FREE 04/24 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 4-game NHL DFS slate offers a mix of intriguing matchups and tight totals, with all four games sitting at 5.5 or lower. The Florida-Tampa Bay game kicks things off early at 6:30 PM ET, featuring two elite netminders in Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy. While the low total might limit stacking appeal, there’s always upside when top-tier offenses like these are involved. Toronto-Ottawa follows shortly after, where Linus Ullmark and Anthony Stolarz will look to hold down the fort in another 5.5-total matchup that could offer sneaky value if either team’s offense gets rolling.

The later games bring more defensive-minded setups, starting with Vegas-Minnesota at 9:00 PM ET. Adin Hill and Filip Gustavsson have both been steady in net, which aligns with the modest 5.5 total here. Lastly, Winnipeg-St. Louis closes out the night at 9:30 PM ET as the lowest-total game on the slate (5.0). Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington are both capable of stealing the show, but that also makes it a challenging spot for DFS scoring outside of contrarian plays. With tight matchups across the board, focusing on efficient stacks and goaltending stability will be key tonight.

Top Stacks

MIN PP1 ($20,300)

Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek

The MIN PP1 stack of Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek is projected for 38.0 points at a total salary of $20,300, resulting in a solid value of 1.87 pts/$1000. With an average ownership rate of 18.8% and an optimal lineup rate of 18.7%, the stack is efficiently aligned with its likelihood to appear in top-performing lineups, making it neither over- nor under-owned in relation to its ceiling. This balance between ownership and optimal rate suggests it is a viable option for both cash games and tournaments, offering high upside without significant leverage concerns relative to its projection.

TOR PP1 ($23,400)

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander

The TOR PP1 stack of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander is projected for 37.8 points at a total salary of $23,400, resulting in a solid value of 1.61 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 10.8%, the stack offers moderate leverage given its optimal lineup rate of 16.1%, indicating it has a higher chance of appearing in winning lineups than its ownership suggests. This combination of strong projection, reasonable value, and favorable optimal rate relative to ownership makes this power-play unit a viable option for DFS lineups seeking both upside and leverage in tournaments.

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 production and value. With a total salary of $19,700, the stack delivers 33.8 projected points, translating to a solid value of 1.72 pts/$1000. Ownership is moderately high at an average of 12.2%, but it remains reasonable given the stack’s optimal lineup rate of 14.0%, which slightly exceeds its ownership percentage and indicates positive leverage potential. This makes the stack an appealing option for DFS lineups, particularly for those seeking a balance between ceiling and efficiency without overexposure to heavily owned combinations.

C Plays

Top Play: Auston Matthews ($9,200)

Auston Matthews ($9,200) is in a prime spot for DFS lineups tonight as the Maple Leafs take on the Senators. Ottawa has struggled defensively this season, ranking in the bottom third of the league in goals allowed per game and penalty kill efficiency. Matthews, coming off a strong stretch with points in eight of his last nine games, continues to log heavy ice time on Toronto’s top line and first power-play unit. His shot volume remains elite, averaging over five shots per game recently, which gives him both a secure floor and massive upside. With a projection of 15.8 DK points and appearing in 25.2% of optimal lineups, he’s one of the slate’s most reliable high-salary options.

The 18.1% projected ownership is notable but not prohibitive given Matthews’ ceiling in this matchup. While he’ll be popular, his ability to dominate on both even strength and the man advantage justifies the chalk in cash games and even some tournament builds. If you’re looking to differentiate elsewhere, consider stacking him with lower-owned linemates or correlating with Toronto’s power play to maximize upside. The price tag is steep, but Matthews’ combination of talent, matchup, and role makes him worth prioritizing tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Joel Eriksson Ek ($5,900)
• Tim Stuetzle ($5,500)

W Plays

Top Play: Kirill Kaprizov ($8,000)

Kirill Kaprizov ($8,000) stands out as a top-tier option on tonight’s slate, even in a challenging matchup against Vegas. His 14.4 DK point projection and appearance in 23.7% of optimal lineups highlight his strong combination of floor and ceiling. Kaprizov has been a consistent force offensively, with five points across the first two games of this playoff series, including two multi-point performances. His heavy involvement on Minnesota’s top line and power play ensures plenty of opportunities to generate offense, even against a disciplined Golden Knights squad.

At 18% projected ownership, Kaprizov is one of the chalkier plays on the slate, but it feels justified given his role and upside. While Vegas is a tough defensive team, they’ve shown some vulnerability to elite wingers, making this less of a stay-away spot than it might seem at first glance. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk in tournaments, Kaprizov offers both safety and explosiveness at $8,000. However, if you’re looking for leverage elsewhere in GPPs, fading him could make sense given the ownership relative to his value multiplier (1.8x).

Honorable Mentions

• Kyle Connor ($7,400)
• Matt Boldy ($6,400)

D Plays

Top Play: Jake Sanderson ($5,700)

Jake Sanderson ($5,700) stands out as a strong DFS option tonight against Toronto. His combination of power-play production and heavy ice time makes him a valuable mid-tier defenseman. Sanderson has been a key driver of Ottawa’s offense, finishing the season with 30+ power-play points, which accounts for over half of his total production. Toronto’s penalty kill has been inconsistent at times, and with Sanderson quarterbacking the Senators’ top power-play unit, he’s in a good spot to capitalize. At 2.1x value and projected for nearly 12 DK points, his floor is solid given his role in all situations (28:21 TOI in his last outing), while his ceiling remains appealing due to his offensive upside.

The main concern here is ownership, as Sanderson is projected to be rostered in 17.2% of lineups—high compared to the field average. While this chalk may seem steep, it’s justified given his role and matchup. He also appears in 17.2% of optimal lineups, aligning with his ownership percentage and reinforcing that he’s not being overvalued by the field. If you’re playing cash games or looking for stability in tournaments, Sanderson is a reliable choice. However, if you’re aiming for leverage in GPPs, pivoting to a lower-owned defenseman with similar upside might be worth considering depending on your lineup construction.

Honorable Mentions

• Victor Hedman ($6,000)
• Josh Morrissey ($5,800)

G Plays

Top Play: Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,900)

Andrei Vasilevskiy ($7,900) comes with significant ownership at 24.4%, but there’s good reason for the chalk in this spot. Despite an ugly Game 1 performance where he allowed six goals on just 16 shots, Vasilevskiy remains one of the most reliable DFS goaltenders, especially in high-leverage situations. Tampa Bay is back at home and will likely tighten up defensively against a Florida team that ranked middle of the pack in scoring during the regular season. Vasilevskiy’s projection of 13.56 DK points and appearance in 17.5% of optimal lineups highlight his strong value for tournaments, especially given his salary under $8k.

The high ownership does limit his appeal as a contrarian play, but it’s hard to ignore his upside in a bounce-back scenario. With a proven track record in playoff series and Tampa Bay’s ability to control pace at home, Vasilevskiy offers both stability and ceiling potential. While the chalk may scare some off in GPPs, he still stands out as the top goalie option on this slate given his combination of price point, matchup context, and historical performance under pressure. If you’re looking to differentiate elsewhere in your lineup, eating the chalk here seems justified.

Honorable Mentions

• Anthony Stolarz ($7,800)
• Jordan Binnington ($7,400)

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