FREE 03/07 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 6-game NHL slate offers a mix of low-scoring matchups and a couple of potential shootouts that should shape your DFS strategy. The Penguins-Golden Knights game stands out with the highest total on the board at 6.5, making it an appealing target for offensive stacks. Meanwhile, the Red Wings-Capitals and Coyotes-Blackhawks matchups each carry a 6.0 total, offering secondary options for exposure to higher-scoring environments.

On the other side, games like Jets-Devils and Blues-Ducks have lower totals at 5.5, which could limit upside but might provide value in goaltending or contrarian plays. Filip Gustavsson (MIN) and Kevin Lankinen (VAN) square off in another 5.5-total game that could stay tight defensively, while Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) and Jacob Markstrom (NJD) headline one of the stronger goalie duels on the slate. Balancing exposure between high-event games and these tighter matchups will be key to building competitive lineups tonight.

Top Stacks

VGK PP1 ($20,300)

Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev, Mark Stone

The VGK PP1 stack of Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Mark Stone offers a solid combination of projected production and value. With a total salary of $20,300, the stack delivers 38.4 projected points, translating to a respectable value of 1.89 pts/$1000. Its average ownership sits at 15.2%, slightly elevated but reasonable for a high-upside power-play unit. Importantly, the optimal lineup rate of 16.7% exceeds its ownership, indicating it is slightly underutilized relative to its potential to appear in winning lineups. This makes the VGK PP1 stack an appealing option for DFS players seeking both ceiling and efficiency within their lineups while maintaining moderate differentiation from the field.

NJD PP1 ($16,700)

Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt

The NJD PP1 stack of Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt offers a strong combination of projected production and value. With a total salary of $16,700, the stack is projected for 32.8 points, translating to a solid value of 1.96 pts/$1000. Ownership comes in at an average of 15.4%, which aligns closely with its optimal lineup rate of 16.2%, suggesting it is appropriately owned relative to its chances of being in the best possible lineup. This balance between ownership and optimal rate makes the stack an efficient option for DFS lineups, particularly given its high ceiling as a power-play unit.

WSH PP1 ($19,400)

Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, Tom Wilson

The WSH PP1 stack of Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, and Tom Wilson carries a total salary of $19,400 with a projected point total of 36.7, resulting in a solid value of 1.89 pts/$1000. This makes it a reasonably efficient option for its price range in NHL DFS contests. The stack’s average ownership sits at 15.1%, which is moderately high but not overly prohibitive in terms of leverage. However, the optimal lineup rate of 12.7% suggests it is slightly over-owned relative to its chances of being the best stack on the slate. While this stack offers elite upside due to its role on the top power play unit, its ownership-to-optimal ratio indicates it may be better utilized in lineups where differentiation elsewhere can help mitigate its popularity.

C Plays

Top Play: Jack Eichel ($8,300)

Jack Eichel ($8,300) is in a strong position tonight as the top tournament-ranked center on the slate. His matchup against Pittsburgh is appealing, given the Penguins’ inconsistency in suppressing high-danger chances this season. Eichel’s recent form has been solid, with five points in his last three games, including three power-play contributions. His 26.4% optimal lineup rate reflects his ability to deliver both a high floor and ceiling, thanks to his heavy involvement in Vegas’ offense and consistent shot volume (189 shots over 60 games). At 1.91x value and a projection of 15.82 DraftKings points, he’s priced appropriately for his upside.

However, at 18.9% projected ownership, Eichel will likely be one of the chalkier plays on the slate relative to other options at center. While that level of popularity isn’t prohibitive given his elite profile, it does limit his leverage appeal in tournaments. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk, Eichel’s combination of role and production justifies it here. For those looking to differentiate lineups, consider pivoting to lower-owned centers with comparable ceilings or stacking him strategically with teammates to maximize correlation in what should be a competitive game environment.

Honorable Mentions

• Nico Hischier ($6,000)
• Dylan Larkin ($7,100)
• Sidney Crosby ($7,300)

W Plays

Top Play: Jesper Bratt ($5,000)

Jesper Bratt stands out as a strong DFS option at $5,000 in a matchup against Winnipeg. His combination of value (1.98x) and optimal lineup appearance rate (17.1%) underscores his appeal in tournaments, where he ranks as the top GPP play on the slate. Bratt’s recent production has leaned heavily on his playmaking ability, with two assists in his last outing and 14 over a 10-game span prior to that. His role on New Jersey’s top-six and power play gives him consistent opportunities to contribute, and Winnipeg’s middle-of-the-pack defense doesn’t pose enough of a threat to shy away from him here.

At 14.2% projected ownership, Bratt is one of the more popular plays tonight, but this level of chalk feels warranted given his price point and upside. He offers solid floor potential with nearly 10 DK points projected and added ceiling through offensive exposure alongside high-scoring teammates like Jack Hughes. While he won’t provide much leverage in GPPs due to his popularity, fading him entirely could be risky given how often he lands in optimal lineups. If you’re building multiple lineups, Bratt makes sense as a core piece in cash games or as part of correlated stacks for tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

• Alex Ovechkin ($8,000)
• Timo Meier ($5,700)
• Kyle Connor ($7,800)

D Plays

Top Play: John Carlson ($5,400)

John Carlson ($5,400) stands out as a strong play on this slate, especially given his consistent production and affordable salary for a defenseman with his upside. He’s riding an eight-game assist streak and continues to log heavy minutes in all situations for the Capitals. With 38 points in 57 games and a plus-23 rating, he’s one of the most reliable blueliners in DFS. The matchup against Detroit is favorable, as the Red Wings rank in the bottom half of the league in goals allowed per game and penalty kill efficiency. Carlson’s role on Washington’s top power play unit further boosts his appeal, making him a solid option for both floor and ceiling at this price point.

The 18.4% projected ownership is high relative to the field average but seems warranted given his combination of value (2.08x) and optimal lineup appearance rate (11.5%). While he won’t provide much leverage in tournaments, his ability to contribute across multiple categories—shots, blocks, assists—gives him a secure floor with upside for more if Washington capitalizes on Detroit’s defensive vulnerabilities. If you’re comfortable eating chalk at defense, Carlson is one of the better options on this slate.

Honorable Mentions

• Alex Pietrangelo ($5,800)
• Mikhail Sergachev ($5,700)
• Moritz Seider ($5,300)

G Plays

Top Play: Spencer Knight ($7,200)

Spencer Knight ($7,200) is an intriguing option in goal for tournaments tonight. Coming off a stellar 41-save performance in his Blackhawks debut, Knight has shown he’s capable of delivering a strong ceiling when given the opportunity. The matchup against Utah isn’t overly intimidating, as their offense ranks middle of the pack, and Chicago’s willingness to allow high shot volume (as evidenced by Knight facing 42 shots in his last start) sets up a favorable environment for fantasy production. At just $7,200, his 1.73x value projection and appearance in 12.5% of optimal lineups make him a strong point-per-dollar play with upside.

Ownership-wise, Knight is projected at 8%, which is moderate but not overwhelming compared to the field average for goalies (3.9%). This level of ownership strikes a nice balance—it doesn’t scream chalk but also suggests there’s enough interest to justify his potential value. Given his affordable salary and recent form, Knight offers solid leverage for GPPs while still carrying a reasonable floor due to expected shot volume. He’s worth considering if you’re looking for a mid-tier goalie with upside in tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

• Jordan Binnington ($8,000)
• Connor Hellebuyck ($7,500)
• Ilya Samsonov ($8,400)

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