Worth the replay?

1. #1

   FlyersatKings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   IslandersatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

3. #3

   CanadiensatRed Wings

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

4. #4

   BlackhawksatWild

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu

   C

   36/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension24/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

5. #5

   KrakenatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

6. #6

   RangersatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

7. #7

   PanthersatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   11/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

8. #8

   MammothatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

9. #9

   JetsatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

10. #10

    SabresatSharks

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 6

11. #11

    LightningatCanucks

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings5/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 3

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.