FREE 04/14 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 6-game NHL DFS slate offers a solid mix of matchups, with a few games standing out for their scoring potential. The Blackhawks-Canadiens and Sharks-Canucks both carry 6.0 totals, making them appealing targets for offense, especially with less-than-stellar goaltending on both sides. Meanwhile, the Rangers-Panthers and Kings-Oilers matchups feature elite netminders like Igor Shesterkin and Darcy Kuemper, which could lead to lower-scoring contests despite the talent on the ice.

Goalie decisions will be crucial tonight, as several matchups feature clear discrepancies in net. Jake Oettinger in Detroit and Juuse Saros at home against Hockey Club should see plenty of DFS attention given their consistency and strong team contexts. On the flip side, value hunters might look to exploit weaker goaltending situations in games like Chicago-Montreal or San Jose-Vancouver. With balanced options across the slate, lineup construction should come down to identifying the right stacks and leveraging those high-total environments wisely.

Top Stacks

DET PP1 ($18,700)

Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane

The DET PP1 stack of Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Patrick Kane offers a strong combination of projected points and value, with a total salary of $18,700 translating to 34.2 projected points and a solid value of 1.83 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 8.9%, this stack provides moderate leverage in tournaments given its optimal lineup rate of 14.4%, which significantly outpaces its ownership percentage. This positive leverage makes it an appealing option for DFS players seeking high-upside stacks that are not overly popular, particularly in contests where differentiation is key.

FLA PP1 ($20,300)

Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett

The FLA PP1 stack of Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Bennett is projected for 35.8 points with a salary of $20,300, resulting in a value of 1.77 pts/$1000. This value is solid but not elite compared to typical DFS benchmarks for high-performing stacks. The average ownership is projected at 13.2%, which aligns closely with its optimal lineup rate of 12.9%, suggesting the stack is appropriately owned relative to its chances of being optimal. While this makes it a viable option for tournaments, it does not present significant leverage or inefficiency in terms of ownership versus upside. As a power-play unit (PP1), it benefits from increased correlation potential, though the data suggests it’s more of a neutral play in the current slate context rather than a standout option.

MTL PP1 ($19,800)

Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky

The MTL PP1 stack of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky is projected for 35.1 points with a total salary of $19,800, resulting in a solid value of 1.77 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 18.3%, this stack is moderately popular in DFS contests but has a relatively low optimal lineup rate of 11.1%, indicating it may be over-owned compared to its chances of being the best stack on the slate. As a power-play unit, it offers concentrated upside through correlated scoring potential, though its ownership-to-optimal rate disparity suggests caution when considering this stack in larger-field tournaments.

C Plays

Top Play: Dylan Larkin ($6,200)

Dylan Larkin ($6,200) stands out as a strong option in tournaments tonight with his combination of value and upside. Projected for 11.45 DraftKings points and appearing in 16.5% of optimal lineups, he offers solid efficiency at 1.85x value. The matchup against Dallas isn’t ideal, as the Stars are a disciplined defensive team, but Larkin’s role as Detroit’s top center ensures significant ice time and exposure to high-leverage opportunities, including the power play. His recent production has been steady, highlighted by his 65-point campaign, and his ability to generate shots (227 on the season) provides a reliable floor.

At 13.4% projected ownership, Larkin will be one of the more popular plays on this slate, but the chalk feels justified given his price point and role in Detroit’s offense. While he doesn’t offer massive leverage in tournaments due to his popularity, there’s still plenty of appeal here if you’re looking for consistency with some ceiling potential. If you’re building around balanced mid-range plays or stacking Detroit’s top line for correlation, Larkin fits well into those constructions despite the modestly tough matchup.

Honorable Mentions

• Nick Suzuki ($7,300)
• Sam Bennett ($6,000)
• Evan Rodrigues ($3,800)

W Plays

Top Play: Cole Caufield ($6,700)

Cole Caufield ($6,700) stands out as a strong DFS option in tonight’s slate, despite his elevated ownership (20.3%). The matchup against Chicago is favorable, as the Blackhawks have struggled defensively all season, ranking near the bottom of the league in goals allowed per game. Caufield’s role on Montreal’s top line and power play unit solidifies both his floor and ceiling, especially given his high shot volume (229 shots this season). His projection of 12.55 DK points and presence in 15.9% of optimal lineups highlight his potential to deliver value at 1.87x his salary.

The high ownership may concern some DFS players, but Caufield’s consistency and upside justify the chalk in this spot. With three goals and one assist during Montreal’s current six-game win streak, he’s clearly in strong form heading into this matchup. At $6,700, he offers a reliable blend of floor and ceiling for both cash games and tournaments, though pairing him with lower-owned players could help differentiate your lineup in GPPs. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk for a proven scorer in an ideal matchup, Caufield deserves serious consideration tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Sam Reinhart ($7,100)
• Carter Verhaeghe ($6,000)
• Alex DeBrincat ($6,300)

D Plays

Top Play: Quinn Hughes ($7,500)

Quinn Hughes ($7,500) is one of the premier options on tonight’s slate, offering a strong combination of floor and upside in a favorable matchup against the Sharks. San Jose ranks near the bottom of the league in goals allowed and penalty kill efficiency, which bodes well for Hughes’ elite power-play production (29 power-play points this season). His ability to generate offense from the blue line is unmatched, with 75 points in 66 games and consistent shot volume (182 shots on goal). While his salary is steep, his projection of 13.45 DK points and appearance in 13.2% of optimal lineups highlight his value at this price point.

The main consideration here is ownership, as Hughes is projected to be rostered by 23.2% of the field—well above average. While that level of chalk can sometimes warrant fading in tournaments, it feels justified given the matchup and Hughes’ consistent production. His ability to contribute across multiple categories (shots, blocks, assists) provides a high floor, while his power-play role against a struggling Sharks penalty kill offers significant ceiling potential. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk for stability in your lineup, Hughes is a strong play in all formats tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Moritz Seider ($5,400)
• Evan Bouchard ($7,400)
• Mikhail Sergachev ($5,800)

G Plays

Top Play: Darcy Kuemper ($7,600)

Darcy Kuemper ($7,600) is in an interesting spot tonight against Edmonton. While the Oilers are typically a high-powered offense, they’ll be missing several key contributors, which could limit their scoring upside. Kuemper’s recent form has been solid outside of his last outing, and over his last 17 appearances, he’s generally kept goals against in check. At this salary, his value projection (1.67x) stands out, and with a 12.4% optimal lineup rate, he’s clearly one of the better goaltending options on the slate. However, Edmonton still generates plenty of shots even when shorthanded offensively, so there’s potential for Kuemper to rack up saves while chasing a win bonus.

The biggest question here is whether his projected ownership (24.9%) makes him worth eating the chalk in tournaments. At such high ownership relative to other goalies on the slate, you’re banking on Kuemper outperforming not only the Oilers but also most other netminders in play tonight. While his floor feels relatively safe due to Edmonton’s depleted lineup, his ceiling could be capped if this game turns into more of a low-event affair. Ultimately, he’s a fine play for cash games or single-entry lineups given the value and matchup dynamics but may warrant some caution as a GPP chalk option depending on your risk tolerance.

Honorable Mentions

• Sergei Bobrovsky ($7,900)
• Nikita Tolopilo ($8,300)
• Sam Montembeault ($8,400)

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