NHL DraftKings DFS Picks: Best Stacks and Values for October 27, 2026

Anaheim’s first power play is our top stack, Buffalo offers the late-game tournament build, and Columbus gives us a cheaper full forward line. Those are three different ways to attack Tuesday’s 11-game DraftKings slate, which begins at 7 p.m. ET. We want the matchup, deployment and salary to agree before we commit to a stack.

Line and power-play assignments below are projected, not confirmed game lineups. Every goalie recommendation requires a confirmed start before use.

Pre-lock update: Oettinger is out of our Dallas plans; Daily Faceoff lists DeSmith as confirmed. Boston has confirmed Swayman, while Saros remains likely rather than confirmed. Our three stack choices remain, subject to final skater lineups.

Top Stack

Anaheim power play: Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke

Carlsson $6,500 C/UTIL + Gauthier $7,600 W/UTIL + Sennecke $6,600 W/UTIL = $20,700.

Vancouver has allowed 33.62 shots per game through 13 games. The concern goes beyond shot quantity: the Canucks have surrendered 3.34 expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five and 12.35 per 60 while playing four-on-five. That penalty-kill sample is only about 64 minutes, but it strengthens an already favorable even-strength matchup. These rates are calculated from MoneyPuck’s team data.

The Ducks’ projected units put all three on PP1. Carlsson and Gauthier also share a forward line; Sennecke plays with Mikael Granlund. We are buying a power-play stack with a two-player even-strength connection, not claiming three linemates.

Gauthier is the shot anchor with 34 shots in 10 games. Sennecke has averaged 20.69 minutes through 11 games. Carlsson has only 14 shots in 11 games and depends more on scoring involvement. Anaheim itself produces only 23.64 shots per game, so this is a matchup-driven choice, not a claim that the Ducks are an elite-volume offense.

Our cheaper version is Carlsson-Gauthier at $14,100. Judd Caulfield costs $3,200 and is projected alongside them, bringing the even-strength trio to $17,300. He is on PP2 and has averaged only 12.51 minutes. Use that version for the salary relief, not as an equivalent replacement for Sennecke’s role. Troy Terry remains out in the AP injury report.

GPP Stack

Buffalo power play: Noah Ostlund, Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson

Ostlund $3,600 C/UTIL + Quinn $6,000 W/UTIL + Thompson $8,100 W/UTIL = $17,700.

San Jose has allowed 30.33 shots and 4.03 expected goals per game through 12 games. Its five-on-five expected-goals-against rate is 3.06 per 60, so we do not need a parade of penalties for Buffalo to create chances. The Sharks’ four-on-five rate is also vulnerable at 10.30 xGA per 60.

There is an important distinction on Buffalo’s projected chart: Ostlund and Quinn share an even-strength line, but Thompson is elsewhere. All three share PP1. Thompson is W/UTIL on DraftKings, regardless of where Buffalo uses him on the ice.

Ostlund-Quinn costs $9,600 and is our compact version. Thompson adds the strongest individual shot profile of the three with 45 shots in 11 games. We prefer that extension when building for Buffalo to deliver several goals rather than spreading the extra $8,100 across unrelated names.

The risk is concentration in the final game at 10:30 p.m. ET. A quiet power play or an effective Sharks goalie can separate Thompson’s result from the Ostlund-Quinn line. Keep enough eligible late alternatives available if your contest allows late swap.

Value Stack

Columbus forward line: Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson and Valeri Nichushkin

Fantilli $5,800 C/UTIL + Johnson $4,300 W/UTIL + Nichushkin $3,800 W/UTIL = $13,900.

This saves $6,800 against our Anaheim power-play trio. Philadelphia has conceded 31.46 shots per game and 3.05 five-on-five xGA per 60 through 13 games. The appeal is a relatively affordable line against sustained even-strength pressure.

The Columbus projection groups these three together. Johnson and Nichushkin appear on PP1, but Fantilli is listed on PP2. That split matters: we like the full line for five-on-five correlation, not because all three collect the same power-play opportunities.

