FREE 10/07 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

The NHL is back and we’ve got a tight 3-game slate tonight that offers some solid DFS opportunities without overwhelming choices. The Penguins-Rangers matchup at 8:00 PM ET stands out with its 6.0 total, making it a prime spot for stacking offenses. The other games sit at 5.5, so expect tighter contests where goalie play could dictate the pace. Keep an eye on how Spencer Knight fares against Chicago early at 5:00 PM.

Confirmed starters across the board give us clarity heading into lineups. Igor Shesterkin at home for New York should anchor that higher-total game, while Sergei Bobrovsky’s reliability for Florida pairs well with their defensive setup. Out west, Scott Wedgewood starting for Colorado versus Darcy Kuemper means value might tilt toward the Kings’ attack in a late-night affair at 10:30 PM.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($22,100)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas

This Colorado Avalanche PP1 stack with Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas delivers exceptional value at 1.77 points per $1,000 on a $22,100 salary cap hit, making it a salary-efficient powerhouse for building balanced lineups. With average ownership sitting at just 19.8% and a 22.8% optimal lineup rate, it strikes the perfect balance for GPPs—popular enough to hit projections without getting chalky and fading the field. The late 10:30 PM ET puck drop against a middling Vancouver defense adds appeal, especially in a 5.5 total that favors Colorado’s high-powered attack to exploit power-play opportunities and push the underdog narrative in a potential shootout.

FLA PP1 ($19,800)

Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand

This Florida Panthers PP1 stack with Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand delivers strong value at 1.84 points per $1,000 on a $19,800 salary, making it a salary-efficient way to anchor your lineup against a middling Bruins defense that’s vulnerable on the power play. Ownership sits at 24.1% overall, but it cracks just 21.7% of optimal builds, giving you solid leverage without chasing contrarian fades—perfect for differentiating in tournaments. With a 5.5 total and an early 5:00 PM ET puck drop, the matchup favors Florida’s top unit in a game script primed for special-teams production, especially if the Panthers capitalize on Boston’s recent penalty trends.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($8,500)

MacKinnon racked up seven goals and 11 points across seven playoff games, including a goal on six shots in the finale and a three-point outburst with two assists in the prior win. His regular-season dominance carried over with 32 goals, 116 points, and 320 shots on net, fueling a shot volume that consistently hits four-plus per game. This relentless offensive pressure positions him for multi-point upside even in a road test against the Kings.

Tonight’s matchup at LAK favors his playmaking style, as Colorado’s top line sees heavy ice time and power-play dominance against a Kings defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack in chances allowed to centers. At $8,500, he delivers 1.9x value with a 29.5% optimal lineup rate, making him a cornerstone for cash games and tournaments where his ceiling eclipses the salary hit.

Honorable Mentions

• Sidney Crosby ($7,000)

W Plays

Top Play: Sam Reinhart ($7,200)

Sam Reinhart rides a scorching hot streak into this matchup, fresh off a four-goal explosion in Florida’s Stanley Cup-clinching victory over Edmonton that tied the record for most goals in a Finals game. He erupted for seven goals across the last four playoff contests, including his first career hat trick, while tying for the team lead with 23 points and finishing second with 11 postseason tallies. This elite finishing touch underscores his sniper’s edge on the first line and top power-play unit, where he consistently generates high-volume chances against any defense.

Facing Chicago’s porous back end, which ranks near the bottom in goals allowed to wingers, Reinhart carries massive upside in shot volume and scoring potential at his $7,200 salary. His 1.95x value projection aligns perfectly with the Panthers’ aggressive forecheck style, offering a reliable floor of points and ceiling for multi-goal nights in this favorable spot. The combination of his proven playoff pedigree and exploitable matchup cements him as the premier wing option for stacking in tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

• Artemi Panarin ($7,700)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($7,500)

Cale Makar breaks through with three points in Game 6, including an empty-net goal on six shots and two assists, while blocking two shots and finishing plus-3 against Dallas. He rebounds from a three-game scoreless stretch with this dominant performance, showcasing his elite shot volume and playmaking on the top power-play unit. Averaging over four shots per game in the playoffs with five points across six outings, Makar delivers consistent multi-category upside that boosts his floor through blocks and hits.

Tonight’s matchup at Los Angeles offers prime opportunities against a Kings defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack in chances allowed to mobile blueliners, amplifying Makar’s 20-plus minutes of ice time and first-unit power-play exposure. At $7,500, he provides strong 1.9x value in a spot where he appears in nearly 28% of optimal lineups, making him a cornerstone for building around his goal-scoring ceiling and peripheral production.

Honorable Mentions

• Adam Fox ($6,500)

G Plays

Top Play: Sergei Bobrovsky ($8,400)

Bobrovsky draws the Opening Night start at home against the Blackhawks, who ranked second-worst in the league last season with a brutal 3.40 goals-against average. The veteran netminder anchors Florida’s stout defense, which allowed just 2.43 goals per game en route to a Cup Final run, and he posted a .915 save percentage across 55 appearances last year while hitting 30 wins for the third time in four seasons. This matchup sets up for heavy shot volume from a rebuilding Chicago squad desperate for offense, giving Bobrovsky prime territory to rack up 30-plus saves right out of the gate.

His salary at $8,400 delivers strong value in a spot with elevated win probability against an inferior opponent, especially with Florida’s top-tier puck possession forcing low-danger chances. Bobrovsky thrives in high-workload roles, logging 50-plus games in each of his last four full seasons, and this home opener positions him for a dominant performance that boosts cash game floors while chasing tournament upside through a potential shutout or multi-win streak starter.

Honorable Mentions

• Spencer Knight ($7,000)

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