Worth the replay?

1. #1

   SabresatDucks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   LightningatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

3. #3

   PredatorsatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

4. #4

   AvalancheatCapitals

   NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   61/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

5. #5

   KingsatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

6. #6

   JetsatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

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

7. #7

   Golden KnightsatStars

   NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire

   C+

   54/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

8. #8

   Blue JacketsatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   21/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings0/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

9. #9

   HurricanesatPenguins

   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

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.