Daily Fantasy Hockey Lineup Tiers and Start/Sit Leans for Tonight

Tonight’s slate is all about trusting elite goalies in plus matchups, riding hot scorers, and squeezing value from emerging forwards on good power-play units. Below, we tier out the key options, highlight PP1 auditions to monitor, and sort through which skaters and goalies you should lean toward starting or sitting in both DFS and daily-lock season-long formats.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest storylines tonight revolve around two workhorse goalies in smash spots. Ilya Sorokin is rolling and draws a Bruins squad that hasn’t been finishing its chances, while Andrei Vasilevskiy gets a low-scoring Flames team that’s been struggling to generate quality looks. In net, this is about as clear a two-man top tier as you’ll see on a mid-sized slate.

Up front, the Tampa Bay Lightning forwards are in a dream matchup. Nikita Kucherov is on a heater, and stacking him with his top-line and top-power-play teammates is the most straightforward way to access Tampa Bay’s scoring ceiling against a vulnerable Calgary defense. If you’re playing cash games or head-to-heads, fading that spot is extremely risky.

On the value side, Ivan Demidov in Montreal and Dylan Holloway in St. Louis are trending up. Both are producing at a level that outpaces their price tags and typical roster rates. They’re the type of mid-tier or cheap forwards who let you jam in a premium stud like Kucherov or a high-end defenseman.

Speaking of the blue line, Cale Makar remains the clear top defense option. His steady point production and all-situations usage for Colorado give him a ceiling that rivals elite forwards, especially when the Avalanche power play is humming.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, tonight’s priority is exposure to Tampa Bay and Colorado’s top units. Kucherov is the centerpiece of any points-only build: he’s driving offense at even strength and on the first power-play unit, and the matchup against Calgary’s leaky defense only amplifies his floor and ceiling.

Makar is essentially a forward in a defenseman slot. His consistent point pace makes him a core play; if you’re choosing between a mid-tier forward and paying up for Makar, the defenseman often wins out because of his role on Colorado’s top power-play unit and heavy minutes in offensive situations.

Demidov and Holloway are your key support pieces. Demidov’s scoring streak in Montreal suggests he’s earning more offensive-zone usage and likely some power-play looks. Holloway’s recent surge in St. Louis makes him a strong complementary scorer if he’s riding shotgun with skilled linemates or getting secondary power-play time. In shallow points-only leagues, they’re strong short-term starts; in deeper formats, they’re automatic lineup plays while hot.

In net, Sorokin and Vasilevskiy don’t directly contribute points in points-only leagues, but their performance still matters in combined formats that fold in goalie wins and ratios. Given their matchups and form, both are high-confidence starts wherever you roster them.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, the calculus shifts slightly but still favors the same core names. Sorokin and Vasilevskiy are premium options for wins and save percentage tonight. Sorokin’s recent run of strong save numbers makes him especially appealing if your league heavily weights save percentage and goals-against average.

Kucherov brings elite shots and power-play points on top of his scoring. Against a Flames team that can take penalties when chasing the game, he’s positioned for a spike in PPPs. If your league counts shots on goal, you’re getting a high-volume shooter with multi-point upside.

Makar contributes across categories: points, power-play production, and a healthy shot volume from the back end. He may not be a massive hitter, but his overall category coverage is elite. In bangers leagues where defensemen who block and hit are often overvalued, Makar’s offensive dominance still makes him the superior choice.

Demidov and Holloway are more scoring- and shots-dependent. They’re best deployed if you need an injection of goals and SOG rather than peripherals. In deeper leagues, they’re strong streams if you’re chasing offensive categories for the week, especially if your opponent is already ahead in hits and blocks.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty and keeper managers, tonight’s slate offers a few useful data points. Demidov’s current scoring run in Montreal is particularly intriguing. Whenever a young forward strings together production, it often coincides with a bump in responsibility—more offensive-zone starts, better linemates, or increased power-play usage. If he’s getting even a look on the top unit, that’s a meaningful signal for his long-term trajectory.

Holloway’s recent surge in St. Louis is also worth tracking. He has the profile of a player who could grow into a middle-six or better role with multi-category upside if the deployment sticks. In deep dynasty formats, this is the type of player you stash before the breakout is fully priced in.

Sorokin and Vasilevskiy are already established dynasty anchors in net, but nights like this reinforce why they’re worth building around. When they’re in form and facing weaker offenses, they provide a stability that very few goalies can match year over year.

For a broader framework on how much to weigh power-play deployment when evaluating long-term value, see our guide on how to value PP1 time. Demidov and Holloway’s current roles are good case studies in how quickly a player’s outlook can change with a promotion.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Ilya Sorokin – Add/Start (all formats): Riding strong recent form into a matchup with a struggling Bruins offense; high-confidence goalie start tonight.
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Add/Start (all formats): Facing a low-scoring Flames team, he’s an elite option for wins and ratios on this slate.
Nikita Kucherov – Must-start / Stack anchor: On a scoring streak and driving Tampa Bay’s top line and PP1; prime stacking piece against Calgary.
Cale Makar – Must-start defense: Consistent point producer with top power-play usage for Colorado; safest high-ceiling blue-liner tonight.
Ivan Demidov – Short-term stream: On a scoring streak in Montreal and underpriced for his current offensive role; ideal value forward.
Dylan Holloway – Short-term stream: Heating up in St. Louis and offering cheap upside if his usage holds in the top nine and on the power play.

Fantasy Takeaways

Sorokin is a priority start in all formats tonight, combining elite recent play with a favorable matchup against a slumping Bruins attack.
Vasilevskiy belongs in every active lineup you can fit him into, with a low-event Flames offense boosting his win and shut-down potential.
Demidov and Holloway are excellent short-term value streams, giving you cap relief in DFS and scoring juice in deeper daily-change leagues.
Stacking Lightning forwards around Kucherov is the highest-upside path on the slate, especially for power-play-heavy scoring formats.
Makar remains a core play on defense, offering forward-level scoring from the blue line and anchoring Colorado’s top power-play unit.

Source: RotoWire. See the original for full details.