Worth the replay?

1. #1

   PredatorsatKings

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   62/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

2. #2

   FlamesatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   C+

   51/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

3. #3

   CanadiensatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

4. #4

   SabresatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   37/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

5. #5

   BruinsatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   29/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings5/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

6. #6

   MammothatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

7. #7

   PenguinsatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   22/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

8. #8

   CapitalsatDevils

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

9. #9

   Red WingsatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late2/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18

10. #10

    BlackhawksatOilers

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension16/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 17

11. #11

    CanucksatWild

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension3/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

12. #12

    Maple LeafsatSharks

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

13. #13

    JetsatStars

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

14. #14

    Blue JacketsatHurricanes

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 6 × 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.