FREE 04/30 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

It’s a short and focused 3-game NHL slate tonight, but there’s still plenty to break down for DFS. The Canadiens-Capitals matchup kicks things off with a 6.0 total, where both teams feature confirmed goalies who are far from household names—Jakub Dobes for Montreal and Logan Thompson for Washington—making this game an interesting spot for offensive upside. Meanwhile, the Panthers-Lightning game carries a slightly lower total at 5.5, but with elite goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, it could turn into more of a defensive grind unless Florida’s top-six can break through.

The night wraps up with the Blues visiting the Jets in another 5.5-total game, where Connor Hellebuyck should be a popular option in net given his track record at home. Jordan Binnington gets the nod for St. Louis, but Winnipeg’s high-end forwards like Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele could make him work. With fewer games on the slate, ownership will likely condense around the obvious plays, so finding one or two contrarian pieces could make all the difference tonight.

Top Stacks

WSH PP1 ($19,200)

Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, John Carlson

The WSH PP1 stack of Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and John Carlson offers a strong combination of projected points and value, with a projection of 36.1 points at a total salary of $19,200, resulting in a solid value of 1.88 pts/$1000. However, its relatively high average ownership of 24.3% suggests it will be a popular option in DFS contests, which could limit its leverage potential. The optimal lineup rate of 22.7% is slightly below the ownership rate, indicating that while this stack is efficient and likely to perform well, it may not provide significant differentiation in large-field tournaments. As a power-play-focused stack (PP1), it consolidates high-upside players into one correlated unit but carries the tradeoff of elevated popularity in lineups.

TBL PP1 ($22,000)

Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point

The TBL PP1 stack of Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and Brayden Point offers a strong projected output of 37.7 points at a total salary of $22,000, resulting in a solid value of 1.71 pts/$1000. With an average ownership rate of 20.8%, this stack is expected to be relatively popular but not excessively so. Its optimal lineup rate of 19.9% aligns closely with its ownership, indicating it’s appropriately leveraged in the context of DFS strategy. As a power-play-focused stack, it provides concentrated upside tied to high-value scoring opportunities, making it a viable option for both cash games and tournaments depending on lineup construction needs.

WPG PP1 ($19,600)

Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey

The WPG PP1 stack of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Josh Morrissey offers a solid combination of projected production and value, with 33.9 projected points and a value of 1.73 pts/$1000 on a $19,600 salary. While the stack provides strong upside, its average ownership of 20.1% indicates it will be relatively popular among DFS players, which slightly diminishes its leverage in tournaments. Additionally, the optimal lineup rate of 15.6% falls below its ownership rate, suggesting it may be overutilized relative to its likelihood of appearing in the optimal lineup. This makes it a high-floor but potentially over-owned option that requires careful consideration within contest contexts.

C Plays

Top Play: Dylan Strome ($5,800)

Dylan Strome ($5,800) stands out as a strong mid-range option in tonight’s DFS slate with his combination of recent form and favorable matchup against Montreal. Strome has been on a tear, producing 12 points (five goals, seven assists) over his last seven games while maintaining his role on Washington’s top line and power play. The Canadiens’ defense has been exploitable all season, particularly at even strength, where they rank near the bottom of the league in expected goals against. With a projection of 10.68 DraftKings points and an optimal lineup percentage of 19.7%, Strome offers both solid floor and upside at this salary.

The 21.8% projected ownership is high relative to the field average, but it’s likely warranted given Strome’s recent production and value (1.84x). While he may not be the most contrarian play for tournaments, his ability to contribute across multiple categories—shots, assists, goals—makes him a reliable piece in cash games or as part of Washington stacks in GPPs. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk here, he looks like one of the better plays at his price point on this slate.

Honorable Mentions

• Brayden Point ($6,500)
• Nick Suzuki ($7,200)

W Plays

Top Play: Alex Ovechkin ($8,000)

Alex Ovechkin ($8,000) stands out as a top-tier option in DFS tonight with a strong projection of 14.89 DK points and a slate-leading 31.3% optimal lineup rate. The matchup against Montreal is particularly enticing, as their defense has struggled to contain high-volume shooters all season. Ovechkin’s role on the Capitals’ top line and power play ensures consistent shot volume, giving him both a secure floor and elite upside. At 1.86x value, his salary is steep but justifiable given his ability to dominate in favorable spots like this.

The expected 27.4% ownership makes him chalky, but it’s hard to argue against it being warranted in this case. Ovechkin’s combination of floor, ceiling, and game environment—facing a Canadiens team that ranks near the bottom defensively—makes him difficult to fade in cash formats and still viable for tournaments despite the popularity. If you’re looking for leverage in GPPs, consider pairing him with less popular Capitals skaters or pivoting elsewhere at wing if you’re confident he doesn’t hit his ceiling.

Honorable Mentions

• Nikita Kucherov ($8,500)
• Kyle Connor ($7,500)

D Plays

Top Play: Victor Hedman ($5,500)

Victor Hedman is in a strong spot tonight at $5,500, offering both value and upside in Tampa Bay’s matchup against Florida. His 22.9% optimal lineup rate underscores his importance as a DFS play, particularly given his power-play role against a Panthers penalty kill that has struggled to find consistency. With 10.6 projected DraftKings points and a solid 1.93x value rating, Hedman is one of the better options at defense in this price range. His ability to contribute across multiple stat categories—shots, blocks, and assists—gives him a stable floor with clear upside if Tampa Bay’s offense clicks.

The main concern here is ownership, as Hedman’s projected 20.8% roster rate is significantly higher than the field average of 7.9%. While chalky plays can sometimes feel risky in tournaments, his combination of role and efficiency justifies the popularity in this case. If you’re looking for differentiation, consider pairing him with less-owned Lightning skaters or using him as part of a power-play stack to maximize correlation. Overall, Hedman’s ceiling and strong game environment make him a worthwhile investment despite the elevated ownership levels.

Honorable Mentions

• Jakob Chychrun ($5,900)
• John Carlson ($5,400)

G Plays

Top Play: Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,800)

Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,800) stands out as a strong option in net tonight against the Panthers. While his postseason numbers (2.79 GAA, .884 save percentage) have been underwhelming, this salary and matchup provide solid value. He’s projected for 13.5 DraftKings points and appears in 23.8% of optimal lineups, the highest among goalies on the slate. Florida can generate offense but also ranks among the league leaders in shots allowed per game, giving Vasilevskiy a chance to rack up saves and boost his floor even if he gives up a couple of goals.

At 27% ownership, Vasilevskiy will be chalky, but it’s understandable given his price point and upside. The Lightning are slight underdogs here, which could push some DFS players to pivot away from him, but that just underscores his tournament appeal if Tampa Bay can secure a win. With strong value metrics (1.74x) and a proven track record in high-pressure games, he’s worth considering even at elevated ownership levels. Just keep in mind that there’s some risk given his recent inconsistency in this series.

Honorable Mentions

• Connor Hellebuyck ($8,000)
• Logan Thompson ($8,200)

Good luck today! Make sure to check the Lineup Optimizer for latest updates before lock. Visit DFS Hero for our full suite of DFS tools including the Lineup Optimizer, Contest Simulator, Player Projections, and Ownership Projections. Use code HEROPLAY15 to get 15% off your first month!