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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Jan. 19 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
- LW Zach Parise (62K) & C Eric Staal (49K), Wild (vs. Coyotes): Owners know very well by now to stack up against the Coyotes and this is of extra importance Thursday, as Arizona plays the second half of a back-to-back which included Wednesday night travel to Minnesota. As Arizona lacks a shutdown line, feel free to start Minnesota's top offensive stars.
- C Ryan Getzlaf (75K) & RW Corey Perry (68K), Ducks (vs. Avalanche): Likely be the highest-owned duo of Thursday night, owners may not be able to do without the high floors and ceilings of the Ducks' big two. Colorado ranks 28th in Corsi For percentage and will need to rely on backup G Calvin Pickard and his .902 save percentage for the season.
- C Brandon Dubinsky (36K) & RW Cam Atkinson (51K), Blue Jackets (vs. Senators): Dubinsky makes this pairing a little more contrarian, with Atkinson one of the best fantasy players at his position. Only four teams allow more opponent shot attempts per game than the Senators. Avoiding D Erik Karlsson will be a little more possible with last change.
Goalie Breakdown
- TARGET - John Gibson (86K), Ducks (vs. Avalanche): The Avalanche rank 28th in shot attempts per 60, and 30th in scoring chances per 60 and expected goals for per 60. Gibson has a .930 SV% and 2.12 GAA through 19 home starts this season.
- BARGAIN - Braden Holtby (75K), Capitals (at Blues): The Blues rank in the bottom third of the league in shot attempts per game and expected goals for per 60 minutes, while ranking 28th in scoring chances for per 60. Holtby's pedigree never warrants such a low salary, particularly in a less-than-dangerous matchup.
- FADE - Henrik Lundqvist (83K), Rangers (at Maple Leafs): Lundqvist has been a shell of his former self of late. His .841 save percentage through six January games has lowered his season SV% to .902. He allowed seven goals to the Dallas Stars, Tuesday, extending a run of four games in which he allowed at least four goals. He's not fit for the Maple Leafs high pace of play.
- CONTRARIAN - Calvin Pickard (85K), Avalanche (at Ducks): Pickard will replace Avalanche starting G Semyon Varlamov (groin) at least through the all-star break. As noted above, his numbers for the season have been less than ideal, but the Ducks rank just 24th with 52.75 shot attempts per game.
Bargain Plays
- C Valtteri Filppula (26K), Lightning (at Sharks): Filppula has a five-game point streak with one goal and four assists. He has taken two shots in each of his past two games, and has at least one SOG in all but one game this month.
- LW Matt Nieto (25K), Avalanche (at Ducks): The Avalanche have thrust Nieto into a top-six role since picking him off waivers from the Sharks. It says more about the state of the Avalanche right now than anything, but Nieto has been a mid-20-point player before. He has a goal and an assist in his past two games, and has played less than 14 minutes with Colorado.
- RW Nail Yakupov (25K), Blues (vs. Capitals): Yakupov has settled into a top-six role on the left side of C Jori Lehtera and RW Vladimir Tarasenko at 5v5. He doesn't see any power-play time, limiting him to 11-14 minutes per game. He has gone point-less in eight games and went without a shot in five, but he'll always be a threat for a big game in this role.
Top Fades
- LW Jonathan Drouin (51K), Lightning (at Sharks): Drouin is vastly more expensive than Filppula, despite the two primarily playing together. They have been similarly productive, with Drouin picking up two goals and five assists this month. He is the higher-volume shooter -- tallying 13 in his past three games -- but Filppula mitigates risk in a tough matchup.
- LW Jamie Benn (64K), Stars (at Islanders): Benn remains without a regular role on the Stars' top line with C Tyler Seguin. While he had a goal and two assists in his most recent game, he played primarily with C Cody Eakin and RW Patrick Eaves (courtesy, LeftWingLock). He hasn't played 18 minutes since his first game back from injury.
- LW Johnny Gaudreau (65K), Flames (vs. Predators): Gaudreau is unlikely to break out of an extended slump against the slow pace and positive Corsi rating of the Predators. He has gone goal-less in seven games and has just two assists in the same stretch.
Contrarian Options
- LW Anders Lee (44K), Islanders (vs. Stars): Lee had three points in his past two games, snapping a streak of four games without a point. He has upped his shot counts, while his ice time remains fairly stable in a role alongside C John Tavares. The Stars' high pace leads to 8.70 scoring chances per 60 minutes for their opponents.
- C Derick Brassard (51K), Senators (at Blue Jackets): Brassard's ice time has been highly variable of late, but he has upped his shot counts, recording at three SOG in six of his past seven games. He hasn't scored since the first of the seven games, but he has four assists in his past four outings. His matchup isn't ideal, but he has a steady floor.
- D Cam Fowler (38K), Ducks (vs. Avalanche): Fowler comes significantly cheaper than the top-tier defensemen on Squad Up, but his prospects are boosted by the night's top matchup. He has just one point in January, but he has multiple SOG in all but two games, and he has played at least 24 minutes in each of his past 13 games.
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