Fantilli has averaged 3.00 shots and 20.46 minutes through nine games. Johnson adds 2.22 shots per game. Nichushkin’s 1.33-shot average is the weaker individual base, which is why we prefer him attached to this line rather than as an isolated bargain. If the line breaks up, Fantilli-Johnson at $10,100 is easier to retain than forcing all three.

We would not automatically add Zach Werenski to every Columbus lineup. That makes the four-player group $21,900 and spends away much of the original value advantage.

Best One-Offs

• Macklin Celebrini, SJS, $8,800 C/UTIL: He has 40 shots in 10 games and averages 22.70 minutes. We like him when we want San Jose exposure without buying the entire line. His price is substantial, and Buffalo’s 2.44 five-on-five xGA per 60 is a better defensive profile than San Jose’s. Do not confuse a possible high-scoring game with an equally soft matchup for both teams.
• Matt Boldy, MIN, $8,400 W/UTIL: His 59 shots in 13 games and 0.648 individual expected goals per game support the spend. Utah allows only 23.42 shots per game, however. We prefer Boldy as a volume-led one-off rather than forcing an expensive Minnesota stack into a difficult matchup.
• Timo Meier, NJD, $5,600 W/UTIL: His 46 shots in 11 games make this price interesting. Dallas allows only 21.82 shots per game and 2.08 five-on-five xGA per 60. Meier is a tournament alternative to the Dallas-goalie outcome, not a safe matchup play. Do not pair him with DeSmith.
• Zach Werenski, CBJ, $8,000 D/UTIL: Averages of 3.00 shots, 2.44 blocks and 29.00 minutes through nine games give him several ways to contribute. He is our premium defense alternative when we can afford him without turning multiple forward spots into low-minute punts.

Individual totals and rates are calculated from MoneyPuck’s skater data.

Best Value FWDs

• Noah Ostlund, BUF, $3,600 C/UTIL: Our preferred center savings. He has averaged 18.91 minutes and 2.18 shots through 11 games, with the projected PP1 role giving him a second route to scoring alongside Quinn. The value weakens if Buffalo moves him off that unit.
• Ivar Stenberg, SJS, $3,400 W/UTIL: The updated projection pairs him with Celebrini and Collin Graf at even strength. He and Celebrini remain on PP1 in Daily Faceoff’s latest chart. His total of 18 shots in 12 games is modest. We prefer the $12,200 pairing with Celebrini over Stenberg as a standalone scorer.
• Tyler Seguin, DAL, $3,500 W/UTIL: He has 29 shots in 11 games and is projected with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. He is on PP2, not their first unit. The Dallas chart makes him an affordable even-strength attachment, while New Jersey’s 1.97 five-on-five xGA per 60 keeps us from calling the matchup soft. Hintz-Seguin costs $8,600.

Best Value Defense

Player	Salary	GP	Shots/game	Blocks/game	Minutes/game
Shayne Gostisbehere, CAR	$4,400	13	1.85	0.54	17.81
Denton Mateychuk, CBJ	$3,300	9	2.22	1.89	22.94
Jaccob Slavin, CAR	$3,400	13	1.92	2.23	21.23
Tyler Kleven, OTT	$3,100	12	1.33	2.83	20.97

Gostisbehere is the power-play ceiling upgrade. Both Carolina’s projected chart and RotoWire’s matchup units place him on PP1. He has averaged almost four minutes per game at five-on-four, despite a third-pair even-strength role. That is a reason to spend the extra $1,000 over Slavin when we want scoring upside. His seven blocks in 13 games offer much less peripheral support, and Boston’s goaltending is a real obstacle. Do not combine him with Swayman.

Mateychuk is our balanced value. The shot and block contributions matter more than hoping he scores a goal. His projected PP2 assignment adds some scoring access without giving him Werenski’s role.

Slavin is the non-power-play choice. We are buying his existing shot/block workload, not an offensive promotion. Kleven is the cheaper block-heavy alternative, with Ottawa projecting him on the second pair and penalty kill. Thomas Chabot remains out on that chart, but we would not assume Kleven inherits all of his minutes. Recheck the final pairs and deployment.

DraftKings awards a bonus at three blocks or five shots. An average near those thresholds does not tell us how often a player reaches the bonus, so we are not treating it as guaranteed scoring.

