Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SenatorsatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+/RDS

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

2. #2

   Maple LeafsatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

3. #3

   LightningatJets

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension6/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

4. #4

   PanthersatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension15/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

5. #5

   SabresatPenguins

   NHL· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

6. #6

   MammothatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

7. #7

   BruinsatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

8. #8

   IslandersatKings

   NHL· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

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.