The NHL has returned from its All-Star break - and so has Squad Up, which will award a cool $75 in cash prizes in our latest Cashnado contest.
The winner will receive $21, which is some nice folding money for a few minutes of work. Prizes are paid out to 300th place - so even if you don't finish near the top, you still have a chance at taking something home. And best of all, the game is absolutely free! That's right, it costs you zero dollars to participate. You don't pay us - we pay you.
The path to riches, fame and glory is a simple one: download the Squad Up app, get your account set up and start playing contests immediately! Choose your five-player team consisting of one center, one right winger, one left winger, one defenseman and one goaltender, stay within the $300K cap, then sit back and watch as your players accumulate fantasy points.
Looking for some advice to get you started? Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Tuesday, Jan. 31 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
- LW Jaden Schwartz (52K) & RW Vladimir Tarasenko (78K), Blues (vs. Jets): The Blues start the second half with a home matchup against the Jets and G Ondrej Pavelec. Pavelec has allowed at least three goals in each of his four starts at the NHL level this season, and he's yet to play on the road. St. Louis' top line owns a Corsi For rating over 55 percent and averages more than nine scoring chances per 60 minutes.
- LW Artturi Lehkonen (34K) & C Tomas Plekanec (45K), Canadiens (vs. Sabres): The Canadiens will have the advantage of last change on home ice Tuesday, but the Sabres will do everything they can to match C Ryan O'Reilly's line against the LW Max Pacioretty and RW Alexander Radulov duo. This pair, with LW Paul Byron, played 23.4 percent of even strength minutes in Montreal's last game, most of any line.
- C Kyle Turris (42K) & RW Bobby Ryan (42K), Senators (at Panthers): The Senators have been constantly juggling their even strength line combinations throughout games, but the top trio of Turris, Ryan and RW Ryan Dzingel played 16.59 percent of ES minutes last game, the most of any grouping.
Goalie Breakdown
- TARGET - John Gibson (89K), Ducks (vs. Avalanche): Gibson was roughed up by the Edmonton Oilers for four goals on just 23 shots in his final start before the break, but he hadn't allowed more than two goals in any of his previous eight starts, picking up two shutouts. The Avalanche average just 49.63 shot attempts and 5.65 scoring chances per 60 minutes while on the road.
- BARGAIN - Peter Budaj (75K), Kings (at Coyotes): Budaj has truly been one of the top stories in the NHL this season while filling in for the injured Jonathan Quick. His 40 starts are his most in a season since 2008-09, while with the Avalanche, and he has career bests in save percentage, goals against average, shutouts and wins. The team in front of him is a big reason why, but he never warrants the minimum salary.
- FADE - Ondrej Pavelec (78K), Jets (at Blues): As mentioned above, Pavelec has picked up right he left off last season. He had been playing well in the AHL this season, but he again has proven incapable at the NHL level. He'll make his first road start of the season and doesn't warrant any consideration with a player of Tarasenko's caliber waiting on the other side.
- CONTRARIAN - Jared Coreau (86K), Red Wings (vs. Devils): Coreau's been rather shaky this season, having allowed at least three goals in seven of his 11 games played this season. He allowed four goals to the Boston Bruins in his most recent start, but he was shelled with 49 shots. The Devils average just 52.42 shot attempts per 60
Bargain Plays
- RW Pavel Buchnevich (28K), Rangers (vs. Blue Jackets) Buchnevich has played 54.19 minutes at 5v5 with C Mika Zibanejad and RW Rick Nash this season, with the trio owning a Corsi For rating of just 48.21 percent. They still average 59.79 shot attempts for per 60 minutes, playing at a very high pace. They're expected to outscore their opponents 2.79 to 2.46 per 60 minutes.
- C Jori Lehtera (26K), Blues (vs. Jets): Lehtera comes with a low ceiling due to his low shot counts, but he plays exclusively with Tarasenko and Schwartz. The threesome played over 30 percent of the Blues' ES minutes together in their most recent game. Lehtera could pick up multiple assists with such a favorable matchup.
- LW Miles Wood (25K), Devils (at Red Wings): Wood played just 12:17 in his most recent game, but he played 18.89 percent of New Jersey's ES minutes with C Adam Henrique and RW Michael Cammalleri. He had two goals and an assist with 10 shots on goal in his two games before the most recent outing.
Top Fades
- D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (54K), Coyotes (vs. Kings): Ekman-Larsson has registered more than two shots on goal in just one of his past 11 games. The Kings allow the fewest shot attempts per 60 minutes of all 30 teams, further limiting the impact OEL can make from the back end.
- RW Jordan Eberle (56K), Oilers (vs. Wild): Eberle has been held below 15 minutes in each of his past two games, totaling just three SOG and no points. He doesn't have exposure to C Connor McDavid at 5v5 or on the power play. He'll be opposed by the league's top netminder in Devan Dubnyk.
- LW Tomas Tatar (59K), Red Wings (vs. Devils): Tatar is priced among the top players at his position. He has three goals and five assists in January, but he totaled just 27 SOG in 13 games. His ice time has ranged from 9:07 to 19:12, representing far too much volatility at this salary.
Contrarian Options
- C Joe Pavelski (80K), Sharks (vs. Blackhawks): Pavelski is tough to trust at a position-leading salary against the vaunted Blackhawks, but Chicago G Corey Crawford hasn't been his typical self, posting a .886 SV% over his past six games. Pavelski has just one assist in his past five games.
- D John Klingberg (50K), Stars (vs. Maple Leafs): Klingberg's disappointing season has begun to turn around, as he has racked up four goals and five assists this month. He had tallied three shots on goal in three consecutive games, before being held to just one his last time out. The Maple Leafs allow 62.94 opponent shot attempts per 60 minutes when on the road, the second most in the league.
- LW Jonathan Drouin (62K), Lightning (vs. Bruins): Lightning RW Nikita Kucherov wasn't on the ice for the team's morning skate, potentially opening the door for Drouin to have an expanded role. He had just one assist in his past three games, but he totaled 34 SOG in 12 games this month, with a high of seven.
Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.