FREE 02/23 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 8-game NHL slate offers a solid mix of game environments, with a few matchups standing out for DFS purposes. The TOR @ CHI and SEA @ TBL games both carry 6.0 totals, making them appealing spots for offensive stacking. Andrei Vasilevskiy gets the nod for Tampa Bay, which could limit Seattle’s upside, but the Lightning’s own offense has plenty of firepower against Ales Stezka in net. Meanwhile, Joseph Woll and Arvid Soderblom face off in Chicago, where Toronto’s potent top six should draw plenty of attention.

On the lower-scoring side, DAL @ NYI and ANA @ DET have 5.5 totals and strong goaltending matchups with Jake Oettinger vs. Ilya Sorokin and Alex Lyon vs. Lukas Dostal, respectively. These games may lean more defensive but could offer sneaky value if you’re targeting contrarian plays or secondary scoring lines. As always, goalie selection will be crucial tonight with several elite options on the slate—Sorokin, Oettinger, and Vasilevskiy stand out as top-tier choices in what looks like a well-balanced set of games.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($23,900)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas

The COL PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas offers a strong projected point total of 44.9 with a value of 1.88 pts/$1000 based on its $23,900 combined salary. This makes it a relatively high-upside but expensive option in NHL DFS contests. With an average ownership of 11.2%, the stack is moderately popular but still provides leverage given its optimal lineup rate of 13.9%, which exceeds its ownership percentage. This positive leverage indicates that the stack has a slightly better chance of appearing in optimal lineups compared to how frequently it’s expected to be rostered, making it a viable option for both cash games and tournaments depending on overall roster construction needs.

TBL PP1 ($22,300)

Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point

The TBL PP1 stack of Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and Brayden Point is projected for 43.1 points with a total salary of $22,300, resulting in a solid value of 1.93 pts/$1000. This value places it as a viable option for DFS lineups, particularly given its efficient production relative to cost. The stack carries an average ownership of 12.3%, which aligns closely with its optimal lineup rate of 12.0%, indicating it is appropriately owned for its upside. As a power-play unit, the stack benefits from concentrated scoring opportunities, making it a balanced option in terms of ceiling and ownership leverage.

DET PP1 ($20,200)

Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat

The DET PP1 stack of Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat offers a strong combination of projected production and value, with 37.3 projected points at a cost of $20,200, translating to a solid 1.84 pts/$1000. This makes it an efficient option for its price range. Ownership is moderate at 6.5%, which provides leverage in tournaments given its optimal lineup rate of 9.2%, indicating it is slightly underutilized relative to its potential upside. As a power-play unit, this stack benefits from correlated scoring opportunities, enhancing its ceiling in DFS contests while maintaining competitive ownership levels.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($8,300)

Nathan MacKinnon ($8,300) is in a prime spot against the St. Louis Blues, making him the top-ranked tournament play on this slate. His projection of 17.87 DK points leads all skaters, and his strong value at 2.15x salary reinforces his viability despite the hefty price tag. The matchup is appealing, as St. Louis has struggled defensively this season, ranking in the bottom third of the league in expected goals against per 60 (xGA/60). MacKinnon’s ability to generate high shot volume and contribute on Colorado’s elite power play gives him both a strong floor and massive ceiling in this game environment.

At 17.5% projected ownership, MacKinnon will be one of the more popular plays on the slate, but that chalk appears justified given his combination of form and opportunity. He’s appearing in 27.6% of optimal lineups, which suggests he’s not only capable of hitting value but also offers tournament-winning upside. While you’ll need to differentiate elsewhere in your lineup to offset his popularity, fading MacKinnon entirely could be a risky move given his consistent production and favorable matchup against an exploitable Blues team.

Honorable Mentions

• Auston Matthews ($8,500)
• Nazem Kadri ($7,000)
• Brayden Point ($6,200)

W Plays

Top Play: Nikita Kucherov ($8,700)

Nikita Kucherov ($8,700) is in a strong position for DFS tonight against Seattle. His combination of elite offensive production and high shot volume makes him one of the safest plays on the slate, as evidenced by his 17.3-point projection and appearance in 16.4% of optimal lineups. While his salary is steep, his value at nearly 2x justifies the price tag, especially considering his role on Tampa Bay’s top line and power play unit. Seattle’s middling defensive metrics and inconsistent penalty kill provide a favorable matchup for a player of Kucherov’s caliber, making him an excellent option in both cash games and tournaments.

The 15.2% projected ownership is certainly high relative to the field average, but it feels warranted given Kucherov’s ceiling and consistent production this season (82 points in 52 games). While he won’t provide much leverage in GPPs, fading him could be risky given his ability to dominate a slate with multi-point upside. If you’re building chalkier lineups elsewhere, he’s a fine addition; however, pairing him with lower-owned options might be the better route to balance out your exposure. Overall, Kucherov stands out as one of the top spends on this slate despite the elevated ownership.

Honorable Mentions

• Filip Forsberg ($7,600)
• Anders Lee ($4,600)
• Alex DeBrincat ($6,100)

D Plays

Top Play: John Marino ($3,400)

John Marino ($3,400) stands out as an elite value play on tonight’s slate, especially for tournaments. His 9.35x value projection is backed by a stellar 31.78 DK points and a 100% optimal lineup rate, making him impossible to ignore at this salary. Marino has quietly been producing offensively with assists in four straight games while contributing across categories with 11 shots and 10 blocked shots through nine games. Facing Vancouver, a team prone to giving up chances to defensemen who can join the rush or distribute effectively, Marino is in a great spot to continue his recent form.

At just 1% projected ownership, Marino offers significant leverage in GPPs without carrying the risk of being an overly contrarian dart throw. His moderate ownership aligns well with his strong metrics and recent production, making him both a high-upside and low-risk option in tournament formats. While his offensive ceiling may not be massive compared to top-tier defensemen, his all-around contributions combined with this price point make him one of the most efficient plays on the slate. If you’re looking for cost-effective exposure with upside, Marino checks all the boxes tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Victor Hedman ($6,300)
• Cale Makar ($8,100)
• Roman Josi ($7,200)

G Plays

Top Play: Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,400)

Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,400) stands out as an intriguing tournament option against the Kraken. While Seattle has been a middle-of-the-pack offensive team this season, their lack of elite finishing talent works in Vasilevskiy’s favor. His recent form has been solid, with a .918 save percentage on the year and five wins in his last six starts. At 6% projected ownership, he offers moderate leverage compared to other goaltenders in this price range, especially given his 12.9% optimal lineup rate. With Tampa Bay favored at home and Vasilevskiy’s strong track record of consistency, he brings both a high floor and ceiling to your DFS builds.

The salary is steep, but the value (1.63x) is reasonable for a goalie of his caliber, particularly in a matchup where the Lightning should control play. Seattle doesn’t generate a ton of high-danger chances, which could limit his upside slightly in terms of saves but makes him less likely to implode. At his expected ownership, Vasilevskiy provides enough leverage to warrant consideration in tournaments while remaining one of the safer options on the slate. If you’re looking for stability with some upside potential, he’s worth prioritizing as a cornerstone in GPP formats.

Honorable Mentions

• MacKenzie Blackwood ($8,100)
• Alex Lyon ($8,200)
• Karel Vejmelka ($8,000)

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