Worth the replay?

1. #1

   FlyersatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

2. #2

   CanucksatBruins

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

3. #3

   IslandersatSabres

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

4. #4

   HurricanesatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+Big comeback

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

5. #5

   KrakenatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

6. #6

   Blue JacketsatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

7. #7

   BluesatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

8. #8

   Maple LeafsatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   41/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

9. #9

   BlackhawksatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension15/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

10. #10

    OilersatWild

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings18/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late1/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

11. #11

    Red WingsatCapitals

    NHL· NHL NetOne-sided

    D

    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension6/30

    Swings11/25

    Comeback4/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 15

12. #12

    Golden KnightsatFlames

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback2/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

13. #13

    PenguinsatCanadiens

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × 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.