Worth the replay?

1. #1

   BluesatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   KrakenatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

3. #3

   SenatorsatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

4. #4

   KingsatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

5. #5

   Blue JacketsatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

6. #6

   OilersatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wire

   C+

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

7. #7

   RangersatAvalanche

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

8. #8

   CapitalsatCanadiens

   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

9. #9

   StarsatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

10. #10

    DevilsatPanthers

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings3/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

11. #11

    IslandersatRed Wings

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

12. #12

    Golden KnightsatMammoth

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings8/25

    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.