Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Blue JacketsatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

2. #2

   DevilsatJets

   NHL· NHL NetBack and forth

   C

   41/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

3. #3

   CapitalsatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   36/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

4. #4

   PenguinsatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings3/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

5. #5

   Golden KnightsatSharks

   NHL· NHL NetOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

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.