Dallas Goalie Update

Casey DeSmith, Dallas, $7,900

Oettinger is no longer our selection. Daily Faceoff lists DeSmith as confirmed, and NHL.com’s projected lineup puts him ahead of Oettinger. This changes the confidence level, not just the name in the goalie slot.

DeSmith has stopped 49 of 53 shots, a .925 save percentage, with +0.83 goals saved above expected in the same MoneyPuck download. That is only two appearances. We cannot transfer Oettinger’s nine-game performance or +9.42 GSAx to a different goalie.

Dallas’ defensive support still helps, but New Jersey’s 34.18 shots per game creates both save opportunity and real failure risk. DeSmith fits the existing skater construction at the same $7,900; he is a lower-confidence Dallas option, not an automatic equivalent to our morning pick. Do not combine him with Devils skaters. Recheck warmups before his 8 p.m. ET game.

GPP Goalie

Jeremy Swayman, Boston, $7,600

Confirmed by Boston. Carolina produces 33.92 shots per game, creating a plausible save-heavy route. Swayman has a .920 save percentage and +6.05 goals saved above expected through nine appearances. We want the outcome where Boston survives Carolina’s pressure and Swayman earns the win or stays productive through a large save total.

Carolina also generates 3.21 five-on-five xGF per 60. Those are dangerous shots, not free fantasy points. This is our volatile tournament alternative, and we would not pair him with Hurricanes scoring stacks.

Value Goalie

Juuse Saros, Nashville, $7,000

Likely, not confirmed at this review. Saros saves $900 against DeSmith and $1,500 against Dostal. He has a .908 save percentage and +3.04 goals saved above expected across eight appearances. The Islanders have generated 26.09 shots per game, a less aggressive volume profile than either New Jersey or Carolina.

The tradeoff is Nashville’s defense, which allows 29.27 shots per game and 2.79 five-on-five xGA per 60. Saros is the salary-release option, not a claim that Nashville supplies the safest environment. Avoid Islanders skaters in the same lineup. Saros still requires a confirmed start before use; the updated goalie board lists him as likely.

Lineup construction

Start with one scoring plan, then buy the complementary pieces. The Anaheim and Columbus trios together cost $34,600. That leaves $15,400 for two defensemen and a goalie, which is enough to avoid minimum-salary defensemen.

This is an illustrative construction, not an entry-ready lineup. DeSmith replaces Oettinger at the same salary. Every skater must be in the final lineup, and goalie news still needs a warmup check:

Slot	Player	Salary
C	Leo Carlsson	$6,500
C	Adam Fantilli	$5,800
W	Cutter Gauthier	$7,600
W	Kent Johnson	$4,300
W	Valeri Nichushkin	$3,800
D	Shayne Gostisbehere	$4,400
D	Tyler Kleven	$3,100
G	Casey DeSmith	$7,900
UTIL	Beckett Sennecke	$6,600

Total: $50,000. Remaining: $0. It has two centers, three wings, two defensemen, one goalie and one UTIL, with no skaters facing its goalie. Gostisbehere uses the final $1,000 for a first-unit power-play role rather than leaving it idle. Slavin remains the $1,000-cheaper alternative if we prefer block production or need salary for another change. Sennecke occupies UTIL because his 10 p.m. ET game starts later than Columbus, preserving positional flexibility where late swap is permitted.

For a different build, Buffalo’s $17,700 trio plus Celebrini-Stenberg at $12,200 creates a $29,900 game stack. It is an aggressive bet on the 10:30 p.m. game producing offense on both sides. Do not use either Buffalo or San Jose’s goalie with that construction.

Columbus locks at 7 p.m. ET, well before the late-game stacks. Verify its line before committing those slots. Recheck each goalie at his own game time, preserve the exact DraftKings positions, and do not treat a blank injury flag as confirmation that a player is dressing.

Statistics are from MoneyPuck’s 2026-27 regular-season downloads, updated October 27, using all situations unless five-on-five or four-on-five is specified. Per-game rates use actual games played; per-60 rates use minutes in the stated situation. These are historical samples, not tonight’s projections. Expected goals measure modeled chance quality. Deployment is projected from the linked lineup sources.