Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SharksatPenguins

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   CanadiensatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   72/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

3. #3

   HurricanesatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

4. #4

   FlamesatKings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

5. #5

   LightningatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

6. #6

   SenatorsatWild

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

7. #7

   Golden KnightsatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

8. #8

   OilersatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

9. #9

   DucksatDevils

   NHL· NHL Net

   D

   21/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

10. #10

    PanthersatStars

    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

11. #11

    CapitalsatJets

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback1/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

12. #12

    PredatorsatAvalanche

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension3/30

    Swings4/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

13. #13

    Red WingsatBlackhawks

    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

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.