FREE 04/10 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a loaded 10-game NHL slate tonight, offering plenty of options for DFS lineups. The highest total on the board belongs to the Sabres-Blue Jackets matchup (6.5), which could see some fireworks with James Reimer and Daniil Tarasov confirmed in net. Another game to watch is Blackhawks-Bruins (6.0), where Boston is a heavy favorite with Jeremy Swayman between the pipes against Arvid Soderblom. If you’re looking for lower-scoring environments, Jets-Stars and Ducks-Kings both sit at 5.5 totals, with strong goaltending matchups like Connor Hellebuyck vs. Jake Oettinger and Lukas Dostal vs. Darcy Kuemper.

For those targeting elite goaltenders, Igor Shesterkin gets the nod for the Rangers in their rivalry game against the Islanders (6.0), while Juuse Saros looks poised for a busy night on the road against Arizona (6.0). On the other hand, Sergei Bobrovsky and Cam Talbot face off in Florida for what could be a more defensive affair given its modest 5.5 total. With such a diverse slate of games and totals across the board, there’s no shortage of ways to build your lineups tonight—whether you’re stacking high-powered offenses or leaning on top-tier goalies in tighter contests.

Top Stacks

VGK PP1 ($16,700)

Tomas Hertl, Pavel Dorofeyev, Mark Stone

The VGK PP1 stack of Tomas Hertl, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Mark Stone offers a solid projection of 33.0 points at a total salary of $16,700, resulting in a respectable value of 1.97 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 9.4%, this stack is moderately popular but not overly chalky, aligning closely with its optimal lineup rate of 9.3%. This balance between ownership and optimal rate suggests the stack is fairly priced and carries reasonable upside relative to its expected usage in lineups. As a power-play unit, it provides concentrated scoring potential, making it a viable option for DFS lineups seeking both ceiling and efficiency.

COL PP1 ($20,900)

Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin, Brock Nelson

The COL PP1 stack of Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin, and Brock Nelson offers a solid projected point total of 39.0 at a combined salary of $20,900, resulting in a value of 1.86 pts/$1000. While this value is respectable for a high-salary stack, it doesn’t stand out as elite in terms of efficiency. The average ownership rate of 10.2% places this stack in moderately popular territory, but its optimal lineup rate of 9.2% suggests it may be slightly over-owned relative to its chances of appearing in the best possible lineup. As a power-play-focused stack, it provides correlation upside but requires careful consideration given its ownership-to-optimal disparity and relatively average value per dollar.

BOS PP1 ($21,000)

David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, Elias Lindholm

The BOS PP1 stack of David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and Elias Lindholm carries a total salary of $21,000 with a projected point output of 38.6, translating to a value of 1.84 pts/$1000. While the stack offers strong raw point potential, its average ownership of 13.3% outweighs its optimal lineup rate of 9.0%, indicating it may be over-owned relative to its likelihood of being in the most successful lineups. This discrepancy suggests that while the stack has appeal due to its high-end scoring upside, its efficiency as a DFS play is diminished by elevated ownership compared to its optimal rate.

C Plays

Top Play: Tomas Hertl ($5,000)

Tomas Hertl ($5,000) makes for an intriguing play in Thursday’s matchup against Seattle. Coming off a shoulder injury that kept him out for eight games, his return is well-timed as he looks to regain form ahead of the playoffs. Hertl has been productive this season with 59 points in 70 games while contributing in multiple categories, including hits and blocked shots, which bolster his floor. His projection of 11.3 DK points and strong value at 2.26x make him a solid mid-range option, especially considering his role as a top-six center with power play exposure.

The 11.6% projected ownership does make him chalky relative to the field average, but it feels justified given his price point and tournament-leading rank (1st). He also appears in 13.4% of optimal lineups, signaling strong potential upside despite the elevated ownership. Seattle is a middle-of-the-pack defensive team, which doesn’t pose a particularly tough matchup for Hertl. While he’s not sneaking under the radar, his combination of affordability, opportunity, and multi-category production makes him a viable option in both cash games and tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

• Bo Horvat ($6,400)
• Sean Monahan ($5,600)
• Brock Nelson ($5,900)

W Plays

Top Play: David Pastrnak ($8,800)

David Pastrnak ($8,800) stands out as an elite play in all formats tonight against the Blackhawks. Chicago has struggled defensively all season, ranking near the bottom of the league in both goals allowed and penalty kill efficiency. Pastrnak’s role as Boston’s primary offensive weapon, combined with his massive shot volume, gives him one of the safest floors on the slate. His projection of 18.2 DraftKings points leads all skaters, and his 18.1% optimal lineup rate underscores his strong combination of floor and ceiling at this salary.

While his 19.4% ownership is high relative to field averages, it’s justified given his upside in this matchup. Chalk isn’t always ideal in tournaments, but Pastrnak’s ability to dominate weaker opponents makes him worth considering even at elevated ownership levels. If you’re fading him in GPPs, it’s less about concerns with his spot and more about finding leverage elsewhere. For cash games or single-entry contests, though, he’s hard to ignore given how secure his production has been this season.

Honorable Mentions

• Kevin Fiala ($6,500)
• Adrian Kempe ($6,600)
• Mark Stone ($5,700)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($8,300)

Cale Makar comes with a hefty price tag at $8,300, but his consistent production and elite role make him a strong consideration on this slate. Facing Vancouver, Makar’s offensive ceiling is hard to ignore, especially given his involvement in all situations for Colorado. He’s riding a four-game point streak with three goals and four assists during that span, and his 243 shots on the season provide an excellent floor. The Canucks have been better defensively this year but still rank middle of the pack in expected goals allowed, leaving room for Makar to capitalize, particularly on the power play.

At 10.6% projected ownership, Makar will be one of the more popular plays among defensemen, which makes sense given his reliability and upside. While he doesn’t offer much leverage in tournaments due to his chalkier nature, his 12.2% optimal lineup rate suggests the high ownership is warranted. If you’re paying up at defense, Makar provides a solid mix of floor and ceiling that justifies the investment despite the crowd. However, if you’re looking for differentiation in GPPs, pivoting to a lower-owned option or stacking Makar with other Avalanche skaters could help you gain leverage without fading one of the slate’s top plays.

Honorable Mentions

• Zach Werenski ($8,100)
• Rasmus Dahlin ($6,700)
• John Carlson ($5,500)

G Plays

Top Play: Darcy Kuemper ($8,500)

Darcy Kuemper ($8,500) is in a strong spot against an Anaheim team that ranks 27th in the league in goals per game (2.71). His recent form has been outstanding, posting a .949 save percentage and 1.21 GAA over his last 14 starts. With the Kings playing at home and heavily favored, Kuemper offers both a high floor and ceiling, particularly given his ability to limit goals consistently. His 12.78% optimal lineup rate underscores his appeal as one of the top goalie options on this slate.

At 10.7% projected ownership, Kuemper will be popular but not overwhelmingly so. While the chalk is notable, it’s justified given his elite recent performance and favorable matchup against a low-scoring Ducks team. If you’re looking for stability in cash games or tournaments, Kuemper fits the bill as a reliable anchor in net. However, in GPPs, consider pivoting if you’re aiming for lower-owned leverage plays at similar price points.

Honorable Mentions

• Cam Talbot ($7,200)
• Igor Shesterkin ($7,600)
• Jeremy Swayman ($8,100)

Good luck! 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!