Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Blue JacketsatRed Wings

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   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

   KrakenatPenguins

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

3. #3

   Golden KnightsatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

4. #4

   StarsatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

5. #5

   SenatorsatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

6. #6

   RangersatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   39/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

7. #7

   OilersatPanthers

   NHL· NHL Net

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

8. #8

   LightningatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+

   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

9. #9

   AvalancheatPredators

   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

    DevilsatFlyers

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension2/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback6/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

11. #11

    BluesatIslanders

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension11/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

12. #12

    Maple LeafsatCanadiens

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

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.