FREE 1/28 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

It’s an 8-game NHL slate tonight, offering a mix of high-scoring potential and strong defensive matchups to navigate for DFS. The Blackhawks-Lightning game stands out with the highest total on the board at 6.5, where Tampa Bay’s elite offense will face Arvid Soderblom in net for Chicago. Meanwhile, the Bruins-Sabres and Jets-Canadiens games both carry 6.0 totals, making them intriguing options for stacking with plenty of offensive upside on both sides. In contrast, the Capitals-Flames matchup has the lowest total at just 5.5, likely steering DFS players toward Calgary’s Dustin Wolf as a value goalie option.

On the defensive side, several elite netminders are taking the ice tonight, headlined by Igor Shesterkin for the Rangers against Frederik Andersen and the Hurricanes in what should be a tightly contested game with a 6.0 total. Ilya Sorokin also draws attention as he faces Colorado’s high-powered offense in a matchup that could test his upside in GPPs. With late-night options like Jake Oettinger versus Adin Hill in Dallas-Vegas and Lukas Dostal against Philipp Grubauer in Anaheim-Seattle, there’s no shortage of intriguing decisions across all positions to round out your lineups.

Top Stacks

TBL PP1 ($25,100)

Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel

The TBL PP1 stack of Kucherov, Point, and Guentzel offers strong upside with a projected 45.1 points, driven by elite offensive talent and power-play correlation. The inclusion of Guentzel (likely due to salary mislabeling or cross-team stacking) limits natural team synergy but could create unique tournament lineups. At an average ownership of 19.4%, this stack is relatively chalky, which diminishes its leverage given the optimal rate of 15.1%. The game environment should be assessed for high-scoring potential, as Tampa Bay’s power play thrives in fast-paced matchups against teams with below-average penalty kills. With a value of 1.80 pts/$1000, it’s priced fairly but not exceptional for tournaments; its viability hinges on differentiating elsewhere in your lineup to offset ownership concerns.

BOS PP1 ($19,500)

David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Elias Lindholm

The BOS PP1 stack of Pastrnak, Marchand, and Lindholm offers strong upside with a projected 36.3 points and an optimal rate of 11.7%, exceeding its average ownership of 7.9%, which indicates leverage in tournaments. The power-play correlation between elite scorers like Pastrnak and Marchand enhances the ceiling potential, particularly against weak penalty-killing units or in high-event game environments. At $19,500, the stack carries solid value at 1.86 pts/$1000, making it viable in GPPs despite the elevated salary. While not contrarian, the ownership levels are manageable for tournaments where differentiation elsewhere can complement this high-upside stack.

COL PP1 ($24,300)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas

The Colorado PP1 stack featuring Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas offers high upside due to elite individual skillsets and power-play correlation, with MacKinnon and Makar driving one of the league’s most potent units. The projected 42.4 points at a moderate 11.0% average ownership makes this stack viable in tournaments, though its 9.5% optimal rate suggests it’s slightly over-owned relative to its likelihood of being optimal. The $24,300 salary limits flexibility elsewhere in lineups, but the 1.75 pts/$1000 value is acceptable given the ceiling potential in favorable game environments where Colorado’s power play can exploit penalties. This stack is best deployed in GPPs where raw scoring upside outweighs efficiency concerns.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($9,500)

Nathan MacKinnon ($9,500) is a strong tournament option on tonight’s slate despite his steep salary. His projection of 17.46 DK points and 18.6% optimal lineup rate highlight his ability to deliver both floor and ceiling value, even in a tougher matchup against the Islanders. While New York tends to limit scoring chances with their defensive structure, MacKinnon’s elite shot volume and power play role make him less matchup-dependent than most players. With 77 points in 51 games this season, he’s shown consistent production regardless of opponent, and his recent chemistry with linemate Martin Necas only adds to his appeal.

