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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, Jan. 21 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
- C Logan Couture (51K) and D Brent Burns (76K), Sharks (vs. Avalanche): 21-year-old Spencer Martin will make his NHL debut in goal for the Avalanche, who rank as the second-worst team in terms of Corsi For percentage and allow a league-high 3.35 goals per game. Couture and Burns feature together on San Jose's power play; the former has scored a goal in three of his last five games, while the latter has 12 points in nine January contests.
- C Nicklas Backstrom (49K) and RW T.J. Oshie (42K), Capitals (at Stars): The red-hot Capitals have scored at least five goals in each of their last five games, with Backstrom and Oshie, two-thirds of Washington's top line, each tallying three goals and seven assists in that stretch. Both remain extremely favorably priced ahead of a trip to Dallas, which allows the fourth-most expected goals against per 60 minutes.
- C Mark Scheifele (63K) and RW Nikolaj Ehlers (47K), Jets (vs. Blues): Scheifele and Ehlers play together on the first line and on the power play, and have combined for nine points over their last five games. St. Louis owns the league's worst five-on-five save percentage, and is giving goalie Jake Allen a mental break; either Carter Hutton or the wonderfully-named Pheonix Copley will start for the Blues.
Goalie Breakdown
- TARGET: Martin Jones (79K), Sharks (vs. Avalanche): Jones has a 2.02 GAA at home, while having won 12 of his 19 starts at the SAP Center. Priced slightly above the minimum, he looks to have an easy path to victory against the impotent Avalanche, who have scored just 87 goals in 43 games.
- BARGAIN: Braden Holtby (75K), Capitals (at Stars): Washington has won 10 of its last 11 games, so even on the road against a formidable Stars offense, Holtby offers a better-than-average chance at a victory even if it comes at the cost of a few goals allowed.
- FADE: Kari Lehtonen (97K), Stars (vs. Capitals): Lehtonen has been the better of the Stars' two goaltenders, but with a middling 2.83 GAA and a .902 save percentage, that's not saying much. Given how prolific Washington's attack has been of late, it's hard to see Lehtonen not conceding multiple goals and being on the losing end of a decision.
- CONTRARIAN: Jean-Francois Berube (108K), Islanders (vs. Kings): Berube's combination of price and inexperience makes it likely he'll be among the lowest-owned goaltenders on the slate. The Islanders have won their last two games by a combined 7-0 scoreline, and the Kings average just 2.14 goals per game on the road. A place for Berube in a lineup is a show of faith in "the new coach bounce" effect of recently-appointed bench boss Doug Weight.
Bargain Plays
- LW Philip Danault (27K), Canadiens (vs. Sabres): While a left winger in Squad Up, Danault centers Montreal's top line of LW Max Pacioretty and RW Alexander Radulov at even strength. Though Danault doesn't see much in the way of power play time, he's tallied 24 points in 47 games, and has an increased chance to produce playing alongside the team's two leading scorers.
- D Nikita Zaitsev (27K), Maple Leafs (vs. Senators): Zaitsev led all Toronto defensemen in power play time in the team's last game, and is the club's overall ice-time leader on the season. In terms of conversion rate, the Maple Leafs' power play is the league's second-best. The 25-year-old rookie has a solid 17 points in 43 games for the high-scoring Buds.
- C Lars Eller (25K), Capitals (at Stars): A third-line center, Eller isn't known for his offense, but even he's gotten in on Washington's recent scoring binge, tallying three goals and three assists over his last five games. Eller's current line of LW Andre Burakovsky and RW Brett Connolly owns a stellar 62.35 Corsi For percentage in just over 98 minutes played together.
Top Fades
- RW Shane Doan (51K), Coyotes (vs. Lightning): The 40-year-old Doan seems to be finding his form somewhat, with four points in his last five games, including a two-assist outing on Thursday, but he's too pricey to have much faith in. The Coyotes are the second-lowest-scoring team in the league, and their prospects won't improve against the Lightning, who surrender the eighth-fewest scoring chances per 60 minutes.
- D Shayne Gostisbehere (47K), Flyers (vs. Devils): Gostisbehere's salary is living in the past, as his rookie exploits, rather than his 19 points in 43 games this season, seem to be the driving force behind his price. He's without a point in five straight games, and has just two multi-point efforts on the season. Similar production can be found from far cheaper sources.
- C Tyler Seguin (72K), Stars (vs. Capitals): The explosive Seguin is usually worthy of a premium price, but lacks a favorable matchup in which to thrive. Other than a bonkers 8-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday, Washington has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of its last 10 games. Another shootout is a possibility, but the funds reserved for Seguin are likely better spent elsewhere on Saturday.
Contrarian Options
- C Boone Jenner (34K), Blue Jackets (vs. Hurricanes): Jenner's early season scoring woes seem to be a thing of the past, as he's tallied five points (including three goals) in his last five games. A physical player, Jenner's average of over two hits per contest helps his Squad Up appeal. He had a goal and an assist on Tuesday against Carolina, and the Hurricanes just allowed seven goals to Pittsburgh on Friday.
- LW Andre Burakovsky (35K), Capitals (at Stars): The aforementioned Burakovsky, like most of his teammates, has hit his stride of late, with goals in three straight games, and multi-point efforts in his last two contests. He's still on pace to fall short of last season's 17 goals, but the 21-year-old Austrian is trending in the right direction.
- RW Kyle Palmieri (55K), Devils (at Flyers): The Flyers hold the NHL's second-worst 5-on-5 save percentage and, while they will be possibly refreshed (or rusty) after not having played since last Sunday, they've allowed at least four goals in each of their last four games. Palmieri is one of the low-scoring Devils' chief offensive threats, with two multi-point efforts in his last four games. He also scored in a December matchup between the two teams.
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