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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Dec. 29:

Triple Threat

• C Nicklas Backstrom (57K), LW Marcus Johansson (41K), T.J. Oshie (47K), Capitals (vs. Devils): Foregoing star Alex Ovechkin and focusing on the Capitals' second most popular line is more affordable and balanced. Backstrom and Johansson are first and third, respectively, in points on the team and New Jersey's defense is not its saving grace anymore, having allowed the second most goals in the East.

• C Nathan MacKinnon (63K), LW Gabriel Landeskog (51K), Mikko Rantanen (29K), Avalanche (at Stars): Dallas has some of the most high-powered scoring, but its most productive line is too expensive to string together. The Stars' one weakness is in net. Colorado has been a better road team than at home, and rookie Rantanen's low salary makes this an appealing contrarian lineup.

• C Derek Stepan (55K), LW Chris Kreider (57K), RW Mats Zuccarello (53K), Rangers (at Coyotes): While the travel westward might cue the Rangers for a letdown, it's hard to be overly threatened by the Coyotes' goaltending. The top three scorers in New York's arsenal are all moderately priced and Stepan has six points in his last three games while Zuccarello is riding a four-game point streak.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET/BARGAIN: Sergei Bobrovsky (78K), Blue Jackets (at Jets): The Blue Jackets have won 13 straight in no small part due to Bobrovsky. The team has allowed only 68 goals on the season, the best mark in the league. Even on the road, Bobrovsky should garner a higher salary. He's 22-5-2 with a 1.91 GAA and .934 save percentage.

• FADE: Mike Smith (110K), Coyotes (vs. Rangers): Smith's overall numbers, including a .924 save percentage, are not terrible, but the likelihood of a win is far from guaranteed against the road Rangers. At his salary, that uncertainty becomes too great a risk.

• CONTRARIAN: Antoine Bibeau (89K), Maple Leafs (at Lightning): The price is high for someone getting his second career start, but he's not going to be on many people's radars. Bibeau put up an admirable line in his first start, stopping 26 of 28 shots against the Avalanche. Both squads played Wednesday, so fatigue could hinder both. The possibility of a lot of shots makes for plenty of save opportunities.

Bargain Plays

• D T.J. Brodie (25K), Flames (vs. Ducks): Brodie has points in consecutive games and makes for a solid bargain basement alternative in order to spend big at forward. His offensive production seems to be turning around; five of his 13 points have come over his last six games.

• LW Paul Byron (25K), Canadiens (at Panthers): Byron has emerged as a solid role player with point-scoring upside. He's still shooting at a higher percentage than seems sustainable, but he's no stranger to multi-point efforts. He's prone to empty lines as well, so consider him a tournament play.

• RW Mikko Rantanen (29K), Avalanche (at Stars): Rantanen hasn't fully emerged as the sensation he projected to be, but has still become a productive member of the Avalanche's top line. The Stars, whether they start Antti Niemi or Kari Lehtonen, provide a solid matchup to reach his scoring potential, even if only for one night.

Top Fades

• C Mark Scheifele (62K), Jets (vs. Blue Jackets): Scheifele is the most expensive skater on the Jets, and while he has earned that distinction with 32 points in 34 games, his chances against Bobrovsky are less than ideal.

• D Shea Weber (55K), Canadiens (at Panthers): Despite scoring on Wednesday, Weber's offense has dried up considerably. He still makes up for it with his physical game, but if he's not putting the puck in the net, or helping others do so with regularity, he's not worth one of the top salaries at the position. Stay away until consistent scoring, or a drop in price, takes hold.

• LW Taylor Hall (64K), Devils (at Capitals): Don't spend on a forward, albeit a talented one like Hall, on a poor offensive team facing one of the league's best goalies in Braden Holtby. The Devils are on the road and Holtby has three home shutouts, cruising to a 1.87 GAA and .926 save percentage in Washington.

Contrarian Options

• LW Filip Forsberg (65K), Predators (vs. Blackhawks): Forsberg has been one of the top fantasy busts of 2016, but he's starting to turn things around. He has three goals (half his season total) in his last four games. Hampered by a poor shooting percentage, prospective owners may still be gun-shy and not buying into his resurgence.

• RW Patrik Laine (47K), Jets (vs. Blue Jackets): While Scheifele should remain off-limits, Laine's lower salary makes him tempting. His 19 goals lead both his team and all rookies. Even facing one of the league's elite netminders, Laine should be considered for a spot. He comes cheap enough and has easy multi-point upside.

• C John Tavares (74K), Islanders (at Wild): Tavares is slumping. After a three-game goal scoring streak, he has had only two points in seven games. Thursday, he winds up on the road facing Wild G Devan Dubnyk, he of the .947 save percentage. The price tag is too high, and few will trust him. Trust in past success, because he will be a tournament darling.

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