FREE 1/31 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 4-game NHL DFS slate offers a mix of intriguing matchups and some key decisions in net. The highest total on the board comes from the Predators-Sabres game (6.5), where both teams could generate plenty of scoring chances. Justus Annunen and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are confirmed as the starting goalies, making this game a prime target for stacking. Meanwhile, the Canucks-Stars matchup has a lower total at 5.5, but with Thatcher Demko and Jake Oettinger in net, it might be worth looking at contrarian options if you’re expecting a low-scoring affair.

The later games feature some interesting dynamics as well. The Blues-Avalanche contest (6.0 total) pits Joel Hofer against Mackenzie Blackwood, both of whom have shown flashes of strong play but remain vulnerable in high-pressure situations. Similarly, the Blue Jackets take on Hockey Club (6.0 total) with Daniil Tarasov and Karel Vejmelka confirmed in goal—neither of whom inspires much confidence defensively. With just four games to choose from, finding value in these mid-tier matchups could make or break your lineup tonight.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($24,500)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas

The Colorado PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas offers elite upside with a projected 44.5 points and strong correlation through power-play exposure. Despite the high salary ($24,500), the 1.82 pts/$1000 value is competitive for a high-ceiling tournament stack. An optimal rate of 20.2% slightly outpaces the average ownership (18.8%), suggesting positive leverage in GPPs. While the price limits roster flexibility, the combination of ceiling and leverage makes this stack viable for tournaments seeking differentiation without sacrificing upside.

NSH PP1 ($22,300)

Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Jonathan Marchessault

The NSH PP1 stack of Forsberg, Josi, and Marchessault offers strong upside due to their elite offensive roles on the power play, with a solid 39.9 projected points and a respectable 1.79 pts/$1000 value. The inclusion of Marchessault post-trade adds additional scoring potential and correlates well with Josi and Forsberg in high-leverage situations. With an optimal rate of 19.8%, this stack is slightly underpriced relative to its ceiling, making it a viable tournament option despite moderate ownership at 16.8%. It balances upside and correlation effectively for GPPs but requires careful consideration of leverage against the field.

UTA PP1 ($17,500)

Clayton Keller, Mikhail Sergachev, Nick Schmaltz

The UTA PP1 stack of Keller, Sergachev, and Schmaltz offers strong offensive upside with a projected 34.3 points at a reasonable $17,500 salary, translating to a solid value of 1.96 pts/$1000. The players benefit from strong correlation as key contributors on the top power-play unit, enhancing their ceiling potential in high-leverage situations. However, the average ownership of 19.6% suggests they will be fairly popular, which limits their appeal in large-field tournaments given their suboptimal rate of 13.8%. Overall, this is a solid but not contrarian option better suited for small-to-mid-field tournaments rather than high-risk contests requiring unique builds.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($9,500)

Nathan MacKinnon is a premier DFS option tonight despite his hefty $9,500 salary. His matchup against the Blues is favorable, as St. Louis has struggled defensively, allowing the eighth-most goals per game this season. MacKinnon’s elite shot volume and playmaking ability give him both a safe floor and immense upside, which is reflected in his 18.35-point projection and 28.1% optimal lineup rate—the highest among centers on the slate. He’s been on fire lately, tallying two assists in his last outing and continuing to dominate alongside Cale Makar and new linemate Martin Necas. While he’s one of the priciest options available, his consistent production makes him worth prioritizing in both cash games and tournaments.

The main concern here is ownership, as MacKinnon’s projected 25.1% roster rate makes him one of the chalkiest plays on the slate. However, this feels like justified chalk given his ceiling in this spot—St. Louis ranks near the bottom of the league in expected goals against, which aligns perfectly with Colorado’s high-powered offense. If you’re looking to differentiate elsewhere in tournaments, you can still include MacKinnon as a foundational piece while stacking Avalanche players or correlating with unique secondary options. Given his elite metrics and matchup, fading him entirely could be a risky move tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Steven Stamkos ($6,000)
• Wyatt Johnston ($6,800)
• Roope Hintz ($4,900)

W Plays

Top Play: Filip Forsberg ($8,300)

Filip Forsberg ($8,300) enters tonight’s matchup against Buffalo riding a 10-game point streak, with nine goals and 10 assists over that span. His recent production is elite, and his heavy shot volume (173 shots on the season) bolsters both his floor and ceiling. The Sabres rank in the bottom third of the league in goals allowed per game and penalty kill efficiency, making this an appealing spot for Forsberg to extend his streak. While his salary is steep, he appears in 24.2% of optimal lineups, which reflects his strong value at this price point.

The 20.4% projected ownership does make Forsberg one of the chalkier plays on the slate, but it’s likely warranted given his form and matchup. With multi-point upside and consistent involvement in Nashville’s offense, he offers both safety and tournament-winning potential despite being popular. If you’re playing cash games or building around chalk in GPPs, Forsberg looks like a strong foundational piece. However, if you’re fading high ownership entirely in tournaments, there are other viable pivots at winger to consider for differentiation.

Honorable Mentions

• Clayton Keller ($6,700)
• Jonathan Marchessault ($6,300)
• Nick Schmaltz ($5,300)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($8,000)

Cale Makar ($8,000) is one of the premier options on tonight’s slate, and while his price tag is steep, his combination of floor and ceiling makes him worth consideration. He’s projected for 14.08 DK points with a strong 22.8% optimal lineup rate, which speaks to his reliability even at this salary. The matchup against St. Louis is appealing given their struggles defensively—ranking in the bottom half of the league in goals allowed per game—and Makar’s role on Colorado’s top power play unit only enhances his upside. With 18 goals and 38 assists through 51 games this season, he offers elite offensive production for a defenseman while contributing in peripheral categories like shots on goal and blocks.

The ownership (15.5%) is relatively high compared to the field average, but it feels justified given Makar’s consistency and ability to break a slate from the blue line. While he may not be your ideal leverage play for tournaments, his inclusion in nearly a quarter of optimal lineups suggests he’s still a strong option even as chalk. If you’re building around stars with safer floors or stacking Colorado’s top unit, Makar fits seamlessly into those builds. Just be mindful of how much exposure you want relative to the field if you’re aiming for differentiation in larger GPPs.

Honorable Mentions

• Roman Josi ($7,700)
• Zach Werenski ($8,500)
• Rasmus Dahlin ($6,600)

G Plays

Top Play: Karel Vejmelka ($8,000)

Karel Vejmelka comes in as the top-ranked tournament goalie on the slate, but his $8,000 salary and projected 21.8% ownership make him a polarizing option. The matchup against Columbus is intriguing, as the Blue Jackets rank seventh in goals per game (3.30), presenting both risk and upside for Vejmelka. While he’s struggled recently with a .885 save percentage over his last four starts, he did flash his ceiling with a shutout win against Minnesota just last week. His 16.5% optimal lineup rate suggests he’s worth consideration, but the elevated ownership relative to the field average (5.9%) means you’re taking on some chalk here.

The question is whether Vejmelka’s floor justifies that level of popularity in tournaments. His value rating of 1.68x is solid for this price point, and his projection of 13.4 DK points aligns with strong upside potential if he can limit Columbus offensively while racking up saves. However, given his recent inconsistency and the Blue Jackets’ scoring ability, there’s merit to fading him in GPPs for lower-owned alternatives at a similar price point. If you do play him, pairing him with contrarian skaters could help offset his chalky ownership while still capitalizing on his ceiling in what should be a competitive game environment.

Honorable Mentions

• MacKenzie Blackwood ($8,200)
• Justus Annunen ($7,800)
• Joel Hofer ($7,200)

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