Worth the replay?

Tuesday, November 3's games ranked by how good they turned out to be: late drama, comebacks, lead swaps and overtime. No scores, no winners, so you can decide what to watch without spoilers.

Best games of the season →
  1. #1
    OilersatDevils
    NHL· Disney+/ESPN+/HuluOvertimeDown to the wire
    A
    81/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.96 (pre-game Watchability 91) = 81

  2. #2
    Golden KnightsatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    A
    78/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.89 (pre-game Watchability 78) = 78

  3. #3
    S Dakota StatKansas St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.67 (pre-game Watchability 35) = 64

  4. #4
    JetsatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 28) = 64

  5. #5
    BuffaloatMiami OH
    CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 14) = 56

  6. #6
    MammothatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 75) = 49

  7. #7
    Purdue FWatDuquesne
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 29) = 46

  8. #8
    North FloridaatCA Baptist
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.52 (pre-game Watchability 3) = 39

  9. #9
    OhioatAkron
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 2) = 33

  10. #10
    WildatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 48) = 22

  11. #11
    HurricanesatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.78 (pre-game Watchability 56) = 18

  12. #12
    DucksatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.54 (pre-game Watchability 7) = 16

  13. #13
    Red WingsatLightning
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 43) = 14

  14. #14
    N ArizonaatUNLV
    CBB· MW+One-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.55 (pre-game Watchability 11) = 12

  15. #15
    StarsatCapitals
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90) = 12

  16. #16
    AvalancheatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 75) = 9

  17. #17
    BluesatRangers
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.67 (pre-game Watchability 34) = 9

  18. #18
    FullertonatSan Diego St
    CBB· YouTubeOne-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 32) = 9

  19. #19
    WoffordatTennessee
    CBB· SEC NetworkOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 21) = 5

  20. #20
    LipscombatIowa
    CBB· BTNOne-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 35) = 4

  21. #21
    StetsonatSouth Carolina
    CBB· SECN+One-sided
    D
    4/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 6 × pre-game weight 0.58 (pre-game Watchability 17) = 4

  22. #22
    Western NMatNew Mexico St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    3/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  23. #23
    ChapmanatUC Irvine
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  24. #24
    Lincoln (MO)atMissouri St
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  25. #25
    Cornell (IA)atNorthern Iowa
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    2/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  26. #26
    ManhattanatKentucky
    CBB· SECN+One-sided
    D
    1/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 14) = 1

  27. #27
    HamptonatGeorgia Tech
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.62 (pre-game Watchability 25) = 0

  28. #28
    MilliganatUNC Greensboro
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

  29. #29
    LA ChristianatHou Christian
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

  30. #30
    Regis UatWyoming
    CBB· MW+One-sided
    D
    0/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 0

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.

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