Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CanucksatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   PanthersatHurricanes

   NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Overtime+8

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

3. #3

   RangersatBruins

   NHL· ESPNDown to the wire

   C

   38/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

4. #4

   CanadiensatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

5. #5

   BlackhawksatGolden Knights

   NHL· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   6/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings5/25

   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.