FREE 1/26 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 4-game NHL DFS slate offers a mix of intriguing matchups and some solid goaltending to navigate. The MIN-CHI and FLA-VGK games both come in with a 6.0 total, making them prime spots to target for offense, especially with Petr Mrazek and Spencer Knight between the pipes. On the flip side, the CGY-WPG and UTA-OTT matchups each carry a 5.5 total, but don’t overlook potential value plays in those lower-scoring environments—Connor Hellebuyck at home is always worth considering in net.

With several confirmed goalies already locked in, tonight’s slate allows for early lineup building without too many late-breaking surprises. Whether you’re stacking Florida’s high-powered attack or looking for contrarian plays from Ottawa, there’s plenty of room to differentiate your builds.

Top Stacks

MIN PP1 ($21,600)

Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek

The Minnesota PP1 stack of Kaprizov, Boldy, and Eriksson Ek offers strong upside with a combined projection of 39.7 points, driven by elite offensive talent and high power-play correlation. At $21,600 in salary, the stack provides solid value (1.84 pts/$1000), though its average ownership of 24.0% slightly exceeds its optimal rate of 20.7%, suggesting it may be overutilized in large-field tournaments. The game environment is key to unlocking their ceiling, as Minnesota’s power play success will depend on matchup-specific factors like opponent penalty kill efficiency and pace of play. While viable for tournaments due to their concentrated scoring potential on special teams, this stack may require differentiation elsewhere in lineups to offset its popularity.

WPG PP1 ($20,500)

Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers

The Winnipeg Jets’ PP1 stack of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Nikolaj Ehlers offers strong upside with a projected 37.3 points and an optimal rate of 19.3%, slightly exceeding its average ownership of 18.3%. This indicates a solid leverage opportunity in tournaments, though it may not be highly contrarian. The value metric of 1.82 pts/$1000 is efficient for high-salary stacks, making it viable even in tighter lineup constructions. The correlation between these players on the power play enhances their ceiling in favorable game environments, particularly against teams with weak penalty kills or high-event tendencies. Given the price point and ownership, this stack is best suited for large-field GPPs where its efficiency and synergy can provide a competitive edge.

VGK PP1 ($19,700)

Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, Pavel Dorofeyev

The VGK PP1 stack of Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and Pavel Dorofeyev offers solid upside with a projected 36.2 points and strong correlation from power-play exposure. At a combined salary of $19,700 and a value of 1.84 points per $1,000, it provides reasonable efficiency for its price point. However, the average ownership of 18.2% slightly exceeds its optimal rate of 16.7%, suggesting it may be slightly over-owned in large-field tournaments. The game environment is key to its viability—if Vegas is in a high-scoring matchup or facing an undisciplined opponent with penalty issues, this stack’s ceiling increases significantly. While not overly contrarian, it remains tournament-viable due to the concentrated production potential on the power play. Pairing it with lower-owned secondary stacks could mitigate ownership concerns in GPPs.

C Plays

Top Play: Joel Eriksson Ek ($5,400)

Joel Eriksson Ek ($5,400) stands out as one of the top center plays on this slate, both in terms of value and upside. Facing a Chicago team that ranks near the bottom of the league in defensive metrics, Eriksson Ek is well-positioned to capitalize on this favorable matchup. His projection of 11.1 DraftKings points and 21.5% optimal lineup rate highlight his strong floor and ceiling combination at this salary. Additionally, his power play role adds further appeal against a Blackhawks penalty kill that’s struggled all season.

The one potential downside here is ownership—Eriksson Ek is projected to be rostered by nearly 28% of the field, making him one of the chalkier plays on the slate. While he’s an excellent cash game option given his consistency and value (2.05x), this ownership level could warrant consideration in tournaments if you’re looking to differentiate your lineup. That said, his combination of shot volume (94 shots in 35 games) and recent promotion to Minnesota’s top line makes him tough to fade entirely in such a plus matchup.

Honorable Mentions

• Jack Eichel ($8,200)
• Mark Scheifele ($6,600)
• Connor Bedard ($5,900)

W Plays

Top Play: Kirill Kaprizov ($9,000)

Kirill Kaprizov ($9,000) is a premier option on tonight’s slate with a strong projection of 16.2 DK points and a 27.5% optimal lineup rate. The matchup against Chicago is highly favorable, as the Blackhawks rank near the bottom of the league in goals allowed per game and penalty kill efficiency. Kaprizov’s elite shot volume (126 shots in 36 games) gives him a reliable floor, while his power play role enhances his ceiling in a spot where Minnesota should control possession. At $9,000, he’s expensive, but his combination of usage and upside makes him worth considering in both cash games and tournaments.

Ownership is the main concern here, as Kaprizov is projected to be rostered by 31.8% of the field. While this makes him less appealing as a leverage play in GPPs, his high optimal percentage suggests he’s still one of the safest spends on the slate. If you’re looking for differentiation in tournaments, consider pairing him with lower-owned Wild teammates or fading him for similarly priced alternatives like David Pastrnak or Leon Draisaitl. Ultimately, Kaprizov’s talent and matchup make him hard to ignore despite the chalky ownership.

Honorable Mentions

• Kyle Connor ($8,000)
• Nikolaj Ehlers ($5,900)
• Brady Tkachuk ($7,800)

D Plays

Top Play: Alex Pietrangelo ($4,800)

At $4,800, Alex Pietrangelo stands out as one of the top value defensemen on the slate. He’s projected for 10.3 DraftKings points and appears in 21.8% of optimal lineups, highlighting his strong combination of floor and upside at this salary. Facing Florida, a team that allows its fair share of chances to opposing blueliners, Pietrangelo’s ability to contribute across multiple categories—assists, blocked shots, and power play production—makes him particularly appealing. His recent four-game assist streak shows he’s finding ways to stay involved offensively, even if he hasn’t scored a goal since mid-December.

At just 11.7% projected ownership, Pietrangelo offers solid leverage for tournaments considering his No. 1 tournament rank among defensemen and his 2.14x value rating. Florida’s aggressive style often leads to high-event games, creating opportunities for secondary stats like blocks while maintaining offensive upside in transition play. If you’re looking for a mid-range defender with multi-category potential who won’t break the bank or be overly chalky, Pietrangelo fits the bill perfectly tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Josh Morrissey ($5,500)
• Shea Theodore ($5,700)
• MacKenzie Weegar ($5,400)

G Plays

Top Play: Connor Hellebuyck ($8,100)

Connor Hellebuyck ($8,100) stands out as a top goaltending option on this slate, and for good reason. The matchup against Calgary is favorable, with the Flames ranking in the bottom half of the league in goals per game. Hellebuyck has been rock-solid all season, sporting an elite 2.02 GAA and .926 save percentage through 39 starts. His consistency is reflected in his DFS metrics as well—he appears in 22.1% of optimal lineups and projects for 15 DK points, making him a strong value at 1.85x. While his $8,100 salary isn’t cheap, his ceiling and floor combination make him a reliable anchor for both cash games and tournaments.

The biggest consideration here is ownership. At an expected 32.2%, Hellebuyck will likely be one of the most popular plays on the slate, which limits his appeal in GPPs unless you’re comfortable eating chalk or pairing him with lower-owned skaters to differentiate your lineup. That said, he’s earned this level of attention with six wins in his last seven starts and remains one of the safest options on the board given Winnipeg’s home-ice advantage and Calgary’s offensive inconsistency. If you’re looking for a high-floor goalie who can also deliver tournament-winning upside, Hellebuyck checks all the boxes tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Filip Gustavsson ($8,300)
• Karel Vejmelka ($7,400)
• Adin Hill ($7,600)

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