FREE 02/08 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a loaded 10-game NHL slate tonight, offering plenty of options for DFS lineup construction. The Sabres-Predators game jumps out with the highest total on the board at 6.5, making it an appealing target for offense. Elsewhere, the Rangers-Blue Jackets (6.0 total) and Stars-Sharks (6.0 total) also bring some scoring potential, while tighter matchups like Islanders-Wild and Maple Leafs-Canucks (both with 5.5 totals) might be better suited for goaltender plays or value hunting.

Speaking of goalies, there are a few intriguing spots to consider. Ilya Sorokin gets the nod for the Islanders in what could be a lower-scoring contest against Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson, and Thatcher Demko could see plenty of volume as Vancouver hosts Toronto’s high-powered offense. On the flip side, games like Buffalo-Nashville and Dallas-San Jose may be riskier goalie environments but could provide upside if you’re feeling bold. With such a diverse slate, balancing high-upside stacks with smart value plays will be key to navigating tonight’s action.

Top Stacks

FLA PP1 ($19,500)

Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart

The FLA PP1 stack of Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Reinhart offers a strong combination of projected points and value, with 37.3 projected points at a cost of $19,500, resulting in a solid value of 1.91 pts/$1000. This makes the stack an efficient option for its price range. The ownership rate averages 10.3%, which positions it as moderately popular but not overly chalky, providing potential leverage in tournaments. Additionally, the optimal lineup rate of 15.0% exceeds the ownership percentage, indicating that this stack is appearing in optimal lineups more often than it is rostered by the field—a clear sign of positive expected value. Overall, this data highlights FLA PP1 as a high-upside stack with favorable efficiency and leverage metrics in DFS contests.

NSH PP1 ($22,200)

Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Jonathan Marchessault

The NSH PP1 stack of Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Jonathan Marchessault is projected for 40.8 points at a total salary of $22,200, delivering a value of 1.84 points per $1000. With an average ownership of 7.8% and an optimal lineup rate of 9.4%, this stack offers positive leverage, indicating it is slightly underutilized relative to its probability of appearing in the optimal lineup. As a power-play unit stack, it consolidates upside by focusing on players likely to correlate on scoring opportunities with the man advantage. The combination of moderate ownership and above-average optimal rate makes this stack a viable option for tournaments seeking both ceiling and leverage.

LAK PP1 ($18,300)

Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Drew Doughty

The LAK PP1 stack of Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Drew Doughty offers a solid combination of projected production and value for NHL DFS. With a total salary of $18,300, the stack is projected to score 33.7 points, resulting in a respectable value of 1.84 pts/$1000. Its average ownership sits at a modest 5.0%, providing leverage in tournaments given its optimal lineup rate of 7.7%. This indicates the stack has a higher probability of appearing in winning lineups than its ownership suggests, making it an efficient option for gaining upside with relatively low popularity compared to other stacks.

C Plays

Top Play: Aleksander Barkov ($6,000)

Aleksander Barkov ($6,000) is in a prime spot tonight against the Senators, and his recent form makes him one of the top plays on the slate. Over his last five games, Barkov has racked up nine points, including four on the power play, showcasing both his consistency and upside. Ottawa’s penalty kill ranks in the bottom half of the league, which only enhances Barkov’s appeal given his top-line and top power-play role. At a strong value of 2.07x and appearing in 24.3% of optimal lineups, he’s a centerpiece for both cash games and tournaments.

The 15.2% projected ownership is significant but justified given Barkov’s combination of floor and ceiling at this price point. His ability to contribute across categories—points, shots on goal, even hits—makes him less reliant on multi-point games to pay off his salary. While he’ll likely be popular, it’s hard to argue against the chalk here given his elite projection (12.39 DK points) and favorable game environment. If you’re playing tournaments, consider pairing him with teammates like Matthew Tkachuk for correlation or differentiating elsewhere in your lineup to mitigate ownership concerns.

Honorable Mentions

• Auston Matthews ($8,800)
• Sam Bennett ($5,000)
• J.T. Miller ($6,200)

W Plays

Top Play: Sam Reinhart ($6,500)

Sam Reinhart ($6,500) stands out as a strong option in tonight’s slate with his elite role on Florida’s top line and power play. His matchup against Ottawa is enticing, as the Senators rank middle-of-the-pack defensively but have struggled to contain high-end forwards in up-tempo game environments. Reinhart’s projection of 12.21 DK points and appearance in 12.1% of optimal lineups highlight his combination of floor and upside, making him a reliable option even at his moderate salary. With 30 goals and assists this season, his consistency is hard to overlook, especially given his ability to contribute across multiple categories like shots and power-play production.

At 10.9% ownership, Reinhart will be chalkier than most plays on the slate, but it feels justified given his recent form and role in a favorable matchup. While he won’t provide significant leverage in tournaments, he offers a solid foundation for both cash games and GPPs due to his steady production and top-tier ice time. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk for a high-floor option with legitimate ceiling potential, Reinhart fits nicely into balanced lineup builds without breaking the bank.

Honorable Mentions

• Filip Forsberg ($8,200)
• Kevin Fiala ($6,100)
• Jordan Kyrou ($7,100)

D Plays

Top Play: Zach Werenski ($7,300)

Zach Werenski ($7,300) is in a solid spot tonight despite the tough matchup against the Rangers. His massive workload and offensive upside make him one of the top defensive options on the slate, as evidenced by his 15.68-point projection and strong 14.5% optimal lineup rate. Werenski has been incredibly consistent this season, averaging over a point per game while logging heavy minutes in all situations, including the power play. The Rangers are a strong defensive team, but their penalty kill has been vulnerable at times, sitting just outside the top 10 in efficiency. With Werenski’s ability to contribute across multiple categories—shots, blocks, and points—his floor remains high even in tougher matchups.

The main concern here is ownership. At 18.2%, Werenski will be one of the chalkier plays on the slate, which limits his appeal for tournaments where differentiation matters. That said, his combination of ceiling and consistency justifies the popularity to some extent—he’s not overpriced for his role or production potential. If you’re building lineups with him, consider pairing him with lower-owned players to offset some of that chalkiness. Ultimately, Werenski’s floor-ceiling combo makes him a strong play regardless of format, but be mindful of how you build around him in GPPs to avoid running into duplicate lineups.

Honorable Mentions

• Roman Josi ($7,400)
• Rasmus Dahlin ($6,400)
• Jake Walman ($5,200)

G Plays

Top Play: Filip Gustavsson ($7,800)

Filip Gustavsson ($7,800) stands out as a strong option in goal tonight against the Islanders. His recent form has been excellent, posting a .956 save percentage in three of his last four starts, and he’ll now face an Islanders offense that ranks 26th in the league with just 2.72 goals per game. At this price point, Gustavsson offers solid value with a 1.86x projection and appears in nearly 12% of optimal lineups. The Wild’s defense has also been reliable at home, which should help stabilize his floor while giving him upside if he can secure the win.

The main concern here is ownership, as Gustavsson is projected to be rostered by 14.5% of the field—well above average for goaltenders. While that level of chalk can be risky in tournaments, it’s justified given his strong metrics and matchup. If you’re looking to differentiate your lineup, pivoting off him makes sense in GPPs due to his popularity. However, for cash games or single-entry contests, his combination of form, matchup, and value makes him one of the safest plays on the slate.

Honorable Mentions

• Darcy Kuemper ($8,200)
• Sergei Bobrovsky ($8,100)
• Linus Ullmark ($7,300)

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!