NHL Excite‑o‑Meter

Games are rated on a scale from 0-20+ and categorized as:

These statistics are always included in the game summary:

• Short-Handed Goals: Goals scored while team is down a player due to penalty
• Comeback Goals: Goals that reduce a 2+ goal deficit
• Lead Swing Goals: Goals that give team the lead after being tied or behind
• Close Game Goals: Goals scored when game is within 1 goal difference
• Fights: Fighting penalties (5+ minutes)
• Overtime Events: Events occurring in overtime or shootout
• High Danger Chances: Scoring attempts from high-percentage areas (≤20 feet)
• Medium Danger Chances: Scoring attempts from moderate areas (20-40 feet)
• Total Hits: Body checks delivered by both teams
• Expected Goals (xG): Estimated goals based on shot quality and location

Goal Events

• Short-handed goal: Adds excitement because scoring while down a player requires exceptional skill and creates dramatic momentum shifts
• Close game goal: Adds excitement because goals in tight games have higher stakes and can dramatically change the outcome
• Comeback goal: Adds excitement because overcoming a large deficit creates thrilling momentum and hope for an upset
• Lead swing goal: Adds excitement because taking the lead creates dramatic turning points and shifts game momentum

Game Context

• 3rd Period: Adds excitement because final period action has higher stakes as time runs out
• Overtime: Adds excitement because sudden-death format makes every play potentially game-ending
• Shootout: Adds excitement because individual skill battles determine the winner in dramatic fashion
• Last 5 minutes: Adds excitement because final minutes create urgency and desperation plays
• Close game: Adds excitement because either team can win, making every play meaningful

Final Game Excitement Drivers

• Multiple short-handed goals: Added excitement through exceptional skill plays while disadvantaged
• Multiple comeback goals: Added excitement by creating dramatic deficit-erasing moments
• Multiple lead changes: Added excitement through back-and-forth momentum swings
• Fights: Added excitement through physical intensity and emotional peaks
• High-scoring game (8+ goals): Added excitement through frequent goal-scoring action and offensive displays

• Blowout game (3+ goal difference): Reduces excitement because large leads make the outcome predictable and remove competitive tension
• Ice tilt (possession dominance): Reduces excitement because one-sided possession creates boring, non-competitive play despite close score
• Low action game (defensive struggle): Reduces excitement because tight defensive play limited scoring chances and offensive excitement

1. Event Scoring: Each play-by-play event receives base points based on type and importance
2. Context Adjustment: Points are multiplied based on game situation (period, score, time)
3. Recency Decay: Recent events have more impact than earlier events (5-minute half-life)
4. Penalties Applied: Blowouts, ice tilt, and low action reduce the final score
5. Categorization: Final score is converted to excitement category

The Excite-o-Meter analyzes real-time NHL play-by-play data to quantify how thrilling each game is to watch, helping fans find the most exciting hockey action.