FREE 02/28 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

It’s a tight three-game NHL DFS slate tonight, but there’s still plenty to dive into. The Maple Leafs head to Madison Square Garden to face the Rangers in a game with a 6.0 total, where Igor Shesterkin gives New York a strong edge in net against Anthony Stolarz. With Toronto’s offensive firepower and Shesterkin’s ability to steal games, this matchup should be a focal point for both skaters and goalie considerations.

The other two games bring lower totals but intriguing dynamics. The Kings-Stars tilt in Dallas features Jake Oettinger and Darcy Kuemper in what could be a goaltending duel with its 5.5 total, while the Wild visit Colorado in another 6.0-total game. Filip Gustavsson has been solid for Minnesota, but Mackenzie Blackwood will need to stand tall against the Avalanche’s dangerous offense. Whether you’re looking for high-event upside or contrarian plays from lower-scoring environments, this slate offers plenty of paths to build your lineups.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($23,600)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas

The COL PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas offers strong projected production with 45.9 points at a total salary of $23,600, resulting in a solid value of 1.94 pts/$1000. However, its average ownership rate of 26.6% is relatively high, indicating significant popularity among DFS players. While the stack’s optimal lineup rate of 25.4% closely aligns with its ownership, it suggests that the stack is fairly priced but not offering substantial leverage against the field. This makes it a strong option for raw points but potentially less appealing in tournaments where differentiation is key.

NYR PP1 ($18,500)

Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck

The NYR PP1 stack of Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck carries a total salary of $18,500 with a projected point total of 32.6, equating to a value of 1.76 points per $1000. This makes it a moderately efficient stack in terms of pts/$1000 relative to typical DFS benchmarks. The stack’s average ownership sits at 18.0%, which is slightly elevated but not overly prohibitive for GPP contests. Its optimal lineup rate of 17.3% closely mirrors its ownership, suggesting it is appropriately leveraged in the current slate context. Overall, this stack offers strong production potential while maintaining reasonable balance between ownership and optimal lineup viability for DFS tournaments.

TOR PP1 ($24,200)

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner

The TOR PP1 stack of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner carries a total salary of $24,200 with a projected output of 40.2 points, translating to a value of 1.66 points per $1000. This is a strong but not elite value relative to high-cost stacks, indicating their upside lies more in raw point production than efficiency. The average ownership for this stack is 15.1%, aligning closely with its optimal lineup rate of 16.9%, suggesting it is appropriately leveraged in tournaments without being overly chalky or contrarian. As a power-play unit (PP1), the stack benefits from concentrated scoring potential among elite players, making it an appealing option for DFS lineups seeking high ceilings while maintaining reasonable ownership levels.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($8,800)

Nathan MacKinnon checks all the boxes as a top DFS option tonight. Projected for 18.65 DK points and appearing in nearly 35% of optimal lineups, he’s the clear number one tournament play on the slate. His matchup against Minnesota isn’t a cakewalk, but MacKinnon’s elite shot volume (244 shots in 60 games) and power-play production (28 points) give him one of the highest floors in DFS. At $8,800, he’s not cheap, but his combination of floor and ceiling justifies the salary—especially given his ability to dominate in any game environment.

The main consideration here is ownership, with MacKinnon projected at 34.3%, making him one of the chalkiest plays on the slate. While this level of popularity can be a concern in tournaments, it’s hard to argue against eating the chalk when a player ranks first in GPP value and optimal percentage. If you’re looking for leverage, fading MacKinnon entirely could be risky given his upside, but pairing him with lower-owned teammates or contrarian stacks could help differentiate your lineup while still capitalizing on his potential monster performance.

Honorable Mentions

• Auston Matthews ($9,000)
• John Tavares ($6,300)
• J.T. Miller ($6,000)

W Plays

Top Play: Matt Boldy ($7,200)

Matt Boldy ($7,200) offers a strong combination of floor and ceiling in tonight’s matchup against Colorado. He’s been on a tear recently, tallying seven points (3G, 4A) over his last four games while maintaining consistent shot volume. His top-six role and power-play usage make him a reliable contributor, even in tougher matchups like this one. At a projected 12.38 DK points and appearing in 21.5% of optimal lineups, Boldy’s value at 1.72x stands out despite the elevated salary. Colorado is a formidable opponent, but their penalty kill has been inconsistent, which gives Boldy additional upside given his presence on the Wild’s man advantage.

Ownership-wise, Boldy’s 16.8% projection is moderately high but not prohibitive for tournaments. While he won’t provide significant leverage, his recent form and ability to deliver in difficult spots justify the chalk in this case. If you’re looking for a mid-tier wing with both safety and upside to anchor your lineup, Boldy fits the bill well. The game environment may limit his ceiling slightly given Colorado’s defensive structure, but his role ensures he’ll have plenty of opportunities to contribute offensively.

Honorable Mentions

• Artemi Panarin ($6,900)
• Martin Necas ($7,000)
• William Nylander ($7,700)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($7,800)

Cale Makar checks a lot of boxes tonight at $7,800, even with elevated ownership (23.6%). His offensive ceiling is elite for a defenseman, and his role on Colorado’s top power-play unit makes him particularly appealing against a Minnesota penalty kill that’s middle-of-the-pack. With 25.6% optimal lineup appearance rate and a projection of 14.8 DK points, Makar offers a strong combination of floor and upside. His ability to contribute across multiple categories—shots, blocks, and power-play production—helps justify the price tag despite the chalk.

From an ownership perspective, Makar’s popularity is warranted given his consistent production and matchup. He’s recorded nine points in his last seven games, including six on the man advantage, further solidifying his value in this spot. While he may not provide significant leverage in tournaments due to his high exposure, fading him entirely could be risky given how frequently he appears in optimal builds. If you’re looking to differentiate elsewhere while locking in a high-floor, high-ceiling play on defense, Makar is an excellent option tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• K’Andre Miller ($3,400)
• Devon Toews ($5,100)
• Jake Middleton ($3,700)

G Plays

Top Play: Jake Oettinger ($8,200)

Jake Oettinger ($8,200) stands out as the top-ranked goalie option for tournaments tonight, and his combination of value and optimal lineup probability makes him a strong consideration. Despite a shaky outing in his last start, Oettinger has been reliable overall this season with a 2.43 GAA and .909 save percentage. The Kings rank middle-of-the-pack offensively at 2.89 goals per game, which isn’t overly concerning given Dallas’ ability to limit high-danger chances. At 16.6% projected ownership, he’s moderately chalky but not overwhelming, and his 27.4% optimal lineup rate suggests he’s worth the investment.

The price tag is fair for Oettinger’s ceiling in this spot, especially with Dallas playing at home where he’s been more consistent throughout the year. While the Kings have some offensive upside, they’re far from an elite scoring team, making Oettinger a relatively safe option with tournament-winning potential if he delivers a strong performance. The moderate ownership keeps him viable in GPPs without being overly contrarian or too chalky to justify in large-field contests. If you’re looking for stability with upside at goalie tonight, Oettinger is an appealing choice.

Honorable Mentions

• MacKenzie Blackwood ($8,000)
• Anthony Stolarz ($7,600)
• Darcy Kuemper ($7,200)

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