Worth the replay?

1. #1

   BluesatStars

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   54/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

2. #2

   LightningatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   FlyersatAvalanche

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   31/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

4. #4

   CapitalsatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

5. #5

   Golden KnightsatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

6. #6

   DucksatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

7. #7

   DevilsatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   25/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

8. #8

   RangersatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings6/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 11 × 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.