Worth the replay?

1. #1

   JetsatPenguins

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   StarsatWild

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

3. #3

   BruinsatRed Wings

   NHL· ABC

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

4. #4

   SabresatKings

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

5. #5

   FlyersatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   35/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

6. #6

   LightningatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   33/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

7. #7

   IslandersatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

8. #8

   BluesatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late1/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

9. #9

   KrakenatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+One-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

10. #10

    Golden KnightsatPredators

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback3/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

11. #11

    Maple LeafsatSenators

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension3/30

    Swings5/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

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.