Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Blue JacketsatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   Red WingsatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B

   61/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

3. #3

   AvalancheatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

4. #4

   CanadiensatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

5. #5

   IslandersatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C

   37/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

6. #6

   DevilsatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

7. #7

   MammothatFlames

   NHL· NHL Net

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

8. #8

   BluesatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension15/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

9. #9

   WildatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

10. #10

    JetsatOilers

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

11. #11

    BlackhawksatKings

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

12. #12

    PredatorsatHurricanes

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

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.