Worth the replay?

1. #1

   RangersatBlues

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   WildatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

3. #3

   KrakenatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

4. #4

   KingsatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   41/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension25/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

5. #5

   FlyersatSabres

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension14/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

6. #6

   StarsatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings6/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

7. #7

   BlackhawksatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   16/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

8. #8

   OilersatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   13/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

9. #9

   PenguinsatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ 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) = 6

10. #10

    Maple LeafsatCapitals

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    6/100
    ▸ 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) = 6

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.