Worth the replay?

1. #1

   KingsatGolden Knights

   NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   FlamesatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

3. #3

   CanadiensatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

4. #4

   BruinsatCapitals

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max

   D

   33/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

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.