FREE 1/25 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a loaded 10-game NHL slate tonight, offering plenty of opportunities to find value and upside for your DFS lineups. The Lightning-Red Wings matchup jumps out with the highest total on the board at 6.5, featuring Andrei Vasilevskiy against Cam Talbot in what could turn into a high-scoring affair. Meanwhile, Devils-Canadiens and Predators-Ducks both sit at 6.0 totals, making them intriguing spots for stacking options, especially with some inconsistent goaltending in play.

On the flip side, games like Stars-Blues and Flames-Wild carry lower 5.5 totals but may still provide sneaky value if you’re looking to differentiate your lineups. With several elite netminders in action—including Juuse Saros and Sergei Bobrovsky—goalie selection will be critical tonight as well. With that in mind… Our January 25 Starting Lineup is now LIVE!

Top Stacks

NSH PP1 ($21,000)

Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Jonathan Marchessault

The NSH PP1 stack of Forsberg, Josi, and Marchessault offers strong upside with a projected 41.0 points and an optimal rate of 13.6%, exceeding its average ownership of 11.5%, which suggests it is slightly underutilized in tournaments. The $21,000 salary results in a value of 1.95 pts/$1000, making it a viable mid-to-high-cost stack with efficiency relative to its price. Correlation is strong, as this trio benefits from power-play synergy, increasing their ceiling in high-event games or penalty-heavy matchups. While not a contrarian play, the modest ownership combined with solid projection and correlation makes this stack tournament-viable, especially in contests requiring balance between leverage and raw point potential.

MIN PP1 ($20,000)

Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek

The Minnesota PP1 stack of Kaprizov, Boldy, and Eriksson Ek offers strong upside due to their elite offensive roles on the power play and high individual scoring ceilings. With a projected 38.5 points at a combined salary of $20,000, this stack provides solid value (1.93 pts/$1000) while maintaining leverage in tournaments with an optimal rate (11.8%) exceeding its average ownership (8.1%). The correlation between these players amplifies their ceiling, as power-play goals often involve multiple point contributions from the unit. Given their modest ownership and favorable leverage metrics, this stack is viable for large-field GPPs, especially in game environments conducive to high-event hockey or weaker opposing penalty kills.

NJD PP1 ($21,600)

Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt

The New Jersey Devils’ PP1 stack of Hughes, Hischier, and Bratt offers strong upside with a projected 38.9 points and an optimal rate of 10.0%, exceeding their average ownership of 7.1%, indicating positive leverage for tournaments. This trio benefits from elite correlation on the top power-play unit, maximizing their potential for multi-point performances in high-event game environments. While the $21,600 salary requires value plays elsewhere, their 1.80 pts/$1000 value is competitive for a high-ceiling stack. Given their relatively modest ownership and favorable leverage metrics, this stack is highly viable in GPPs where differentiation is key.

C Plays

Top Play: Joel Eriksson Ek ($4,800)

Joel Eriksson Ek ($4,800) stands out as an excellent value play at center in tonight’s slate. His 2.23x value projection and 12.58% optimal lineup rate highlight his strong potential to outperform his salary, especially in a favorable matchup against Calgary. The Flames have struggled defensively this season, ranking in the bottom half of the league in goals allowed per game, which enhances Eriksson Ek’s upside. With first-unit power-play exposure and 81 shots on goal through 31 games, he offers a solid floor through shot volume while maintaining a ceiling tied to his role on special teams.

At just 10.83% projected ownership, Eriksson Ek provides a nice mix of safety and leverage for tournaments. His ability to contribute across multiple categories—shots, hits, and power-play production—makes him less reliant on scoring to return value. While he plays on Minnesota’s second line, the team leans heavily on him in all situations, giving him consistent opportunities to produce. At this price point, he’s one of the better mid-range options available for both cash games and GPPs.

Honorable Mentions

• Jack Hughes ($8,500)
• Auston Matthews ($9,000)
• Dylan Larkin ($6,500)

W Plays

Top Play: Filip Forsberg ($7,400)

Filip Forsberg ($7,400) is in a fantastic spot tonight against Anaheim, a team that continues to struggle defensively. The Ducks rank near the bottom of the league in goals allowed per game and penalty kill efficiency, which sets up well for Forsberg, who remains red-hot with nine goals and eight assists during his current nine-game point streak. His shot volume is elite—167 shots on the season—and he’s coming off back-to-back multi-goal performances. At 17.88% optimal lineup probability and 13.07% projected ownership, Forsberg offers solid leverage as a high-upside tournament play.

The salary is steep, but Forsberg’s recent production more than justifies it. His 14.94 DK point projection gives him a strong value of 2.02x, making him one of the better high-priced options on this slate. With top-line minutes and power play exposure, he has both a secure floor and significant ceiling potential in this matchup. If you’re looking for a proven scorer with game-breaking ability at modest ownership, Forsberg checks all the boxes tonight in what should be an up-tempo game environment against Anaheim’s porous defense.

Honorable Mentions

• Matthew Tkachuk ($6,800)
• Kirill Kaprizov ($8,700)
• Nikita Kucherov ($8,800)

D Plays

Top Play: Roman Josi ($7,400)

Roman Josi ($7,400) is a strong play on this slate, especially in a favorable matchup against the Ducks. Anaheim ranks near the bottom of the league in both goals allowed and penalty kill efficiency, creating an ideal environment for Josi to extend his seven-game point streak. With two goals and eight assists over that stretch—including six power-play points—his offensive contributions remain elite. His shot volume (127 shots on goal this season) and power-play role provide a solid floor, while his ceiling is boosted by Anaheim’s defensive struggles. At 13.4% optimal lineup probability, he offers both reliability and upside at his price.

Ownership sits at a reasonable 12%, making him a viable option in both cash games and tournaments. While not a low-owned contrarian play, he’s unlikely to be overly chalky given his salary and positional depth. The Predators’ reliance on Josi for offensive production further enhances his appeal in this spot. If you’re looking to pay up for a defenseman with a secure floor and multi-point potential, Josi checks all the boxes here.

Honorable Mentions

• Zach Werenski ($8,600)
• Moritz Seider ($5,800)
• Gustav Forsling ($4,200)

G Plays

Top Play: Marcus Hogberg ($7,100)

Marcus Hogberg ($7,100) is an intriguing tournament option at goalie tonight against Carolina. While the Hurricanes are a high-powered offense, ranking fifth in the NHL with 3.37 goals per game, Hogberg has been stellar in limited action this season. His 1.32 GAA and .952 save percentage over six appearances highlight his ability to handle tough matchups, and at just 6.2% projected ownership, he offers excellent leverage in large-field GPPs. With a strong value of 1.9x and appearing in 10.1% of optimal lineups, he’s a viable contrarian pivot if you’re looking to differentiate your builds.

The game environment isn’t ideal for cash games given Carolina’s offensive firepower, but Hogberg’s recent form suggests he can rise to the challenge. At $7,100, he provides salary relief without sacrificing upside, especially if he can rack up saves against one of the league’s most active shooting teams. His low ownership combined with his current level of play makes him a strong consideration for tournaments where you need ceiling potential and leverage over the field.

Honorable Mentions

• Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,000)
• Juuse Saros ($8,400)
• Sergei Bobrovsky ($8,500)

Good luck today! 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!