Hockey game "entertainment value"

Remember Bill James’ “game score” for roughly rating a starting pitcher’s performance based on his pitching line? Here, hockeyanalysis.com’s David Johnson presents a similar intuitive formula for determining an NHL hockey game’s entertainment value. Basically, points are awarded for (a) close games, (b) hitting and fighting, and (c) goals and shots.

You can quibble with the methodology – one of the worst-ranking games is Atlanta 9, Carolina 0, which I think would be pretty entertaining if I were a Thrashers fan – but it seems reasonable overall.

It’s not really serious analysis, but I like it anyway. Besides, it’s a rare measure where my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs rank number one.