FREE 1/30 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 10-game NHL slate offers a mix of intriguing matchups and DFS opportunities, with a few high-total games standing out. The Red Wings-Oilers (6.5 O/U) and Blue Jackets-Golden Knights (6.5 O/U) project as the most fantasy-friendly environments, making them prime spots for stacking. Meanwhile, the Ducks-Flames (6.0 O/U) and Sharks-Kraken (6.0 O/U) could also provide value with less obvious plays. On the flip side, lower-total games like Jets-Bruins and Kings-Lightning (both 5.5 O/U) may require a more targeted approach, especially given the caliber of goalies involved.

Speaking of netminders, there are some key situations to monitor tonight. Andrei Vasilevskiy gets the nod for Tampa Bay in what could be a low-scoring affair against Los Angeles, while Ilya Sorokin looks to anchor the Islanders in Philadelphia against Ivan Fedotov. On the other hand, some weaker goaltending matchups—like Cam Talbot vs. Stuart Skinner in Edmonton—could lead to big offensive nights for top stars and secondary pieces alike. With such a diverse slate, balancing exposure to high-octane games while finding value in tighter contests will be key to building competitive lineups.

Top Stacks

VGK PP1 ($20,000)

Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev

The Vegas Golden Knights’ PP1 stack of Eichel, Stone, and Dorofeyev offers strong upside with a 40.5-point projection and solid correlation through power-play exposure. At a $20,000 salary, the value of 2.03 pts/$1,000 is reasonable for tournament play, particularly given their average ownership of 11.5%, which aligns closely with their 11.8% optimal lineup rate. This indicates the stack is fairly priced relative to its ceiling potential. The game environment will be critical to assess; if VGK faces a team with poor penalty-killing metrics or high penalty minutes, this stack could capitalize on scoring opportunities. While not contrarian enough for extreme leverage, it provides a balanced mix of upside and correlation for GPP viability in mid-to-large-field tournaments.

EDM PP1 ($25,200)

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard

The Edmonton PP1 stack of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard offers elite upside with a projected 46.6 points, driven by their high-event offensive production and strong power-play correlation. Despite the expensive $25,200 salary, their value of 1.85 pts/$1000 is viable given their ceiling potential in favorable game environments against weaker penalty kills or high-scoring matchups. With an average ownership of 9.2% and an optimal rate of 11.5%, this stack provides leverage in tournaments, slightly outperforming public exposure expectations. Their concentrated scoring involvement makes them a high-risk, high-reward option for GPPs, especially when paired with lower-owned secondary stacks to balance roster construction.

MIN PP1 ($19,500)

Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarello

The Minnesota PP1 stack of Boldy, Eriksson Ek, and Zuccarello offers a high-upside option in tournaments due to their strong correlation on the power play and offensive roles. With a projected 37.5 points at a reasonable salary of $19,500, the stack provides solid value (1.92 pts/$1000), though its optimal rate of 10.7% suggests it may not outperform its ownership (12.4%) in every scenario. The game environment will be key; if Minnesota faces a team with weak penalty-killing metrics or high penalty minutes, this stack’s ceiling increases significantly. While slightly over-owned relative to its optimal rate, the trio remains viable in large-field GPPs where leveraging strong correlation can differentiate lineups in high-scoring games.

C Plays

Top Play: Joel Eriksson Ek ($5,900)

Joel Eriksson Ek ($5,900) offers a solid blend of floor and ceiling in tonight’s matchup against Montreal. The Canadiens rank in the bottom third of the league defensively, which bodes well for Eriksson Ek’s role on Minnesota’s top line and power play. He’s been productive recently, with points in three straight games, including two on the man advantage. His 101 shots over 37 games highlight his consistent involvement offensively, making him a dependable option at this price point. With a projection of 12.2 DraftKings points and a strong value rating (2.06x), he fits well into both cash and tournament builds.

