Worth the replay?

1. #1

   WildatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

2. #2

   LightningatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   DevilsatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+Big comeback

   C+

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

4. #4

   PredatorsatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

5. #5

   RangersatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   JetsatRed Wings

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings5/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

7. #7

   SabresatStars

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late2/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

8. #8

   BruinsatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

9. #9

   FlyersatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

10. #10

    BluesatAvalanche

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings4/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

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.