Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CapitalsatSenators

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   A

   79/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.92 (pre-game Watchability 83) = 79

2. #2

   WildatCanadiens

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   71/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95) = 71

3. #3

   DevilsatJets

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   45/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.72 (pre-game Watchability 44) = 45

4. #4

   AvalancheatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   43/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.92 (pre-game Watchability 84) = 43

5. #5

   PanthersatBlue Jackets

   NHL· Disney+/ESPN+/Hulu

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings8/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 67) = 26

6. #6

   Red WingsatBlues

   NHL· TNT

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late2/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 14) = 24

7. #7

   PredatorsatKings

   NHL· Disney+/ESPN+/HuluOne-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 51) = 12

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.