Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Maple LeafsatRed Wings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   DevilsatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

3. #3

   HurricanesatPredators

   NHLOvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   62/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

4. #4

   DucksatKings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   61/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

5. #5

   AvalancheatStars

   NHLDown to the wire

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

6. #6

   SharksatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

7. #7

   SenatorsatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension14/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

8. #8

   Blue JacketsatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

9. #9

   RangersatBruins

   NHL· NHL NetOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

10. #10

    LightningatPanthers

    NHL· ESPN+One-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

11. #11

    BluesatBlackhawks

    NHL· ESPN+One-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.