FREE 04/21 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 4-game NHL slate offers a mix of intriguing matchups. The Canadiens-Capitals game (O/U: 6.0) could see some offensive upside, with Sam Montembeault and Logan Thompson manning the nets. Meanwhile, the Avalanche-Stars matchup (O/U: 6.0) features two high-powered offenses but also strong goaltending, as Jake Oettinger gets the nod for Dallas.

On the lower-total side, the Blues-Jets (O/U: 5.5) game pits Jordan Binnington against Connor Hellebuyck in what could be a tighter contest, while the Oilers-Kings matchup (O/U: 5.5) closes out the night with Stuart Skinner facing Darcy Kuemper. With fewer games on the slate, finding value and picking spots for upside will be critical—especially in contests with high totals or shaky goaltending situations.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($23,500)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin

The COL PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Valeri Nichushkin offers a strong projected output of 44.0 points with a solid value of 1.87 pts/$1000 based on their $23,500 combined salary. While the stack provides high upside, its average ownership of 21.9% indicates it will be relatively popular in tournaments, slightly exceeding its optimal lineup rate of 19.3%. This suggests the stack may carry some inefficiency in terms of leverage but remains a viable option for DFS lineups due to its elite ceiling and correlation as a power-play unit.

WPG PP1 ($19,700)

Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey

The WPG PP1 stack of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Josh Morrissey offers a strong combination of projected points and value for DFS lineups. With a total salary of $19,700, the stack is projected to score 35.8 points, resulting in a solid value of 1.82 pts/$1000. Ownership sits at an average of 16.2%, which is moderately high but justified by the stack’s optimal lineup rate of 17.7%, indicating it has a slightly positive leverage in terms of efficiency relative to its popularity. This makes the stack a viable option for both cash games and tournaments, as it balances upside with reasonable ownership levels while maintaining strong point-per-dollar potential.

WSH PP1 ($18,900)

Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, Dylan Strome

The WSH PP1 stack, consisting of Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, and Dylan Strome, is projected for 35.8 points with a total salary of $18,900, yielding a solid value of 1.90 pts/$1000. This places the stack as an efficient option in terms of cost per point. The average ownership rate of 18.1% indicates moderate popularity in tournaments, while its optimal lineup rate of 17.6% suggests that its likelihood to appear in the best lineups aligns closely with its expected usage. This balance between ownership and optimal rate makes it a viable choice for DFS players seeking a productive yet appropriately leveraged power-play stack.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($9,500)

Nathan MacKinnon sits atop the DFS rankings for good reason. Projected for 18.1 DraftKings points and appearing in 27.3% of optimal lineups, he’s a clear top option despite his hefty $9,500 salary. His recent three-point performance against Dallas underscores his ability to dominate even strong defensive teams, and his power play role gives him added upside against a Stars penalty kill that ranks middle of the pack. While his value (1.9x) doesn’t jump off the page due to the high salary, his combination of floor and ceiling makes him a foundational piece in both cash games and tournaments.

That said, MacKinnon’s 29.7% projected ownership is worth considering in GPPs. At such high exposure relative to the field average, he’s clearly chalky, but it feels justified given his elite projection and involvement in Colorado’s offense. If you’re looking to differentiate your lineup while still benefiting from MacKinnon’s upside, consider stacking him with lower-owned Avalanche teammates or using contrarian plays elsewhere in your build. Ultimately, fading him entirely feels risky given how frequently he lands in optimal lineups, but there are ways to mitigate the ownership without sacrificing too much potential upside.

Honorable Mentions

• Mark Scheifele ($6,300)
• Dylan Strome ($5,600)

W Plays

Top Play: Alex Ovechkin ($7,800)

Alex Ovechkin is in a prime spot tonight against Montreal, making him one of the most appealing high-salary plays on the slate. The Canadiens’ defensive struggles—particularly on the penalty kill—set up well for Ovechkin’s elite power-play role. His shot volume remains steady, and with 237 shots over 65 games this season, his floor is as reliable as ever. At $7,800, he projects for 14.95 DraftKings points and appears in 26.8% of optimal lineups, underscoring his strong combination of value (1.92x) and upside in this matchup.

The main consideration here is ownership, as Ovechkin’s expected 20.7% roster rate makes him one of the chalkier plays on the slate. While that might deter some from using him in tournaments, it’s hard to argue against the chalk being justified given his ceiling and game environment. Montreal’s defensive metrics align poorly against a high-volume shooter like Ovechkin, and fading him could be risky given his potential to dominate in this spot. If you’re comfortable eating the ownership, he’s an excellent anchor for both cash games and GPPs tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Kyle Connor ($7,700)
• Kevin Fiala ($5,800)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($8,000)

Cale Makar ($8,000) is in a strong spot tonight despite the tough road matchup against Dallas. His offensive upside from the blue line is undeniable, as he’s projected for 15.6 DK points and appears in over 21% of optimal lineups. With career highs in goals (30) and points (92) this season, Makar has been a consistent force, and his elite power-play role keeps his ceiling intact even against a defensively solid Stars team. The game environment might not scream high scoring, but Makar’s ability to contribute across multiple categories—shots, blocks, and assists—gives him a safe floor and tournament-winning upside.

At 26% projected ownership, Makar will be one of the chalkiest plays on the slate. While that level of popularity can sometimes warrant fading in tournaments, it feels justified here given his consistent production and positional scarcity at defense. If you’re looking to differentiate your lineup while keeping exposure to Colorado’s offense, stacking Makar with Nathan MacKinnon or Mikko Rantanen could provide correlation upside without fully eating all the chalk. Ultimately, Makar is expensive but worth it for both cash games and GPPs due to his combination of floor, ceiling, and reliability in an elite role.

Honorable Mentions

• Jakob Chychrun ($5,200)
• John Carlson ($5,500)

G Plays

Top Play: Darcy Kuemper ($7,800)

Darcy Kuemper ($7,800) stands out as a strong option in net for tournaments tonight, despite his relatively high ownership at 19.3%. The matchup against Edmonton is far from easy, but Kuemper’s recent form has been elite. Over his last 16 starts, he’s posted a stellar 1.27 GAA and .946 save percentage, making him one of the most reliable goalies down the stretch. With a projection of 13.96 DK points and appearing in 18.7% of optimal lineups, there’s clear value here at his price point, especially given his ability to steal games even in tough matchups.

The ownership is certainly higher than ideal for a tournament play, but it’s not entirely unwarranted given his recent performance and affordable salary. Edmonton brings offensive firepower to the table, but that also means shot volume opportunities for Kuemper to rack up saves—key for DFS scoring. At $7,800, he provides a solid mix of upside and value if you’re comfortable eating some chalk in goal. If you’re looking to pivot in GPPs, consider less popular options in similarly challenging matchups, but Kuemper remains one of the top plays on paper tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Connor Hellebuyck ($8,200)
• Stuart Skinner ($7,600)

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