At an expected ownership of 14.9%, MacKinnon offers a nice balance of upside and leverage in tournaments. He’s popular enough to feel safe but not so chalky that you’re sacrificing differentiation in GPPs. The Islanders’ ability to slow down pace might keep some DFS players away, but that could work in your favor if MacKinnon hits his ceiling. Given his involvement in Colorado’s offense and strong optimal percentage at this price point, he’s a top-tier spend-up option worth considering for your lineups tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Jack Eichel ($8,100)
• Brayden Point ($8,300)
• Sebastian Aho ($7,000)

W Plays

Top Play: Nikita Kucherov ($9,000)

Nikita Kucherov ($9,000) is in a prime spot tonight against Chicago, and his high ownership (29.2%) reflects how strong of a play he is. The Blackhawks have struggled defensively all season, making this a favorable matchup for Tampa Bay’s top offensive weapon. Kucherov’s point streak now sits at 11 games, and his 30 power-play points over 45 games highlight his elite upside with the man advantage. Given Chicago’s bottom-tier penalty kill, he’s well-positioned to continue producing in this game environment. His projection of 19.33 DK points leads all skaters on the slate, and his inclusion in 27.5% of optimal lineups reinforces the idea that he’s worth prioritizing despite the hefty price tag.

The high ownership here is warranted considering Kucherov’s combination of floor and ceiling. He offers consistent shot volume (156 shots on goal this season) to stabilize his production while maintaining slate-breaking potential with multi-point performances, especially on the power play. While eating chalk at $9,000 isn’t always ideal in tournaments, it’s hard to argue against Kucherov as the top-ranked GPP play given his form and matchup. If you’re looking for leverage elsewhere, consider differentiating with lower-owned stacks or value plays rather than fading one of the most reliable DFS options available tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• David Pastrnak ($8,800)
• Kyle Connor ($8,200)
• Jake Guentzel ($7,800)

D Plays

Top Play: Darren Raddysh ($3,700)

Darren Raddysh is an intriguing value play at $3,700 in a favorable matchup against Chicago. His power-play role on Tampa Bay’s fourth-ranked unit (28.3% conversion rate) gives him upside, particularly against a Blackhawks penalty kill that has struggled all season. With 21 points in 39 games and six coming on the man advantage, Raddysh offers enough offensive potential to justify his salary, especially given his recent uptick in production. His 8.4-point projection and 2.27x value rank him as one of the better cheap defensemen on the slate.

However, his 15.8% projected ownership makes him chalky for a player with limited peripheral contributions outside of power-play involvement. While his inclusion in 5.1% of optimal lineups suggests he’s viable in tournaments, you’ll need to weigh whether the ownership is worth it in larger-field contests where leverage matters more. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk to fit higher-priced studs elsewhere, Raddysh is a solid choice—but don’t expect much floor beyond his offensive upside in this spot.

Honorable Mentions

• Rasmus Dahlin ($6,700)
• Seth Jones ($4,500)
• Cale Makar ($8,000)

G Plays

Top Play: Igor Shesterkin ($7,400)

Igor Shesterkin ($7,400) stands out as an intriguing GPP option despite a tough matchup against the Hurricanes. Carolina generates a high volume of shots per game, which boosts Shesterkin’s save upside and provides a solid path to value at this salary. While his recent performance against Colorado was underwhelming (16 saves on 21 shots), his career track record suggests he can rebound in challenging spots. At 20.8% projected ownership, he’s likely to be one of the more popular goalie plays on the slate, but given his combination of price, save potential, and optimal lineup rate (8.3%), the chalk appears justified for tournaments.

The main concern is Carolina’s ability to control possession and capitalize offensively, especially with Mikko Rantanen now in their lineup. However, at $7,400, Shesterkin doesn’t need a shutout to pay off—if he racks up saves while keeping the damage manageable, he could easily exceed value. His 1.67x value projection is strong relative to other goalies in this range, and with the Rangers playing at home, there’s additional appeal here. For those looking to differentiate lineups slightly in GPPs without fading him completely, pairing Shesterkin with contrarian skaters elsewhere could help mitigate his higher ownership.

Honorable Mentions

• Logan Thompson ($8,300)
• Jeremy Swayman ($7,900)
• Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,500)

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