Worth the replay?

1. #1

   IslandersatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

2. #2

   Red WingsatMaple Leafs

   NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

3. #3

   BruinsatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

4. #4

   DevilsatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

5. #5

   KingsatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

6. #6

   PanthersatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

7. #7

   SenatorsatBlues

   NHLOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   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.