Worth the replay?

1. #1

   North TexasatTulsa

   CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   77/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 63) = 77

2. #2

   FlyersatDevils

   NHL· Disney+/ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   65/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

3. #3

   PanthersatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

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

4. #4

   SteelersatBrowns

   NFL· Prime VideoDown to the wire

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 18) = 48

5. #5

   SabresatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   36/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension21/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

6. #6

   Western KYatNew Mexico St

   CFB· CBSSNOne-sided

   D

   18/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.78 (pre-game Watchability 57) = 18

7. #7

   LightningatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   10/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

8. #8

   WildatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings6/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

9. #9

   KrakenatFlames

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

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

10. #10

    OilersatCanucks

    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

11. #11

    BlackhawksatMammoth

    NHL· Disney+/ESPN+/HuluOne-sided

    D

    4/100
    ▸ 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) = 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.