Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Red WingsatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   PredatorsatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   PenguinsatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

4. #4

   BlackhawksatKings

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension24/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

5. #5

   RangersatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

6. #6

   AvalancheatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   21/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

7. #7

   WildatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

8. #8

   Maple LeafsatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

9. #9

   BluesatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

10. #10

    KrakenatOilers

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings13/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

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.