Worth the replay?

1. #1

   IslandersatBlues

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

2. #2

   PenguinsatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

3. #3

   Red WingsatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   67/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

4. #4

   KingsatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   C+

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

5. #5

   OilersatAvalanche

   NHL· TNT/HBO Max/truTVBack and forth

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

6. #6

   PredatorsatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

7. #7

   Blue JacketsatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   31/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension7/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

8. #8

   Golden KnightsatStars

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

9. #9

   DucksatJets

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

10. #10

    Maple LeafsatCanadiens

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension18/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

11. #11

    SharksatSabres

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

12. #12

    FlamesatRangers

    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

13. #13

    MammothatWild

    NHL· ESPN+/HuluOne-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 5

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.