Worth the replay?

1. #1

   LightningatPredators

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   74/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.76 (pre-game Watchability 52) = 74

2. #2

   BlackhawksatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   B

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.55 (pre-game Watchability 11) = 55

3. #3

   SabresatKings

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   47/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late8/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 59) = 47

4. #4

   BluesatRed Wings

   NHL· ESPN+Big comeback

   C+

   46/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback16/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 27) = 46

5. #5

   PenguinsatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension11/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.85 (pre-game Watchability 69) = 27

6. #6

   Blue JacketsatStars

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   17/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 43) = 17

7. #7

   Maple LeafsatCanucks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   15/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 13) = 15

8. #8

   SenatorsatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 53) = 9

9. #9

   OilersatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 86) = 9

10. #10

    FlamesatAvalanche

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings4/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 4 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 18) = 3

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.