Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Golden KnightsatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

2. #2

   CelticsatKnicks

   NBA· Prime VideoDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

3. #3

   WildatStars

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluBack and forth

   C+

   52/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

4. #4

   LightningatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

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

5. #5

   JetsatBlues

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

6. #6

   HeatatRaptors

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   19/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

7. #7

   BullsatWizards

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

8. #8

   LakersatWarriors

   NBA· Prime VideoOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

9. #9

   Maple LeafsatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+One-sided

   D

   13/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

10. #10

    PenguinsatDevils

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

11. #11

    Blue JacketsatSabres

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback1/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

12. #12

    76ersatRockets

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension8/30

    Swings5/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

13. #13

    FlyersatRed Wings

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

14. #14

    FlamesatAvalanche

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension8/30

    Swings5/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

15. #15

    HurricanesatBlackhawks

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

16. #16

    PacersatNets

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ 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) = 7

17. #17

    CanucksatKings

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

18. #18

    PredatorsatMammoth

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

19. #19

    SharksatDucks

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings7/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

20. #20

    PanthersatSenators

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings4/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

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.