FREE 03/25 NHL Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a loaded 10-game NHL slate tonight, offering plenty of options for DFS lineups. The Senators-Sabres and Penguins-Lightning matchups both stand out with 6.0 totals, making them prime spots to target for offensive upside. Meanwhile, the Red Wings-Avalanche game also carries a 6.0 total, putting Detroit’s surging offense and Colorado’s firepower firmly on the radar. On the flip side, several games sit at 5.5 totals, so finding value in lower-scoring environments might require a closer look at power-play opportunities or goalie matchups.

Speaking of goalies, there are some intriguing situations to consider. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Tristan Jarry face off in Tampa Bay, while Juuse Saros gets a tough road test against Carolina’s disciplined attack. At the other end of the spectrum, James Reimer starting for Buffalo against Ottawa could make Sens skaters an appealing option in tournaments. With so many viable plays across the board tonight, focusing on game environments and stacking opportunities will be key to building competitive lineups.

Top Stacks

COL PP1 ($23,600)

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin

The COL PP1 stack of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Valeri Nichushkin carries a total salary of $23,600 and is projected for 48.0 points, resulting in a solid value of 2.04 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 16.1%, this stack is expected to be moderately popular, though its optimal lineup rate of 11.8% suggests it may be slightly over-owned relative to its likelihood of being the best DFS combination. As a power-play unit (PP1), it offers concentrated scoring upside, but the data indicates that while it provides strong raw points potential, its efficiency in lineups may be limited given the ownership-to-optimal rate disparity.

TBL PP1 ($22,700)

Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point

The TBL PP1 stack of Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and Brayden Point comes with a total salary of $22,700 and is projected for 42.7 points, resulting in a solid value of 1.88 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 12.1% and an optimal lineup rate of 11.5%, this stack presents a balanced profile in terms of leverage, as its ownership is closely aligned with its optimal rate. The high projected points underscore its potential ceiling, making it an appealing option in contests where raw scoring output is prioritized. However, the moderate value metric suggests it may require complementary lower-cost plays to optimize lineup construction effectively.

TOR PP1 ($23,000)

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner

The TOR PP1 stack of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner carries a total salary of $23,000 with a projected point output of 41.5, resulting in a solid value of 1.80 pts/$1000. With an average ownership of 7.5% and an optimal lineup rate of 7.8%, the stack is efficiently leveraged, offering nearly neutral leverage in GPP formats. This combination provides a strong ceiling while maintaining relatively modest ownership, making it a viable option for tournaments without being overly contrarian or excessively chalky. As a power-play unit, the concentrated scoring upside among these elite players enhances its appeal in DFS lineups seeking high-end production potential.

C Plays

Top Play: Nathan MacKinnon ($9,000)

Nathan MacKinnon ($9,000) is in a prime spot tonight against Detroit, making him one of the top plays on the slate. His 19.8-point projection leads all skaters, and his consistent production—five goals and nine assists in March—cements both his floor and ceiling. Detroit’s defense has struggled to contain elite centers, and with MacKinnon’s heavy shot volume (283 shots this season), he’s well-positioned to exploit that weakness. His power-play role adds even more upside in a game where Colorado’s offense should control the pace.

At 22.6% projected ownership, MacKinnon will be one of the chalkiest options, but it’s hard to argue against it given his form and matchup. He appears in over 20% of optimal lineups, which supports paying up for him despite the high salary. While he might not be a unique tournament option, fading him comes with significant risk due to his ability to dominate any slate. If you’re looking for leverage, consider pairing him with lower-owned Colorado pieces or using him as part of a game stack with Detroit skaters for correlation in tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

• Auston Matthews ($8,800)
• Brayden Point ($6,900)
• Nick Suzuki ($5,900)

W Plays

Top Play: Nikita Kucherov ($8,700)

Nikita Kucherov ($8,700) is in a strong spot tonight against Pittsburgh, making him a top-tier option in both cash games and tournaments. His consistent production is hard to ignore, with 98 points on the season and an impressive 38 coming on the power play. The Penguins have been vulnerable to elite wingers this year, and their penalty kill sits in the middle of the pack. Kucherov’s heavy shot volume (225 shots through 66 games) provides him with a reliable floor, while his role as the focal point of Tampa Bay’s top line and power play gives him immense upside. At a projection of 17.35 DK points and appearing in nearly 18% of optimal lineups, he’s one of the slate’s most appealing plays despite his elevated salary.

At 13.5% projected ownership, Kucherov will be chalky relative to the field average but not unreasonably so for his ceiling. This level of ownership feels justified given his elite combination of floor and upside in a favorable matchup. While he’s not necessarily a contrarian option, fading him could be risky given how often he lands in optimal lineups. If you’re playing tournaments, it may be worth differentiating elsewhere rather than avoiding Kucherov entirely. For cash builds or single-entry contests, he’s as safe as it gets at wing tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Brandon Hagel ($6,200)
• Brady Tkachuk ($7,700)
• Jake Guentzel ($7,100)

D Plays

Top Play: Cale Makar ($8,000)

Cale Makar is a top-tier DFS option on tonight’s slate, even at his $8,000 salary. His offensive ceiling is unmatched among defensemen, as evidenced by his league-leading 81 points from the blue line. The matchup against Detroit is favorable, with the Red Wings ranking middle of the pack defensively and struggling to contain elite puck-moving defensemen. Makar’s power-play role further bolsters his upside in this spot, especially against a Detroit penalty kill that sits in the bottom third of the league. While his value (2.03x) isn’t elite relative to his price tag, his ability to rack up points across multiple categories—shots, blocks, and assists—gives him one of the highest floors at the position.

The 16.6% projected ownership does make him chalky compared to other options at defense, but it’s justified given his consistency and ceiling. He appears in nearly 10% of optimal lineups (9.64%), reinforcing how central he could be to winning builds tonight. While he may not offer leverage in large-field tournaments due to his popularity, fading him comes with considerable risk given his ability to break a slate. If you’re looking for stability with elite upside on defense, Makar is worth prioritizing despite the high ownership and steep salary.

Honorable Mentions

• Victor Hedman ($6,000)
• Rasmus Dahlin ($6,400)
• MacKenzie Weegar ($5,900)

G Plays

Top Play: Adin Hill ($7,800)

Adin Hill ($7,800) stands out as a solid goaltending option in tournaments tonight. Projected for 13.4 DraftKings points with a strong 1.72x value, Hill is ranked first among goalies for GPPs and appears in 12.1% of optimal lineups. The matchup against Minnesota is favorable, as the Wild rank 27th in goals per game this season (2.70) and are coming off a shutout loss to Dallas on Monday. Hill has been steady lately, posting a 3-0-1 record across his last four starts while stopping 107 of 114 shots, which highlights both his form and ability to rack up saves even when allowing a couple of goals.

At 10.2% projected ownership, Hill will likely be one of the chalkier goalies on the slate relative to the field average, but it’s justified given his combination of value and matchup appeal. Minnesota’s limited offensive upside makes him less risky than other mid-range options, especially since Vegas tends to provide strong defensive support in front of him. While you won’t get unique leverage here, Hill’s ceiling at this price point makes him a worthwhile play if you’re looking for stability without breaking the bank in net.

Honorable Mentions

• Juuse Saros ($6,900)
• Anthony Stolarz ($8,300)
• Anton Forsberg ($8,100)

Good luck tonight! Make sure to check the Lineup Optimizer for latest updates before lock. Visit DFS Hero for our full suite of DFS tools including the Lineup Optimizer, Contest Simulator, Player Projections, and Ownership Projections. Use code HEROPLAY15 to get 15% off your first month!