Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Maple LeafsatIslanders

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   WildatKings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   62/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

3. #3

   BlackhawksatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

4. #4

   PredatorsatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

5. #5

   BruinsatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

6. #6

   AvalancheatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

7. #7

   JetsatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

8. #8

   PenguinsatRed Wings

   NHL· ABC/ESPN+

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

9. #9

   FlyersatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   21/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

10. #10

    CanadiensatBlues

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback3/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

11. #11

    SabresatBlue Jackets

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

12. #12

    MammothatDevils

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

13. #13

    LightningatSharks

    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.