FREE 05/07 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

It’s a short but intriguing 2-game NHL DFS slate tonight, with both matchups carrying a 5.5 total. The Panthers head to Toronto to take on the Leafs in the early game (7:00 PM ET), where Sergei Bobrovsky and Joseph Woll are confirmed in net. Florida’s offense has shown flashes of upside, but they’ll face a disciplined Leafs team that tends to play tighter at home. Meanwhile, Toronto’s top stars are always in play, especially in a matchup where their power play could exploit Florida’s inconsistent penalty kill.

The late game (9:30 PM ET) features the Stars visiting the Jets in what could be a goaltending duel between Jake Oettinger and Connor Hellebuyck. Both teams are defensively sound, so finding offense here might be tricky, but it also means any scoring could come from concentrated sources like Dallas’ top line or Winnipeg’s top-six forwards. With limited options across the slate, nailing the right stacks and goalie decisions will be crucial tonight.

Top Stacks

TOR PP1 ($22,300)

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner

The TOR PP1 stack, consisting of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner, carries a total salary of $22,300 with an average ownership of 26.8% and an optimal lineup rate of 28.7%. The stack’s projected value stands at 1.74 points per $1000, indicating solid efficiency relative to cost. Ownership near 27% suggests moderate popularity among DFS players, while the optimal lineup rate just below 29% shows it is frequently included in high-performing lineups. Overall, this stack offers a balanced combination of value and usage within optimal builds based on the provided metrics.

WPG PP1 ($19,700)

Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers

The WPG PP1 stack, consisting of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Nikolaj Ehlers, carries a total salary of $19,700 with a projected value of 1.75 points per $1000 spent. This indicates a solid efficiency relative to salary investment. The average ownership sits at 25.5%, closely mirrored by an optimal lineup inclusion rate of 24.9%, suggesting that this stack is moderately popular among DFS players and frequently appears in lineups optimized for maximum point output. Overall, the data reflects a balanced combination of value and ownership without extreme over- or under-exposure in optimal constructions.

DAL PP1 ($17,100)

Mikko Rantanen, Thomas Harley, Roope Hintz

The DAL PP1 stack consisting of Mikko Rantanen, Thomas Harley, and Roope Hintz offers a solid projected value of 1.83 points per $1000, indicating efficient scoring potential relative to cost. With a total salary of $17,100, this stack balances expenditure with output effectively. The average ownership sits at 19.8%, reflecting moderate popularity among DFS players, while the optimal lineup rate is slightly higher at 24.5%, suggesting that the stack is favored in successful builds but not overly saturated. Overall, this data positions the DAL PP1 stack as a reasonably valuable and moderately utilized option within NHL DFS lineups.

C Plays

Top Play: Auston Matthews ($8,800)

Auston Matthews presents strong DFS appeal at $8,800 facing the Panthers. He’s producing efficiently with a solid 1.81x value and appears in over 40% of optimal lineups, which reflects his consistent role on Toronto’s top power play and first line. The matchup against Florida is favorable given their competitive but not elite defensive structure, meaning Matthews should continue to see quality scoring chances, especially with his volume of shots and playmaking opportunities.

The ownership at 38.4% is high but justified given his tournament rank and steady production this postseason. While the chalk level reduces leverage slightly, Matthews offers a balanced floor and ceiling that fits well in core builds. His presence in nearly two-fifths of optimal lineups suggests he remains a reliable pivot for GPPs despite popularity, making him tough to fade outright in this slate.

Honorable Mentions

• Roope Hintz ($5,400)
• Aleksander Barkov ($6,400)

W Plays

Top Play: Kyle Connor ($7,800)

Kyle Connor stands out as a strong DFS option at $7,800 given his consistent production and heavy usage. He’s tied for the playoff points lead with 1.71 points per game, driven by his speed and ability to create chances, which should be effective against Dallas’ defense. His involvement on the power play adds to his upside, especially in a series where every goal matters and scoring opportunities tend to increase.

Ownership around 28% is reasonable given his value at nearly 1.8x salary multiplier and presence in about 30% of optimal lineups. Connor’s combination of volume shooting and playmaking gives him a solid floor while maintaining upside for multi-point games. The matchup against Dallas offers enough leverage for tournament plays without being too chalky, making him a balanced pivot or core building block in GPPs.

Honorable Mentions

• William Nylander ($6,800)
• Sam Reinhart ($6,500)

D Plays

Top Play: Neal Pionk ($4,100)

Neal Pionk offers strong value at $4,100, especially given his heavy usage in recent games. His ability to rack up assists and contribute across the board—shots, hits, blocks—makes him a reliable floor play from the blue line. With Josh Morrissey’s status uncertain, Pionk is likely to see top power-play minutes against Dallas, a team that can be vulnerable to defensemen who move the puck well. His 2.21x value and appearance in nearly a quarter of optimal lineups reflect this upside.

That said, his ownership is elevated at 37.6%, which means he’s firmly on the radar for many players. This chalk seems justified given his consistent production and role increase if Morrissey remains sidelined. While the Jets-Dallas matchup could be competitive, Pionk’s multi-category contributions help secure a solid floor with enough ceiling to warrant consideration in both cash and GPP formats.

Honorable Mentions

• Thomas Harley ($5,100)
• Dylan Samberg ($3,800)

G Plays

Top Play: Joseph Woll ($7,400)

Joseph Woll draws the start in Game 2 against Florida, offering strong value at $7,400 with a 1.74x return on investment. He’s been solid recently, posting a .912 save percentage and a 2.82 GAA over his last three games, all wins. The Panthers’ offense is capable but hasn’t been overwhelming in this series, which supports Woll’s floor as a DFS option.

At nearly 29% ownership and appearing in over 35% of optimal lineups, Woll is one of the chalkier goalie plays this slate. That level of ownership looks justified given his recent form and the matchup, especially with Matt Murray backing him up. His salary and upside make him a reliable pivot point for tournament builds that need a stable goalie without breaking the bank.

Honorable Mentions

• Connor Hellebuyck ($7,600)
• Jake Oettinger ($7,800)

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