Worth the replay?

1. #1

   KrakenatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   74/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

2. #2

   LightningatCapitals

   NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   PenguinsatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

4. #4

   Golden KnightsatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

5. #5

   OilersatRangers

   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

6. #6

   WildatStars

   NHL· ESPN

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

7. #7

   PredatorsatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

8. #8

   HurricanesatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

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.