FREE 03/15 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 8-game NHL slate offers a solid mix of intriguing matchups and DFS opportunities. The Lightning-Bruins game (5.5 total) features two elite goalies in Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jeremy Swayman, which could limit scoring upside, but don’t overlook Boston’s top line in GPPs. On the flip side, the Senators-Maple Leafs matchup (6.0 total) has more offensive potential, with Anthony Stolarz confirmed in net for Toronto—an angle worth exploring for those targeting Ottawa’s top scorers.

For value plays, keep an eye on the Rangers-Blue Jackets game (6.0 total), where Columbus’ Daniil Tarasov faces a tough test against a high-powered New York offense led by Artemi Panarin. Late-night hammer options include the Blackhawks-Canucks tilt (5.5 total), where Vancouver’s Arturs Silovs gets the nod in net—potentially opening up opportunities for Chicago to provide sneaky value plays. With totals mostly hovering around 5.5, finding the right mix of stacks and secondary pieces will be key to differentiating your lineups tonight.

Top Stacks

TBL PP1 ($21,100)

Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman

The TBL PP1 stack of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Victor Hedman offers a strong combination of projected points and value for NHL DFS contests. With a total salary of $21,100, the stack is projected to score 36.8 points, translating to a solid value of 1.75 pts/$1000. This makes it an efficient option in terms of salary allocation for high-end production. The average ownership rate of 8.0% positions this stack as moderately popular but not overwhelmingly chalky, while its optimal lineup rate of 12.2% indicates a favorable leverage opportunity relative to ownership. Overall, the TBL PP1 stack provides a balanced mix of upside and differentiation in GPP formats based on its projection and usage metrics.

FLA PP1 ($19,600)

Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett

The FLA PP1 stack of Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Bennett offers a solid combination of projected points and value. With a total salary of $19,600, the stack is projected to score 36.0 points, equating to a value of 1.84 pts/$1000. This positions it as an efficient option relative to its cost. The average ownership of 10.1% indicates moderate popularity among DFS players, while its optimal lineup rate of 11.8% slightly exceeds its ownership, suggesting it may offer leverage in tournaments. As a power-play unit stack, it provides concentrated upside from high-value scoring opportunities, making it a viable choice for both value and potential differentiation in lineups.

TOR PP1 ($21,600)

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner

The TOR PP1 stack of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner is projected for 40.4 points at a total salary of $21,600, yielding a solid value of 1.87 points per $1000. With an average ownership of 11.1% and an optimal lineup rate of 11.2%, the stack offers a balanced risk-reward profile, aligning its likelihood of appearing in optimal lineups with its expected popularity. As a power-play unit (PP1), the stack consolidates high-upside offensive players, making it a strong option for both ceiling and correlation without excessive ownership concerns relative to its projection and value.

C Plays

Top Play: Auston Matthews ($8,500)

Auston Matthews ($8,500) is in a prime spot tonight against the Senators, who have struggled defensively this season, allowing the fifth-most goals per game. Matthews enters this matchup on a 12-game point streak, amassing 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) during that stretch. While his shooting percentage (11.9%) remains below his career average (15.9%), his shot volume and power-play role keep his floor intact. With a projection of 17 DK points and appearing in 14.3% of optimal lineups, he offers strong value at 2x despite the hefty salary.

At an expected ownership of 18.2%, Matthews will likely be one of the most popular plays on the slate, but it’s chalk worth eating in cash games given his elite combination of floor and ceiling. For tournaments, you’ll need to consider how to differentiate elsewhere in your lineup if you roster him. The high game total combined with Toronto’s top-tier power play creates an ideal environment for offensive upside. Matthews’ consistency and role make him a top option even in a highly owned spot.

Honorable Mentions

• Sam Bennett ($5,800)
• Aleksander Barkov ($6,700)

W Plays

Top Play: Mitch Marner ($6,200)

Mitch Marner ($6,200) stands out as a strong play in tonight’s slate, offering both consistency and upside in his matchup against Ottawa. Marner is riding a six-game point streak with eight points (five goals), and his role on Toronto’s top line and power play ensures plenty of opportunities to keep that momentum going. Ottawa has been vulnerable defensively, particularly against high-skill wingers, making this a favorable spot for Marner to exploit. At 1.84x value and appearing in 12.2% of optimal lineups, he provides solid return potential at this salary.

The main consideration here is ownership. At 9.6%, Marner will be one of the more popular plays relative to the field average, but the chalk appears justified given his recent form and game environment. Toronto’s high-powered offense gives him a strong floor with his ice time and power-play usage, while his ceiling remains intact given his scoring ability. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk, Marner makes for a reliable option in both cash games and tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

• Nikita Kucherov ($8,700)
• David Pastrnak ($8,800)

D Plays

Top Play: Adam Fox ($4,500)

Adam Fox ($4,500) stands out as a premier value play on tonight’s slate, returning from an eight-game absence to face a Columbus team that has struggled defensively all season. His role is secure as the Rangers’ top-pair defenseman and power-play quarterback, giving him significant upside in this matchup. With 48 points through 58 games and an ability to contribute across categories (100 shots, 83 blocked shots), Fox offers both floor and ceiling at this price point. The Blue Jackets rank near the bottom of the league in goals allowed per game, which further boosts his appeal.

At 18.7% projected ownership, Fox is one of the chalkiest options on the slate, but it’s chalk that makes sense given his combination of salary, role, and matchup. He appears in 10.5% of optimal lineups and projects for a strong 2.43x value return on DraftKings, making him tough to fade in cash games. While high ownership can be less appealing in tournaments, Fox’s ability to fill multiple stat categories gives him a solid path to exceed expectations even with elevated popularity. If you’re looking for differentiation elsewhere, Fox remains a strong foundational piece for your lineup construction tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Zach Werenski ($7,900)
• Victor Hedman ($5,400)

G Plays

Top Play: Darcy Kuemper ($8,100)

Darcy Kuemper ($8,100) is a strong play in both cash and tournaments tonight, despite his elevated ownership (15.8%). He’s coming off three straight wins, including a shutout against Washington, and boasts a solid .916 save percentage with a 2.23 GAA this season. The matchup against Nashville is favorable, as the Predators rank bottom-10 in goals per game and have struggled to generate consistent offense on the road. Kuemper’s 14.1-point projection and 1.75x value make him one of the top goalie options on the slate, appearing in 9.4% of optimal lineups.

The main concern here is his popularity relative to other goalies, but his consistency and matchup justify the chalk in most formats. With Los Angeles playing strong defensive hockey in front of him, Kuemper offers a high floor while maintaining tournament-winning upside if he can rack up saves or secure another shutout. While pivoting to lower-owned options might make sense for pure leverage in large-field GPPs, Kuemper’s combination of form and opportunity makes him tough to fade completely tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Filip Gustavsson ($7,900)
• Daniil Tarasov ($7,700)

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