Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Blue JacketsatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

2. #2

   Red WingsatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   LightningatMammoth

   NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

4. #4

   FlamesatFlyers

   NHL· NHL NetOne-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension16/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

5. #5

   DevilsatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

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.