Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SabresatRed Wings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   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

   JetsatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

3. #3

   OilersatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

4. #4

   DevilsatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

5. #5

   Maple LeafsatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

6. #6

   RangersatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

7. #7

   LightningatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

8. #8

   BruinsatCanadiens

   NHL· NHL Net

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

9. #9

   DucksatWild

   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

10. #10

    KingsatSenators

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings0/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

11. #11

    SharksatKraken

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

12. #12

    FlyersatStars

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

13. #13

    Golden KnightsatBlues

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    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.