FREE 03/14 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 6-game NHL slate offers a solid mix of game environments, with a few matchups standing out for DFS purposes. The Oilers-Islanders game carries the highest total on the board at 6.5, and with Calvin Pickard in net for Edmonton, the Islanders’ top players could be in a great spot to produce. On the flip side, Ilya Sorokin’s presence makes stacking Edmonton riskier but still intriguing given their offensive firepower. Meanwhile, the Predators-Ducks matchup also features a 6.5 total, putting Anaheim’s affordable options in play against Juuse Saros, who has been strong but not unbeatable.

For lower-total games, Dallas-Winnipeg (5.5) and Colorado-Calgary (also 5.5) lean more toward defensive showdowns with elite goaltending on both sides—Jake Oettinger vs. Connor Hellebuyck and Scott Wedgewood vs. Dustin Wolf, respectively. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore these spots entirely; star power like Jason Robertson or Nathan MacKinnon can break through tough matchups any night. If you’re looking for balance between goal-scoring potential and defensive stability, Detroit-Carolina (6.0 total) and Arizona-Seattle (also 6.0) could provide sneaky value plays depending on lineup construction.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($23,500)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas

The COL PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas offers a strong combination of projected production and value. With a total salary of $23,500, the stack is projected for 44.0 points, translating to a solid value of 1.87 points per $1000. Its average ownership sits at 12.0%, which is reasonable given its high upside, while its optimal lineup rate of 16.6% indicates it is more likely to appear in winning lineups than its ownership suggests. This positive leverage makes it an appealing option for tournaments, as it balances elite scoring potential with manageable popularity among the field.

EDM PP1 ($23,400)

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard

The EDM PP1 stack of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard offers a high ceiling with a projected 42.3 points at a total salary of $23,400, resulting in a solid value of 1.81 pts/$1000. Its average ownership rate of 11.3% suggests moderate popularity, while the optimal lineup rate of 11.8% aligns closely with its ownership, indicating the stack is appropriately leveraged in DFS contests. As a power-play unit stack, it consolidates upside through correlated scoring opportunities, making it an efficient yet moderately owned option in tournaments.

WPG PP1 ($19,800)

Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers

The WPG PP1 stack of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Nikolaj Ehlers offers a solid combination of projected production and value at a total salary of $19,800. With a projection of 34.3 points, the stack delivers a respectable value of 1.73 pts/$1000, making it an efficient option in terms of salary allocation. Its average ownership of 8.1% is moderate, providing leverage potential when compared to its optimal lineup rate of 11.5%, which suggests the stack has a higher likelihood of appearing in winning lineups than its ownership implies. This combination of strong projected output and favorable optimal-to-ownership ratio makes it a viable choice for tournaments while maintaining reasonable cost efficiency.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($9,000)

Nathan MacKinnon ($9,000) is in a fantastic spot tonight against Calgary, and his recent form makes him tough to overlook despite the elevated salary. Over his last eight games, he’s racked up 15 points, including four straight multi-point outings, while averaging six shots on goal during that stretch. The Flames rank middle of the pack defensively but have struggled to suppress high-danger chances at even strength, which plays right into MacKinnon’s strengths as an elite driver of offense. With a projection of 18.6 DraftKings points and appearing in 21.3% of optimal lineups, his combination of floor (via shot volume) and ceiling (multi-point upside) is exactly what you want from a top-tier DFS play.

At 18.9% ownership, MacKinnon will be one of the chalkiest options on the slate, but it’s chalk that seems justified given his production and role as the centerpiece of Colorado’s attack. While fading him could provide leverage in tournaments, it’s a risky proposition given his consistency and ability to break slates with multi-goal performances. If you’re paying up at center tonight, MacKinnon offers both safety and upside in a matchup where he should thrive. The high price tag might force some creativity elsewhere in your lineup construction, but he’s worth building around in both cash games and GPPs.

Honorable Mentions

• Bo Horvat ($5,400)
• Nazem Kadri ($6,000)

W Plays

Top Play: Kyle Connor ($7,500)

Kyle Connor ($7,500) stands out as a strong DFS option in tonight’s matchup against Dallas. With a projection of 13.38 DK points and appearing in 16.46% of optimal lineups, he offers both a solid floor and ceiling at this price point. Connor has been on fire recently, racking up 13 points over his last nine games, including four straight with at least one point. His role as the focal point of Winnipeg’s offense—particularly on the power play—keeps him in prime scoring positions against a Stars team that has been inconsistent defensively this season.

At 11.1% projected ownership, Connor is more popular than most players on the slate, but the chalk appears justified given his recent production and upside in this spot. While Dallas is a tough opponent, Connor’s ability to generate high shot volume (210 SOG this season) ensures he maintains a strong floor even if scoring chances are limited. For tournaments, he’s best used as part of Jets stacks or mini-stacks to maximize correlation, but his consistent production makes him viable as a one-off play as well.

Honorable Mentions

• Filip Forsberg ($8,600)
• Dylan Guenther ($7,400)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($7,800)

Cale Makar ($7,800) is one of the premier options on tonight’s slate, and his recent form justifies the hefty salary. He’s riding a six-game, 12-point streak, with 10 of those points coming via assists, showcasing his elite playmaking ability. Calgary’s penalty kill ranks in the middle of the pack, which doesn’t pose much of a deterrent for Makar given his heavy usage on Colorado’s top power-play unit. With a projection of 14.22 DK points and appearing in 20.3% of optimal lineups, he offers both a high floor and significant upside for tournaments despite his elevated price tag.

At 10.3% projected ownership, Makar is relatively chalky compared to the field average but still manageable in larger contests. Given his consistent production and role as the focal point of Colorado’s offense from the blue line, this level of ownership feels warranted rather than excessive. While he doesn’t provide massive leverage, fading him could be risky considering how often he ends up in optimal lineups. If you’re paying up at defense tonight, Makar stands out as one of the safest yet ceiling-friendly plays available.

Honorable Mentions

• Jackson LaCombe ($4,300)
• Noah Dobson ($5,700)

G Plays

Top Play: Ilya Sorokin ($7,200)

Ilya Sorokin is an intriguing tournament option at $7,200 against the Oilers. While Edmonton’s ninth-ranked offense (3.22 goals per game) presents a challenging matchup, they’ll be on the second half of a back-to-back after a road loss in New Jersey. Sorokin has been solid recently, posting a .922 save percentage over his last six starts, and his salary offers strong value at 1.83x with a projection of 13.15 DK points. His appearance in 17.92% of optimal lineups underscores his upside in this spot, particularly given Edmonton’s potential fatigue.

At 8.92% projected ownership, Sorokin offers moderate leverage relative to the field average for goalies (3.9%). This level of ownership feels reasonable given his combination of affordability and ceiling, especially as the top-ranked goalie in tournament models for tonight’s slate. While there’s some risk due to Edmonton’s firepower, Sorokin’s recent form and ability to steal games make him worth considering as part of your GPP builds, especially if you’re looking to pivot off chalkier options in net.

Honorable Mentions

• Scott Wedgewood ($8,100)
• Petr Mrazek ($6,800)

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