FREE 02/27 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 12-game NHL slate offers plenty of intriguing DFS options, with a mix of high-scoring potential and strong goaltending matchups to navigate. The Oilers-Panthers game leads the way with a 6.5 total, making it an appealing target for offense, while the Sabres-Hurricanes matchup also features a 6.5 total and could provide sneaky value. On the flip side, defensive-minded contests like Flyers-Penguins (5.5 total) and Blues-Capitals (5.5 total) might limit upside but could still present opportunities for contrarian plays.

Goaltending will be key to tonight’s lineup decisions, with several elite netminders in action. Ilya Sorokin faces a tough test against Boston, while Juuse Saros gets a favorable home matchup versus Winnipeg. On the other end of the spectrum, weaker goalie situations like Eric Comrie in Nashville or Petr Mrazek in Vegas could open the door for some high-upside stacks. With so many games on tap, focusing on totals and identifying soft matchups will be crucial to building competitive lineups.

Top Stacks

FLA PP1 ($20,000)

Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe

The FLA PP1 stack of Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, and Carter Verhaeghe offers a strong projected output of 37.7 points at a total salary of $20,000, resulting in a solid value of 1.89 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 7.0% and an optimal lineup rate of 7.8%, this stack provides a slightly positive leverage opportunity, suggesting it may be underutilized relative to its chances of appearing in the optimal lineup. As a power-play unit (PP1), the trio benefits from increased correlation potential on high-value scoring opportunities, making it an efficient choice for tournaments given its balanced projection and ownership context.

EDM PP1 ($23,300)

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard

The EDM PP1 stack of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard offers a high-upside option with a projected 41.0 points at a total salary of $23,300, resulting in a solid value of 1.76 pts/$1000. Despite its elite scoring potential, the stack carries an average ownership of just 2.7%, providing strong leverage in tournaments given its optimal lineup rate of 7.6%. This combination of low ownership and relatively high optimal rate makes it an attractive contrarian play with significant upside relative to its cost and usage across the field.

TBL PP1 ($21,900)

Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point

The TBL PP1 stack of Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, and Brayden Point offers a strong ceiling with a projected 42.9 points at a total salary of $21,900, resulting in a solid value of 1.96 pts/$1000. With an average ownership rate of 9.8%, this stack is moderately popular but not overwhelmingly chalky, providing some differentiation potential in tournaments. However, its optimal lineup rate of 7.0% falls slightly below its ownership, indicating it may be slightly over-owned relative to its chances of being the best stack on the slate. Overall, this stack is a high-upside option but carries some efficiency concerns given the ownership-to-optimal ratio.

C Plays

Top Play: Aleksander Barkov ($6,400)

Aleksander Barkov ($6,400) is in a strong spot against Edmonton, making him one of the top center options on this slate. His 13.03-point projection leads all players in terms of tournament rank, and his 2.04x value underscores his ability to deliver at this salary. Barkov’s well-rounded game gives him both floor and ceiling appeal—he’s consistently involved offensively (54 points in 49 games this season) while also contributing peripherals like shots and hits. Edmonton’s high-event style creates a favorable game environment, particularly with their inconsistent defensive play, which has allowed ample scoring opportunities to opposing top lines.

At 9.8% projected ownership, Barkov is chalkier than most options on this slate, but the popularity seems warranted given his optimal lineup rate of 11.7%. While he won’t provide significant leverage in tournaments, he offers stability and upside at a reasonable price point for a first-line center with power-play exposure. If you’re looking for a reliable core piece without breaking the bank, Barkov fits the bill nicely in this matchup.

Honorable Mentions

• Jack Eichel ($8,000)
• Brayden Point ($6,500)
• Leon Draisaitl ($8,300)

W Plays

Top Play: Patrik Laine ($5,100)

Patrik Laine ($5,100) stands out as a top tournament option in tonight’s slate, boasting the highest GPP rank and a solid projection of 10.5 DK points. The matchup against the Sharks is particularly enticing, as San Jose has struggled defensively all season, allowing one of the league’s highest rates of goals and chances against. Laine has shown signs of heating up post-break with four points in his last two games, including three on the power play. His price point offers strong value at 2.05x, making him an appealing mid-tier option with both floor and ceiling potential.

The biggest consideration here is ownership. At 9.7%, Laine is significantly more popular than most players in this range, which could make him chalky in tournaments. However, given his recent production and favorable matchup, this level of ownership feels justified—he’s appearing in 6.4% of optimal lineups for good reason. If you’re willing to eat some chalk for access to a high-upside winger in an elite spot, Laine is worth including in your builds tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• David Pastrnak ($9,000)
• Nikita Kucherov ($8,700)
• Kyle Connor ($7,500)

D Plays

Top Play: Dmitry Orlov ($2,900)

Dmitry Orlov offers intriguing value at just $2,900 in a favorable matchup against Buffalo. Projected for 6.3 DraftKings points with a strong 2.16x value rating, he ranks as the top tournament play among defensemen in this price range. While his primary role is defensive, Orlov has quietly contributed offensively this season, tallying 23 points and maintaining a solid plus-19 rating through 50 games. His ability to block shots (38) and generate occasional offensive upside makes him a well-rounded option, especially in a game where Carolina’s possession-heavy style could lead to extended opportunities for secondary contributors like Orlov.

At an expected ownership of 4.1%, Orlov is moderately popular but not overwhelmingly chalky, which keeps him viable for tournaments. He appears in nearly 6% of optimal lineups, signaling that his value aligns well with his salary and projected output. While he doesn’t offer the ceiling of higher-priced defensemen, his steady floor combined with low cost creates flexibility for stacking expensive forwards or goaltenders in your lineup. If you’re looking to save salary without sacrificing too much upside, Orlov is worth serious consideration tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Zach Werenski ($7,300)
• Jackson LaCombe ($4,500)
• Moritz Seider ($6,000)

G Plays

Top Play: Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,100)

Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,100) is in a great spot tonight as he takes on the Calgary Flames at home. He’s riding a six-game winning streak with a stellar 2.00 GAA and .937 save percentage during that stretch, showcasing his elite form. Calgary’s offense has struggled all season, averaging just 2.65 goals per game (fifth-lowest in the NHL), which should give Vasilevskiy an excellent chance to extend his streak. At $8,100, he offers solid value with a 1.88x projection and appears in nearly 9% of optimal lineups—a strong indicator of his upside in this matchup.

The main consideration here is ownership, as Vasilevskiy is expected to be highly rostered at 19.2%. While that level of chalk might make him less appealing for tournaments if you’re looking to differentiate, it’s hard to argue against his combination of floor and ceiling in this spot. The Lightning are significant favorites at home, and with Vasilevskiy’s recent dominance and Calgary’s offensive struggles, he’s a justifiable high-owned play if you’re comfortable eating some chalk in goal tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Sam Montembeault ($8,300)
• Marc-Andre Fleury ($7,600)
• Alex Nedeljkovic ($7,800)

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!