Worth the replay?

1. #1

   WildatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

2. #2

   BruinsatPanthers

   NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   67/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

3. #3

   BluesatStars

   NHL· TNT/HBO MaxDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

4. #4

   OilersatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

5. #5

   SharksatAvalanche

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   KrakenatKings

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

7. #7

   CanadiensatJets

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ 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) = 18

8. #8

   Red WingsatMammoth

   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

9. #9

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

10. #10

    CanucksatGolden Knights

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings5/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

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.