Worth the replay?

1. #1

   HurricanesatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   72/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

2. #2

   Maple LeafsatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

3. #3

   PredatorsatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

4. #4

   KingsatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

5. #5

   CanadiensatSabres

   NHL· NHL Net

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

6. #6

   JetsatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

7. #7

   Blue JacketsatBlues

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

8. #8

   KrakenatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   41/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension24/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

9. #9

   SharksatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   37/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

10. #10

    StarsatMammoth

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension21/30

    Swings5/25

    Comeback1/20

    Decided late5/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

11. #11

    DevilsatSenators

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension18/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

12. #12

    WildatOilers

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback7/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

13. #13

    AvalancheatRed Wings

    NHL· ABCOne-sided

    D

    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

14. #14

    RangersatPenguins

    NHL· ABCOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings6/25

    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.