Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Golden KnightsatJets

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   74/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

2. #2

   AvalancheatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

3. #3

   Blue JacketsatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   31/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

4. #4

   BruinsatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

5. #5

   DucksatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   CanucksatSabres

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension11/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

7. #7

   PanthersatMaple Leafs

   NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOne-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

8. #8

   PredatorsatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

9. #9

   StarsatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

10. #10

    DevilsatIslanders

    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOne-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback1/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

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.