Worth the replay?

1. #1

   JetsatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

2. #2

   WildatRangers

   NHL· NHL Net

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

3. #3

   SabresatCanadiens

   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

4. #4

   HurricanesatGolden Knights

   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

   KrakenatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

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.