FREE 04/15 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 10-game NHL slate offers plenty of options for DFS players, with a mix of high-scoring potential and intriguing goalie matchups. The Toronto-Buffalo game stands out with its slate-high 6.5 total, making it a prime spot for offensive stacks, especially with Anthony Stolarz and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen confirmed in net. Another game to watch is Columbus-Philadelphia (O/U 6.0), where both Jet Greaves and Samuel Ersson could be tested early and often in what projects to be a more open matchup.

On the lower-total side, the New Jersey-Boston (5.5) and Vegas-Calgary (5.5) games feature strong defensive setups and reliable goaltending, which could limit scoring upside but still offer value in key spots. Ilya Sorokin at home against Washington (O/U 6.0) also stands out as a top goaltending option on the slate, while Lukas Dostal faces a tough task against Minnesota’s offense in their 6.0-total matchup. With so many games on the board, tonight is all about finding the right balance between chalky high-total plays and sneaky contrarian picks in tighter contests.

Top Stacks

MIN PP1 ($22,100)

Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek

The Minnesota PP1 stack of Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek carries a total salary of $22,100 with a solid projected point total of 42.4, resulting in a value of 1.92 pts/$1000. While the stack offers strong raw point potential, its average ownership of 18.6% indicates significant popularity in contests, which may limit its leverage. The optimal lineup rate of 11.2% suggests this stack is slightly over-owned relative to its chances of being optimal. As a power-play unit, it provides high upside due to concentrated scoring opportunities, but the ownership-to-optimal rate discrepancy should be weighed carefully when considering roster construction.

CBJ PP1 ($18,800)

Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner, Kirill Marchenko

The CBJ PP1 stack of Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner, and Kirill Marchenko offers a projected 35.1 points at a total salary of $18,800, resulting in a solid value of 1.87 pts/$1000. This value positions the stack as cost-effective relative to its output potential. With an average ownership of 9.1%, this stack is moderately popular but not overly chalky, offering some leverage in tournaments. Its optimal lineup rate of 10.1% slightly exceeds its ownership, indicating it is slightly underutilized compared to its likelihood of appearing in winning lineups. Overall, this PP1 stack provides balanced upside and leverage for its price point in DFS contests.

TBL PP1 ($22,800)

Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Victor Hedman

The TBL PP1 stack of Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and Victor Hedman offers a strong combination of projected production and relative value. With a total salary of $22,800, the stack projects for 39.5 points, translating to a solid value of 1.73 pts/$1000. This level of efficiency makes it a viable high-cost option in DFS lineups. The average ownership is modest at 5.5%, which provides leverage in tournaments given its optimal lineup rate of 8.6%, indicating the stack is more likely to appear in top-performing lineups than its ownership suggests. Overall, this combination balances upside and contrarian appeal within its price range effectively.

C Plays

Top Play: Joel Eriksson Ek ($6,400)

Joel Eriksson Ek ($6,400) stands out as a solid option in tonight’s matchup against the Ducks. Anaheim has struggled defensively all season, ranking near the bottom of the league in goals allowed and penalty kill efficiency, which sets up well for Eriksson Ek’s role on Minnesota’s top power-play unit. His projection of 12.26 DraftKings points is strong relative to his salary, and his 1.91x value further underscores his appeal in this spot. With a 9.44% optimal lineup rate, he’s one of the better center options on the slate, offering both floor and ceiling potential given his ability to contribute across multiple categories like shots and hits.

The main concern here is ownership, as Eriksson Ek is projected to be rostered by nearly 19.4% of the field—significantly higher than average. While that chalk may scare some off in tournaments, it’s not entirely unwarranted given his favorable game environment and recent performance, including a four-goal explosion in his last outing. If you’re looking for leverage in GPPs, there are pivot options at similar price points with lower ownership; however, fading him entirely comes with risk considering how well-positioned he is to deliver value tonight. In cash games or smaller-field contests, he’s a safe and logical choice to anchor your lineup at center.

Honorable Mentions

• Auston Matthews ($9,500)
• Bo Horvat ($6,300)
• Sean Monahan ($5,500)

W Plays

Top Play: Kirill Kaprizov ($8,200)

Kirill Kaprizov ($8,200) is in a prime spot tonight against Anaheim, a team that has consistently struggled defensively, allowing the fifth-most goals per game this season. Kaprizov’s role as Minnesota’s offensive centerpiece is undeniable, and he’s shown no signs of rust since returning from injury, tallying four points and 13 shots on goal in his last three games. With a projection of 16.74 DK points and appearing in 16% of optimal lineups, his combination of volume and upside makes him one of the top plays on the slate. The salary is steep, but his 2.04x value rating underscores just how strong his floor/ceiling combo is in this matchup.

The main consideration here is ownership. At 21%, Kaprizov will be one of the chalkiest plays on the slate, but it’s difficult to argue against it given his recent form and elite tournament metrics (No. 1 GPP rank). While fading him might create leverage in large-field contests, it comes with significant risk given Anaheim’s defensive vulnerabilities and Kaprizov’s ability to dominate in favorable matchups like this one. If you’re eating the chalk, consider differentiating elsewhere in your lineup to avoid duplication while still locking in his upside.

Honorable Mentions

• Alex Ovechkin ($7,800)
• David Pastrnak ($8,800)
• Matt Boldy ($7,500)

D Plays

Top Play: Zach Werenski ($7,500)

Zach Werenski is a strong option on this slate, even at his elevated $7,500 salary. His recent production has been excellent, with four straight games recording a point and an impressive 78 points on the season. The matchup against Philadelphia is appealing as well—the Flyers have struggled defensively, ranking in the bottom third of the league in goals allowed per game. Werenski’s heavy usage on the power play and consistent shot volume (290 shots this season) give him both a stable floor and multi-point upside, which is reflected in his solid projection of 14.4 DK points and his appearance in 14.2% of optimal lineups.

However, Werenski’s 12.4% projected ownership does make him one of the chalkier defensemen on the slate, especially compared to the field average of 2.4%. While that level of ownership limits his leverage potential in tournaments, it’s not necessarily unjustified given his elite production and favorable matchup. He remains a viable option for cash games or as part of a Blue Jackets power play stack, but if you’re looking to differentiate in GPPs, there are lower-owned defensemen with comparable ceilings worth considering.

Honorable Mentions

• Victor Hedman ($6,100)
• Rasmus Dahlin ($6,300)
• Seth Jones ($5,300)

G Plays

Top Play: Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,900)

Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,900) is in a strong spot against the Panthers, though his recent form raises some concerns. Over his last two starts, he’s allowed four goals in each game with an underwhelming .860 save percentage. That said, this matchup comes at home, where Tampa Bay has been more defensively sound, and Vasilevskiy still projects as the top goalie option for tournaments based on his 15.3-point projection and 1.94x value rating. His upside remains intact given his talent and workload, but the recent struggles suggest a slightly lower floor than usual.

At 21.1% ownership, Vasilevskiy is chalky for a goaltender, which limits his appeal in tournaments unless you’re confident in Tampa Bay controlling this game. The Panthers are a high-event team offensively, so while this could lead to more save opportunities, it also increases risk if Tampa Bay’s defense falters again. Ultimately, he’s a viable play given his ceiling and optimal lineup percentage (13.4%), but with such high ownership, it’s worth considering other options in GPPs if you’re looking to differentiate your lineups.

Honorable Mentions

• Jeremy Swayman ($7,100)
• Joey Daccord ($7,200)
• Filip Gustavsson ($8,400)

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!