Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Maple LeafsatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   74/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

2. #2

   CanadiensatSabres

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

3. #3

   SharksatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   40/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

4. #4

   IslandersatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C

   37/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

5. #5

   FlamesatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   36/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

6. #6

   StarsatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

7. #7

   KrakenatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

8. #8

   JetsatWild

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

9. #9

   CanucksatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

10. #10

    FlyersatPenguins

    NHL· ESPNOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 7 × 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.