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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on May 1, 2025. Brandon's NHL DFS goalies, value plays, stacks, and power play picks.
Welcome, RotoBallers! My name is Brandon, and I'll be writing both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer. The NHL season has entered the land of Lord Stanley, which means it's time to sharpen our skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Today, I'll bring my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Be sure also to check out RotoBaller's awesome NHL tools, including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected], via X @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Best of luck!
NHL DFS Analysis And Picks For 5/1/25
Today, we have a four-game slate and the possibility of each series being clinched! Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, allowing for creativity when building lineups.
I will do my best to guide you through this four-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news. This becomes more important with players sitting for rest ahead of the playoffs!
NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Series Records:
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators: Toronto Leads 3-2
- Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild: Vegas Leads 3-2
- Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche: Colorado Leads 3-2
- Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers: Edmonton Leads 3-2
DraftKings And FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Anthony Stolarz - DK $7.6K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
The Toronto Maple Leafs have another shot at clinching the first-round win after floundering in Games Four and Five. Anthony Stolarz has not performed well in the last two games, registering -1.89 and -0.38 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, respectively.
Although his defense has been non-existent, in that time frame, the Maple Leafs generated an Expected Goals Against Per 60 of 2.71. With risk everywhere on the slate at the goalie position, it is optimal to pay down for the win.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Adin Hill (DK $8K || FD $7.8K) at Minnesota Wild
- Calvin Pickard (DK $7.9K || FD $7.7K) vs. Los Angeles Kings
Want more NHL DFS tools and content? Our NHL Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Lineup Optimizer, and access to our VIP Discord Chatrooms. Doug Shain (@BanksterDFS) joins the NHL team in 2023 with his proven track record - join in on the winning!
Back-to-back @DraftKings Fantasy Hockey World Championship trips! Let’s get the main prize this year! Thank you to @banksterdfs for the amazing daily fantasy content! @NHL pic.twitter.com/dONSvJMtIR
— 🇺🇦Shockmain (@Shockmain) January 6, 2023
DraftKings And FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Ryan Hartman - DK $3.9K || FD $5.5K
Opponent - Vegas Golden Knights
While everyone else is focused on the big names, the ‘smaller’ players are winning these games. Center/winger hybrid Ryan Hartman is performing admirably in the playoffs. In five games in the first round, he has generated four assists, 12 shots, and 11 blocked shots.
Furthermore, in both games in Minnesota in this series, Hartman’s line has produced the best Expected Goals Per 60 for the Wild. With the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid on the slate, someone like Ryan Hartman as a stack or a one-off can be just enough to differentiate a lineup and ship a GPP.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Nathan MacKinnon (DK $9.5K || FD $8.8K) vs. Dallas Stars
- Connor McDavid (DK $8.8K || FD $8.7K) vs. Los Angeles Kings
DraftKings And FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - DK $4.6K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - vs. Los Angeles Kings
This slate heavily focuses on the ‘affordable’ players. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has returned to teammate Connor McDavid’s line for the Edmonton Oilers and has not disappointed at all. In two games since returning to the top line, RNH has accumulated one goal, one assist, six shots, and one blocked shot. His shot volume is still concerning. However, his chances of registering at least one point per game are high enough to equal out low shot production.
Nugent-Hopkins and company will be relied on heavily tonight in a potential first-round clinching game at home.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Mikko Rantanen (DK $6.4K || FD $7.2K) at Colorado Avalanche
- William Karlsson (DK $4K || FD $6.1K) at Minnesota Wild ** C on FanDuel **
DraftKings And FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Miro Heiskanen - DK $5K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - at Colorado Avalanche
Miro Heiskanen has made the trip to Colorado for Game Six, although it has yet to be announced if he will suit up. If Heiskanen does, he will immediately be thrust into the top pairing again and also the top power-play unit for the Stars.
The Avalanche dominated the two games in Colorado. This could lead to Heiskanen blocking more shots than normal, helping him reach value. In his five games prior to his injury, the two-way defenseman had produced five assists, six shots, and nine blocked shots.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Alex Pietrangelo (DK $4.8K || FD $5.4K) at Minnesota Wild
- Devon Toews (DK $4.4K || FD $5.4K) vs. Dallas Stars
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- TOR1
- EDM1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- DAL: Marchment-Duchene-Seguin
Chalk Stack
- TOR: Knies-Matthews-Marner
Sneaky Stack
- MIN: Johansson-Hartman-Zuccarello
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
