FREE 05/01 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 4-game NHL slate offers a mix of intriguing matchups and some key decisions for DFS lineups. The highest total on the board comes from the late-night LAK @ EDM game (6.0 O/U), where both teams bring plenty of offensive firepower but questionable goaltending. Calvin Pickard starting for Edmonton opens the door for Kings stacks, while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain elite options on home ice. The DAL @ COL matchup also carries a 6.0 total, with Jake Oettinger facing Mackenzie Blackwood in what could turn into a back-and-forth affair if Colorado’s top line gets rolling.

For lower-scoring environments, TOR @ OTT and VGK @ MIN both sit at 5.5 totals, with more reliable goaltending expected in these games. Linus Ullmark starting for Ottawa makes Toronto’s offense less appealing than usual, though Auston Matthews always has slate-breaking potential. Meanwhile, Filip Gustavsson at home gives Minnesota a solid edge against Vegas, but Adin Hill is no slouch in net either. With only four games to choose from, finding value plays and nailing your goalie pick will be critical tonight.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($23,600)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas

The COL PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas carries a total salary of $23,600 with a strong projection of 44.8 points, translating to a value of 1.90 pts/$1000. While the stack offers solid raw point upside, its average ownership of 21.5% exceeds its optimal lineup rate of 18.4%, indicating it may be slightly over-owned relative to its chances of appearing in the best lineups. This discrepancy suggests that while the stack has high potential, it might not provide significant leverage in tournaments given its popularity among DFS players.

EDM PP1 ($23,800)

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard

The EDM PP1 stack of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard offers a high-upside option with a projected total of 44.7 points and a solid value of 1.88 pts/$1000, despite its hefty $23,800 salary. Its average ownership of 14.1% positions it as moderately popular but not overly chalky, making it a viable tournament option. Furthermore, the stack’s optimal lineup rate of 17.3% exceeds its ownership, indicating it may be underutilized relative to its potential to appear in winning lineups. This combination of strong projection, reasonable value, and positive leverage highlights the stack’s appeal for DFS contests.

MIN PP1 ($21,100)

Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek

The MIN PP1 stack of Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek offers a solid combination of projected points and value, with 38.9 projected points and a pts/$1000 value of 1.84. While not the most cost-efficient option, this stack provides a strong ceiling given its power-play correlation. The average ownership rate of 13.1% positions it as moderately popular but not overly chalky, while its optimal lineup rate of 14.1% slightly exceeds its ownership, indicating it is efficiently leveraged in tournaments. This makes the stack a viable option for those seeking balanced exposure to both upside and reasonable ownership in DFS contests.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($9,500)

Nathan MacKinnon comes in as the top tournament play on this slate, and it’s easy to see why. His $9,500 salary may be steep, but he carries a stellar projection of 18.97 DK points and appears in over 30% of optimal lineups. The matchup against Dallas is tough on paper—they’re a defensively sound team—but MacKinnon’s elite shot volume and power-play role give him a rock-solid floor with significant upside. He’s already tallied five goals and seven points in his last five games against this same opponent, showcasing his ability to produce even in challenging spots.

At 31.8% projected ownership, MacKinnon is highly chalky, but it feels justified given his consistent production and ceiling potential. While fading him could create leverage in tournaments, there’s inherent risk in doing so given how often he lands in optimal lineups. If you’re rostering MacKinnon, make sure to differentiate elsewhere in your build. His combination of elite form, heavy usage, and central role for Colorado makes him a strong foundational piece despite the popularity.

Honorable Mentions

• Leon Draisaitl ($8,500)
• Jack Eichel ($7,500)

W Plays

Top Play: Victor Olofsson ($3,200)

Victor Olofsson ($3,200) is a standout value option on tonight’s slate, projecting at 7.25 DraftKings points with a strong 2.27x value multiplier. His role in Vegas’ middle-six and power-play unit provides solid upside for his price point, especially against a Minnesota team that has been vulnerable to secondary scoring. Olofsson’s recent production, including four points in his last five games, suggests he’s finding ways to contribute offensively. With a 13.44% optimal lineup rate, he’s a viable piece for both cash games and tournaments.

The main concern here is ownership, as Olofsson is expected to be rostered by 14.5% of the field—well above average for this slate. While the chalk may seem heavy for a mid-tier player, his combination of low salary, opportunity on special teams, and current form justifies the popularity in most formats. If you’re looking for differentiation in tournaments, consider pairing him with less-owned teammates or pivoting to another value winger in a similar price range to avoid overexposure to highly owned options.

Honorable Mentions

• Kirill Kaprizov ($8,200)
• Brady Tkachuk ($6,700)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($8,000)

Cale Makar ($8,000) is a premium option on tonight’s slate, and his strong projection of 15.71 DraftKings points reflects both his elite talent and favorable role. Facing the Stars, who play a structured defensive game but can struggle against high-end offensive defensemen, Makar’s upside remains intact. His power-play involvement is key here, as Dallas’ penalty kill ranks middle of the pack and could be exposed by Colorado’s top unit. With career highs in goals (30) and points (92) this season, he offers a rare combination of floor and ceiling thanks to his heavy ice time, shot volume (246 shots), and ability to contribute across multiple categories.

At 21.8% projected ownership, Makar is one of the chalkier plays on the slate, but it’s chalk that feels justified given his consistent production and role in a high-powered Avalanche offense. He appears in 18.6% of optimal lineups, which suggests he’s not only popular but also efficient relative to his salary. While there’s merit to fading him in tournaments for leverage, his ability to deliver multi-point performances makes him difficult to ignore even at this price point. If you’re looking for stability with legitimate upside on defense, Makar fits the bill despite the elevated ownership.

Honorable Mentions

• Evan Bouchard ($6,500)
• Jake Sanderson ($5,500)

G Plays

Top Play: Filip Gustavsson ($7,400)

Filip Gustavsson ($7,400) is a compelling tournament option in net tonight as the Wild face the Golden Knights in a must-win Game 6. While the matchup against Vegas is challenging, Gustavsson’s strong .919 save percentage through five playoff games highlights his ability to hold his own against tough opponents. At a mid-range salary, he offers solid value (1.48x) and appears in 16.1% of optimal lineups, suggesting he’s priced fairly given his upside. With Minnesota likely leaning on him heavily in this elimination game, Gustavsson has a clear path to both volume and win equity.

His projected ownership of 11.3% puts him slightly above field average but not prohibitively chalky, making him an intriguing play for tournaments. The moderate ownership reflects both the difficulty of the matchup and his potential as a difference-maker if he can deliver another steady performance. Given his combination of value, optimal rate, and workload in a high-stakes environment, Gustavsson is worth considering as part of your GPP builds tonight—especially if you’re looking for a goaltender with upside at reasonable exposure levels.

Honorable Mentions

• Linus Ullmark ($7,800)
• Jake Oettinger ($7,200)

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