Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CanucksatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   DevilsatRed Wings

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   Golden KnightsatAvalanche

   NHL· ABCOvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

4. #4

   LightningatBruins

   NHL· ABCDown to the wire

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

5. #5

   RangersatStars

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   D

   33/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

6. #6

   HurricanesatMammoth

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

7. #7

   WildatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings6/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

8. #8

   BluesatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

9. #9

   SenatorsatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

10. #10

    PanthersatMaple Leafs

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension6/30

    Swings19/25

    Comeback4/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

11. #11

    FlamesatKraken

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings15/25

    Comeback5/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

12. #12

    OilersatKings

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings0/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

13. #13

    CapitalsatPenguins

    NHL· ABCOne-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension4/30

    Swings11/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

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

14. #14

    FlyersatJets

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback1/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

15. #15

    Blue JacketsatCanadiens

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback2/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

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

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.