FREE 02/25 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 12-game NHL slate offers a ton of DFS potential, with plenty of intriguing matchups and a variety of game environments to consider. The Oilers-Lightning showdown leads the way with the highest total on the board at 6.5, featuring two potent offenses. With so many games on tap, there’s no shortage of stacking options or ways to get creative tonight!

Top Stacks

TBL PP1 ($21,400)

Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel

The TBL PP1 stack of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel comes with a total salary of $21,400 and is projected for 42.0 points, resulting in a solid value of 1.96 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 9.3%, this stack carries moderate popularity but falls slightly below its optimal lineup rate of 8.6%, indicating it may be slightly over-owned relative to its upside. As a power-play unit, it benefits from increased correlation potential, but the data suggests it is more of a balanced play rather than a high-leverage option given its ownership-to-optimal alignment. This makes the stack viable but not necessarily underutilized in DFS tournaments.

TOR PP1 ($24,400)

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander

The TOR PP1 stack of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander offers a strong combination of ceiling and leverage in NHL DFS. With a total projected point output of 41.5 and a value of 1.70 pts/$1000, this stack is efficient relative to its high salary of $24,400. Its average ownership sits at just 4.1%, which positions it as a low-owned option with significant upside given its optimal lineup rate of 7.1%. This discrepancy between ownership and optimal rate highlights the stack’s potential to outperform expectations while providing leverage against the field in tournaments. Overall, the data supports this stack as a high-upside play with moderate efficiency and strong leverage potential.

EDM PP1 ($23,100)

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard

The EDM PP1 stack of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard offers a high ceiling with a projected 42.2 points and a solid value of 1.83 pts/$1000 given its $23,100 salary. Despite the hefty price tag, the stack’s ownership is relatively low at 5.0%, creating leverage opportunities when paired with its optimal lineup rate of 7.0%. This indicates it is appearing in optimal lineups more frequently than it is rostered, enhancing its appeal in tournaments. As a power-play unit, the stack benefits from concentrated scoring potential, making it an efficient option for those seeking both upside and differentiation in DFS contests.

C Plays

Top Play: Brayden Point ($6,300)

Brayden Point ($6,300) stands out as a top option at center tonight in a high-event matchup against the Oilers. Edmonton has struggled defensively this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in goals allowed per game and penalty kill efficiency. Point’s role as Tampa Bay’s top-line center alongside Nikita Kucherov gives him exposure to one of the league’s most dangerous offensive duos, and his recent form is hard to ignore. With a four-game point streak that includes three goals and three assists, he’s been consistently productive, and his 31 goals on the season highlight his scoring upside. At 2.05x value and appearing in 9.6% of optimal lineups, he offers strong bang for your buck in this spot.

The 10.8% projected ownership makes Point one of the more popular plays on this slate, but it’s chalk worth considering given his combination of floor and ceiling. His ability to generate shots (131 on the season) provides some stability even if he doesn’t find the scoresheet, though his chances to do so are boosted by Edmonton’s defensive vulnerabilities and Tampa Bay’s offensive firepower. While he won’t be a contrarian option, his tournament-leading rank suggests he has the potential to justify that ownership in both cash games and GPPs. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk, Point is a strong play at this salary.

Honorable Mentions

• Auston Matthews ($9,000)
• Connor McDavid ($8,400)
• Leon Draisaitl ($8,200)

W Plays

Top Play: Nikita Kucherov ($8,500)

Nikita Kucherov ($8,500) stands out as a strong option in tonight’s slate, despite carrying relatively high ownership at 12.2%. The matchup against Edmonton projects as a high-event game, with both teams boasting elite offensive talent but questionable defensive metrics. Kucherov’s power play role is particularly appealing here, as the Oilers rank in the bottom third of the league in penalty kill efficiency. With a projection of 16.75 DraftKings points and a 1.97x value rating, he offers both a solid floor and ceiling in this spot, backed by his consistent production (83 points in 53 games). At 11.58% optimal lineup inclusion, he’s priced correctly for his upside and remains one of the safer high-salary plays on the slate.

The ownership level might feel steep, but it’s justified given Kucherov’s consistency and game environment. His ability to drive offense—both at even strength and on the power play—makes him less matchup-dependent than most wingers, which is crucial in tournaments. While pivoting to lower-owned options can be viable for leverage, fading Kucherov entirely carries significant risk given his combination of floor (shot volume) and ceiling (elite scoring upside). If you’re looking for exposure to this game but don’t want to eat the chalk with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, Kucherov provides an excellent way to access similar upside while diversifying your builds.

Honorable Mentions

• David Pastrnak ($8,800)
• Clayton Keller ($7,200)
• Tage Thompson ($7,900)

D Plays

Top Play: Dante Fabbro ($3,500)

Dante Fabbro ($3,500) is an intriguing tournament option tonight given his strong value at 2.3x and low ownership (1.8%). While the matchup against Dallas isn’t ideal, Fabbro’s ability to contribute across multiple categories—96 blocked shots and 44 hits in just 37 games—gives him a solid floor for this salary. With a projection of 8.0 DK points and appearing in 7% of optimal lineups, he offers sneaky upside for GPPs, especially if you’re looking to save salary at defense without sacrificing potential production.

At sub-2% ownership, Fabbro also provides nice leverage in tournaments. His low popularity aligns with the tougher matchup, but that could work in your favor if he hits his projection or exceeds it. The Blue Jackets’ defensive-minded game plan could lead to additional opportunities for blocked shots against a high-volume Dallas offense, boosting his fantasy output. At this price point, he’s worth considering as a value play who can differentiate your lineup without carrying significant risk.

Honorable Mentions

• Roman Josi ($7,000)
• Rasmus Dahlin ($6,300)
• Zach Werenski ($7,500)

G Plays

Top Play: Juuse Saros ($7,300)

Juuse Saros ($7,300) stands out as a strong tournament option against Florida, despite his slightly elevated ownership at 5.4%. His value is undeniable at this price point, with a solid projection of 11.3 DraftKings points and an impressive 1.55x value rating. While the Panthers are an aggressive offensive team, Saros has proven capable of stealing games, as evidenced by his recent 31-save performance against Colorado. His ability to handle high shot volumes gives him both a reliable floor and the upside necessary for GPPs, especially considering he appears in 7.7% of optimal lineups.

The ownership here is higher than average for goalies in this range, but it’s not prohibitive given Saros’ potential to outperform his salary. Florida’s offensive firepower could scare some DFS players away, but that same dynamic creates opportunities for Saros to rack up saves and deliver strong fantasy production if he holds up under pressure. With Nashville likely to concede plenty of shots, Saros is a viable target for tournaments where you’re looking to balance value with upside at low-mid pricing.

Honorable Mentions

• Logan Thompson ($8,300)
• Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,600)
• Spencer Knight ($8,100)

Good luck tonight! 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!