The biggest question here is his ownership, which is projected at 15.1%. While that’s high relative to the field average, it’s not prohibitive for chalk in this range—especially for a player appearing in 13.6% of optimal lineups. Given his favorable matchup and multi-category production potential (shots, hits, power-play involvement), this level of ownership seems justified rather than overinflated. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk in tournaments or want stability in cash games, Eriksson Ek makes sense as part of your core lineup construction tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Connor McDavid ($9,500)
• Jack Eichel ($8,000)
• Nazem Kadri ($6,200)

W Plays

Top Play: Mark Stone ($6,500)

Mark Stone ($6,500) is in a strong spot tonight against the Blue Jackets, who have been one of the league’s weakest defensive teams this season. Stone has been producing consistently, with seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last four games, including three power play helpers. His role on Vegas’ top line and power play unit gives him both a solid floor and upside, especially against Columbus’ penalty kill, which ranks in the bottom third of the league. With a projection of 11.95 DK points and appearing in 14% of optimal lineups, Stone offers solid value at 1.84x his salary.

At 9.1% ownership, Stone will be relatively popular compared to the field average, but it’s not unreasonable given his recent form and favorable matchup. While he doesn’t provide leverage for tournaments, his combination of floor and ceiling makes him a viable option in cash games or as part of VGK stacks in GPPs. The $6,500 salary is fair for his current production level and role within one of the NHL’s most efficient offenses. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk here, Stone looks like a reliable piece to build around tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Nikita Kucherov ($9,300)
• David Pastrnak ($8,800)
• Mikko Rantanen ($8,500)

D Plays

Top Play: Tyson Barrie ($2,500)

Tyson Barrie presents an intriguing value option at just $2,500 in a favorable matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. Projected for 6.46 DraftKings points and carrying a strong 2.59x value multiplier, he ranks as the top tournament play at his position on this slate. While his role in Calgary’s lineup remains somewhat uncertain due to recent rotations on the third pairing, his offensive upside is undeniable, especially considering Anaheim’s defensive struggles—they’ve allowed the second-most shots per game in the league this season. Barrie’s ability to contribute on the power play and generate shot volume makes him a solid low-cost option to round out your blue line, particularly if you’re prioritizing high-priced forwards elsewhere.

At 4.1% projected ownership, Barrie sits slightly above field average but remains far from chalky. This ownership level strikes a nice balance for tournaments—he’s not so popular that you lose leverage by playing him, yet he’s not flying completely under the radar either. With an optimal lineup appearance rate of 5.12%, Barrie offers legitimate upside at minimal cost and risk. If he logs enough ice time to take advantage of Anaheim’s leaky defense, he could easily exceed expectations and provide key salary relief for your build without sacrificing ceiling potential.

Honorable Mentions

• Evan Bouchard ($6,600)
• Mike Matheson ($4,800)
• Alex Pietrangelo ($5,300)

G Plays

Top Play: Ilya Sorokin ($7,600)

Ilya Sorokin ($7,600) stands out as a strong option in net tonight despite his relatively high ownership (11.9%). The Islanders’ goaltender has been on an impressive run, winning four straight starts with a stellar .955 save percentage over that stretch. Philadelphia’s offense ranks in the bottom half of the league in goals per game, making this a favorable matchup for Sorokin to continue his hot streak. His 1.82x value and 8.38% appearance rate in optimal lineups reinforce his appeal at this salary, especially given his ability to rack up saves and secure wins.

While the elevated ownership is worth noting, it feels justified given Sorokin’s recent form and price point relative to other goaltenders on the slate. He offers a solid combination of floor and ceiling for both cash games and tournaments, especially with the Flyers unlikely to light up the scoreboard. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk at goalie, Sorokin provides stability without breaking the bank. However, if you’re looking to differentiate your lineup in GPPs, consider pivoting to lower-owned netminders in tougher matchups for leverage.

Honorable Mentions

• Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,000)
• Ilya Samsonov ($8,400)
• Marc-Andre Fleury ($7,900)

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