Worth the replay?

1. #1

   StarsatRed Wings

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   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

   PredatorsatWild

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

3. #3

   SabresatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

4. #4

   RangersatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   C+

   54/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

5. #5

   DevilsatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   PenguinsatMaple Leafs

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVDown to the wire

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

7. #7

   KrakenatKings

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   39/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension25/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

8. #8

   PanthersatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

9. #9

   CanadiensatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

10. #10

    FlyersatBlackhawks

    NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTV

    D

    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

11. #11

    MammothatAvalanche

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension15/30

    Swings0/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

12. #12

    FlamesatOilers

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

13. #13

    SharksatGolden Knights

    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.