Worth the replay?

1. #1

   IslandersatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   74/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

2. #2

   FlyersatRangers

   NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   67/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

3. #3

   Red WingsatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

4. #4

   BlackhawksatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

5. #5

   FlamesatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   40/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

6. #6

   WildatAvalanche

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   39/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

7. #7

   Blue JacketsatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   33/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

8. #8

   LightningatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

9. #9

   DevilsatPenguins

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   13/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

10. #10

    KrakenatBlues

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

11. #11

    Maple LeafsatPanthers

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

12. #12

    OilersatKings

    NHL· ESPNOne-sided

    D

    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × 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.