Worth the replay?

1. #1

   KingsatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   PenguinsatBlue Jackets

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

3. #3

   AvalancheatWild

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

4. #4

   FlyersatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ 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) = 60

5. #5

   Maple LeafsatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   FlamesatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

7. #7

   SenatorsatBlues

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

8. #8

   MammothatStars

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

9. #9

   CanucksatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   38/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

10. #10

    JetsatHurricanes

    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

    C

    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension30/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late5/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

11. #11

    PredatorsatBlackhawks

    NHL· ESPN+

    C

    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings17/25

    Comeback6/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

12. #12

    LightningatRed Wings

    NHL· ESPN+

    C

    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings14/25

    Comeback6/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

13. #13

    RangersatBruins

    NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOne-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

14. #14

    CanadiensatGolden Knights

    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

15. #15

    DevilsatSabres

    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

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.