Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CanadiensatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   WildatSabres

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

3. #3

   Maple LeafsatJets

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

4. #4

   Blue JacketsatPenguins

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   68/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

5. #5

   PanthersatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

6. #6

   KingsatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

7. #7

   KrakenatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late9/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

8. #8

   BruinsatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

9. #9

   RangersatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

10. #10

    PredatorsatGolden Knights

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback1/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

11. #11

    HurricanesatDevils

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

12. #12

    IslandersatFlames

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

13. #13

    OilersatCanucks

    NHL· ESPN+One-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.