FREE 04/02 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a 5-game NHL slate tonight that offers a mix of low-scoring matchups and one potential shootout to target. The Colorado-Chicago game stands out with its 6.5 total, making it an appealing spot for DFS stacking, especially with Scott Wedgewood and Spencer Knight in net—neither of whom are exactly lockdown options. On the other end of the spectrum, games like Minnesota-New York and Washington-Carolina feature 5.5 totals and strong goaltending matchups, with Igor Shesterkin and Filip Gustavsson squaring off at MSG, and Frederik Andersen hosting Logan Thompson in Raleigh.

From a goalie perspective, Thatcher Demko looks like one of the safer plays on the slate as Vancouver hosts Seattle in another game with a modest 5.5 total. Meanwhile, Anthony Stolarz gets the nod for Toronto against Florida, which could make for an interesting contrarian play given his price point and matchup against Sergei Bobrovsky. With limited high-total games tonight, lineup construction may hinge on finding value in lower-scoring spots or taking calculated risks in Colorado-Chicago to chase upside.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($23,700)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin

The COL PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Valeri Nichushkin offers strong projected production with 45.9 points at a salary of $23,700, translating to a solid value of 1.94 pts/$1000. While the average ownership is relatively high at 20.8%, the stack’s optimal lineup rate of 21.1% closely aligns with this figure, indicating it is appropriately leveraged in relation to its upside. As a power-play unit, this stack benefits from concentrated scoring opportunities, making it a high-ceiling option despite its elevated popularity. The combination of elite projection and competitive value solidifies its viability for DFS lineups within this context.

TOR PP1 ($22,500)

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner

The TOR PP1 stack of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner carries a total salary of $22,500 and is projected for 38.6 points, yielding a solid value of 1.71 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 11.8%, this stack presents a moderate level of popularity in DFS contests but remains slightly underutilized relative to its optimal lineup rate of 13.6%. This positive leverage (+1.8%) suggests the stack offers a strong combination of upside and efficiency, making it an appealing option for both cash games and tournaments where balanced exposure to high-ceiling plays is crucial.

VAN PP1 ($18,200)

Quinn Hughes, Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser

The VAN PP1 stack of Quinn Hughes, Jake DeBrusk, and Brock Boeser comes in with a total salary of $18,200, projecting 31.8 points at a value of 1.75 pts/$1000. This is a solid mid-tier value for DFS purposes, though not elite compared to higher-efficiency stacks. The average ownership of 14.1% indicates moderate popularity among lineups, which slightly exceeds its optimal lineup rate of 13.1%. While the stack offers decent upside relative to its cost, the slight gap between ownership and optimal rate suggests it may carry some risk of being overutilized in tournaments relative to its likelihood of landing in the optimal lineup.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($9,500)

Nathan MacKinnon ($9,500) stands out as a premier option on tonight’s slate, and for good reason. He leads all skaters in tournament rank and appears in 26.6% of optimal lineups, which speaks to both his ceiling and consistency. The matchup against Chicago is highly favorable, as the Blackhawks rank near the bottom of the league in goals allowed and penalty kill efficiency. MacKinnon’s elite shot volume and power-play role give him a strong floor, while his ability to generate multi-point games makes him worth the high salary. With a projection of 18.1 DK points and a solid value multiplier of 1.9x, he’s hard to ignore in any format.

At 24.1% projected ownership, MacKinnon will be chalky, but it’s justified given his upside in this spot. While you’ll need to differentiate elsewhere in tournaments, fading him entirely could be risky given how often he lands in optimal builds. Chicago doesn’t have the defensive structure to contain someone with MacKinnon’s skill set, making him a priority spend-up option despite the popularity. If you’re building around him, consider pairing with other Avalanche skaters or correlating with power-play stacks to fully capitalize on his potential output tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Auston Matthews ($9,000)
• Sebastian Aho ($6,700)
• Vincent Trocheck ($5,700)

W Plays

Top Play: Martin Necas ($6,300)

Martin Necas ($6,300) stands out as a strong DFS option in tonight’s matchup against Chicago. He’s been on a tear lately, racking up seven points in his last four games, including five on the power play. With Chicago ranking near the bottom of the league in penalty kill efficiency, Necas’ role on Colorado’s top power-play unit makes him especially appealing. His 1.87x value and 18.3% optimal lineup rate suggest he’s priced fairly for his upside, and his shot volume (187 shots this season) gives him a reliable floor to pair with his ceiling.

At 15.9% projected ownership, Necas will be one of the more popular plays on this slate. While that may limit his appeal in tournaments for those seeking leverage, his recent production and favorable matchup make him solid chalk in cash games or smaller-field GPPs. If you’re playing larger tournaments, consider pairing him with teammates to differentiate your lineup while still taking advantage of his high ceiling in this spot.

Honorable Mentions

• Seth Jarvis ($6,000)
• Valeri Nichushkin ($6,500)
• Jake DeBrusk ($5,200)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($7,700)

Cale Makar ($7,700) is in a prime spot tonight against Chicago, a team that has struggled defensively all season. With a projection of 15.84 DraftKings points and appearing in 23% of optimal lineups, Makar offers both a high ceiling and a reliable floor. His offensive upside is undeniable, as he’s racked up 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in his last eight games while maintaining significant power play involvement on Colorado’s elite unit. The Blackhawks rank near the bottom of the league in goals allowed and penalty kill efficiency, making this an ideal matchup for Makar to continue his recent dominance.

The main concern here is ownership, as Makar is expected to be rostered at 23.3%, well above the field average. However, this chalk feels justified given his consistent production and favorable game environment. He’s one of the few defensemen capable of breaking a slate with multi-point upside while also contributing heavily in peripheral stats like shots and blocks. If you’re looking for safety with tournament-winning potential on defense, Makar checks all the boxes despite the popularity. For tournaments, consider pairing him with lower-owned stacks to differentiate your lineup while still benefiting from his upside.

Honorable Mentions

• Quinn Hughes ($7,200)
• Adam Fox ($6,200)
• Vince Dunn ($3,800)

G Plays

Top Play: Igor Shesterkin ($7,900)

Igor Shesterkin ($7,900) is in an interesting spot tonight against a Minnesota team that ranks 28th in goals per game (2.68). While his recent form has been shaky—posting a .900 save percentage and a 3.24 GAA over his last six starts—the matchup offers some bounce-back potential. The Wild’s lackluster offense lowers his risk of getting shelled, and at this salary, he projects as strong value with a 1.75x multiplier and a slate-leading 19.88% optimal lineup rate. His ceiling might not be massive given Minnesota’s slower-paced games, but the combination of price and matchup keeps him firmly in play.

The main drawback here is ownership, as Shesterkin is projected to be rostered by over 20% of the field—significantly higher than the average goalie on this slate. While chalk at goalie isn’t always ideal, it seems justified given the combination of value and matchup against a low-scoring opponent. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk in tournaments, Shesterkin makes sense as a high-floor option who could exceed expectations if the Rangers provide enough goal support to secure the win bonus. However, for those looking to pivot off heavy ownership, fading him in favor of lower-owned options could create leverage without sacrificing too much upside.

Honorable Mentions

• Anthony Stolarz ($7,800)
• Frederik Andersen ($8,000)
• Filip Gustavsson ($7,500)

Good luck! 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!