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Stack Finder: best line and PP1 stacks for Monday, May 18

Every forward line and first power-play unit on the Monday, May 18 slate, ranked by expected goals tonight against the opponent's defense, penalty kill and likely goalie. Top stack: MTL PP1 (Suzuki–Caufield–Hutson–Slafkovský–Demidov) vs BUF.

Data updated:

Stacks with a player who is

Top 10 stacks

  1. #1MTLPP1vs BUF0.94 xG

    Nick Suzuki100%, Cole Caufield100%, Lane Hutson99%, Juraj Slafkovský99%, Ivan Demidov91%

    Matchup factors →
  2. #2BUFL1vs MTL0.61 xG

    Jason Zucker22%, Jack Quinn50%, Konsta Helenius40%

    Matchup factors →
  3. #3MTLL1vs BUF0.57 xG

    Nick Suzuki100%, Cole Caufield100%, Juraj Slafkovský99%

    Matchup factors →
  4. #4BUFPP1vs MTL0.47 xG

    Tage Thompson100%, Rasmus Dahlin100%, Jack Quinn50%, Josh Doan59%, Zach Benson55%

    Matchup factors →
  5. #5MTLL3vs BUF0.46 xG

    Jake Evans4.9%, Alex Newhook25%, Ivan Demidov91%

    Matchup factors →
  6. #6MTLL2vs BUF0.34 xG

    Phillip Danault4.9%, Josh Anderson11%, Alexandre Texier4.9%

    Matchup factors →
  7. #7MTLL4vs BUF0.26 xG

    Joseph Veleno3.3%, Kirby Dach11%, Zachary Bolduc22%

    Matchup factors →
  8. #8BUFL2vs MTL0.17 xG

    Josh Norris37%, Josh Doan59%, Zach Benson55%

    Matchup factors →
  9. #9BUFL4vs MTL0.11 xG

    Jordan Greenway0.3%, Beck Malenstyn4.1%, Ryan McLeod24%

    Matchup factors →
  10. #10BUFL3vs MTL0.10 xG

    Alex Tuch94%, Tage Thompson100%, Peyton Krebs17%

    Matchup factors →

By game

MTL @ BUF

How it works

  1. Lines and PP1 come from each team's last three games of shift data: the forward trio with the most 5-on-5 time together, and the power-play five with the most time together.
  2. Unit strength is expected goals for per 60 minutes, recent games plus the season, shrunk toward league average so a hot two-game sample does not dominate.
  3. Matchup: the opponent's 5-on-5 expected goals against per 60 (for lines) or its penalty-kill rate and shorthanded minutes (for PP1), relative to the league.
  4. Goalie: the likely opposing starter from our goalie start model, weighted by probability, with his save % shrunk toward league average; shot-class save % when available.
  5. Stack score = rate × minutes × P(unit intact) × matchup × goalie, in expected goals for tonight, so lines and power plays rank on one scale.

Methodology: How we detect lines · Expected goals · Goalie shot classes · Goalie start model

Frequently asked questions

What is a stack in fantasy hockey?

A stack is a group of teammates who play together, usually a forward line or the first power-play unit, so one goal pays several of your players at once. It is the main strategy in daily fantasy hockey.

How are stacks ranked?

Each unit gets an expected-goals number for tonight: how many chances it creates per 60 minutes (recent games plus season, shrunk toward league average), how many minutes it plays, how likely it is to stay together, how leaky the opponent is at 5-on-5 or shorthanded, and how good the likely opposing goalie is.

Where do the lines come from?

From the NHL shift charts of each team's last three games: the three forwards who share the most 5-on-5 ice time form a line, and the five skaters with the most power-play time together form PP1.

Why does it say "shot-based"?

While a season is being reprocessed with our expected-goals model, unit rates fall back to shots on goal times a league-average 0.075 xG per shot. The ranking logic is the same.