Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Maple LeafsatDevils

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   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

   Golden KnightsatRed Wings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

3. #3

   BluesatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

4. #4

   HurricanesatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension14/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

5. #5

   IslandersatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ 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) = 17

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.