals, for hockey): how in doubt it was near the end, how far the winner came back from, how late it was decided, how big its momentum swings were and how often a team erased a deficit, with a bonus for overtime. That drama is then weighted by how good a matchup it was going in (its pre-game Watchability score), so a thriller between top teams ranks above an equally wild game between minor ones.