Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CanadiensatLightning

   NHL· TNT/truTV/HBO MaxOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

2. #2

   BruinsatSabres

   NHL· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

3. #3

   MagicatPistons

   NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wire

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

4. #4

   MammothatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPN

   D

   35/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

5. #5

   KingsatAvalanche

   NHL· TNT/truTV/HBO MaxOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension7/30

   Swings4/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

6. #6

   Trail BlazersatSpurs

   NBA· NBC/PeacockOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

7. #7

   SunsatThunder

   NBA· ABCOne-sided

   D

   4/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings3/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 4

8. #8

   76ersatCeltics

   NBA· ABCOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings3/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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.