Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SabresatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   PenguinsatIslanders

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   SenatorsatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

4. #4

   CapitalsatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

5. #5

   Maple LeafsatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

6. #6

   Blue JacketsatDevils

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   25/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

7. #7

   KrakenatDucks

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOne-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

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.