Worth the replay?

1. #1

   PredatorsatJets

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

2. #2

   BruinsatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   WildatBlackhawks

   NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

4. #4

   SabresatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

5. #5

   SharksatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

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

6. #6

   PanthersatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

7. #7

   LightningatKraken

   NHL· TNT/HBO MaxOne-sided

   D

   13/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

8. #8

   HurricanesatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

9. #9

   IslandersatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings5/25

   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.