Worth the replay?

1. #1

   WildatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   A

   83/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.96 (pre-game Watchability 92) = 83

2. #2

   76ersatKnicks

   NBA· NBCDown to the wire

   A

   80/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.99 (pre-game Watchability 98) = 80

3. #3

   CelticsatPistons

   NBA· NBCDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   78/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 93) = 78

4. #4

   SharksatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 42) = 71

5. #5

   BruinsatStars

   NHL· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 80) = 71

6. #6

   South AlabamaatMarshall

   CFB· ESPN2Down to the wire

   B

   58/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late14/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 42) = 58

7. #7

   MTSUatFIU

   CFB· CBSSNBig comeback

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.62 (pre-game Watchability 25) = 49

8. #8

   Red WingsatKraken

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   C+

   48/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.58 (pre-game Watchability 16) = 48

9. #9

   KingsatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+

   C+

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 41) = 45

10. #10

    ThunderatSpurs

    NBA· NBC

    D

    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension10/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback5/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 1.00 (pre-game Watchability 100) = 27

11. #11

    Missouri StatDelaware

    CFB· ESPNUBack and forth

    D

    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings20/25

    Comeback10/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.60 (pre-game Watchability 21) = 24

12. #12

    Maple LeafsatBlue Jackets

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings13/25

    Comeback9/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.81 (pre-game Watchability 62) = 21

13. #13

    LightningatGolden Knights

    NHL· ESPNOne-sided

    D

    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings14/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.96 (pre-game Watchability 91) = 20

14. #14

    JetsatBlues

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension19/30

    Swings8/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late3/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 19) = 19

15. #15

    AvalancheatDevils

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 89) = 16

16. #16

    HurricanesatCanucks

    NHL· ESPN+Back and forthOne-sided

    D

    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension3/30

    Swings10/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 18) = 13

17. #17

    DucksatIslanders

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension9/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 38) = 10

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.