Beleskey was sidelined for the past six weeks with a knee injury.
The Bruins - losers of four of their last six games - will hope for a spike in production upon Beleskey's return, as the 28-year-old has only amassed two goals and three assists in 23 contests this season.
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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Friday, Jan. 20 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
LW Brad Marchand (71K) & RW David Pastrnak (71K), Bruins (vs, Blackhawks): The lofty salaries may deter a lot of owners but the Bruins' top-two goal scorers are in a great spot at home. Chicago's 9.02 scoring chances against per 60 minutes ranks them in a tie for the third-most in the league. They move up to rank 24th in expected goals allowed per 60 minutes, but owners should take advantage of rare low ownership.
LW Jeff Skinner (60K) & C Victor Rask (54K), Hurricanes (vs. Penguins): The Penguins rank worse than Chicago in expected goals allowed and the two are tied in scoring chances against. The two teams are near equal in Corsi For percentage, both ranking above 51.5 percent. Skinner has 11 of his 17 goals on home ice this season.
C Vincent Trocheck (59K) & RW Jaromir Jagr (48K), Panthers (at Canucks): The Panthers should be the top road target of the night, even though they've lost the first two games of their Western Canadian road trip by a combined score of 9-5. Vancouver allows its opponents to shoot from an average distance of 32.50 feet, ranking 24th in the league.
Goalie Breakdown
TARGET - Cam Talbot (98K), Oilers (vs. Predators): Prior to scoring four goals in a victory over the Calgary Flames Thursday, the Predators mercurial offense had scored just 10 goals in their previous six games. Talbot has won four consecutive starts and allowed more than two goals in just one of those games.
BARGAIN - Al Montoya (75K), Canadiens (at Devils): Montoya will start the first half of the Canadiens' back-to-back, facing a Devils team ranking 30th in the NHL in shot attempts for per 60 minutes. Even in a win the prospective low save total depresses his ceiling, but he'll do just fine at the minimum salary if credited with the victory.
FADE - Ryan Miller (101K), Canucks (vs. Panthers): The Panthers rank 28th in scoring chances per 60 minutes, and their average shot distance of 35.98 feet is the second furthest in the league. Still, they rank in the top half of the league in shot attempts per 60 minutes. Vancouver has allowed just two goals in its past two games, but it does allow 8.49 scoring chances per 60 minutes.
CONTRARIAN - Cam Ward (100K), Hurricanes (vs. Penguins): Ward is an extremely risky selection, particularly at such a high salary. He allowed four goals on 19 shots in a disastrous road start his last time out, but had previously won four consecutive starts at home. Though Ward has allowed at least three goals in four of his past five games, he has made more than 30 saves twice.
Bargain Plays
RW Anthony Mantha (30K), Red Wings (at Sabres): Mantha continues to work from a first-line role, on the right side of RW Gustav Nyquist and LW Henrik Zetterberg. He has just two shots on goal in his past three games, but he has two assists, eight hits and a blocked shot. There's a higher possibility for offense than in Detroit's previous three games, all coming against teams in playoff positions.
C Andrew Shaw (29K), Canadiens (at Devils): Even with C Alex Galchenyuk back from injury, Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien is sticking with an effective first line of LW Max Pacioretty, C Phillip Danault and RW Alexander Radulov. This puts Shaw on the right side of Galchenyuk, an ideal spot for a bargain play with a net presence.
D Zdeno Chara (25K), Bruins (vs. Blackhawks): Chara can be combined with Marchand and Pastrnak as an extra piece to the contrarian Bruins stack. He went without a shot on goal his last time out, but he had totaled 12 in his previous three games. He had 10 hits and eight blocked shots in his past five games. He can readily hit his required floor with any offense providing the tournament boost.
Top Fades
RW Patrick Kane (80K), Blackhawks (at Bruins): Kane is priced 9K above the next most expensive right wing Friday. His three goals and 10 points this month may warrant the salary, but he has been surprisingly less effective on the road this season. Just 15 of his 47 points have come on the road, despite a higher shot rate. He'll face top G Tuukka Rask.
C Alex Galchenyuk (52K), Canadiens (at Devils): Galchenyuk scored in his first game back from injury, but he went point-less in the following two outings. He has just four SOG over the three games, and he has been held to 16 minutes of ice time in two of the three. At a significantly lower salary, Shaw makes for a much better selection.
LW Loui Eriksson (55K), Canucks (vs. Panthers): Eriksson's salary has bounced back up since being reunited with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. The reunion has been with lackluster results, as Eriksson still has just two goals and one assist on the month, bumping him to 10 goals and 11 assists for the season. He did have 11 SOG in his past three games, but he lacks offensive consistency.
Contrarian Options
LW Taylor Hall (63K), Devils (vs. Canadiens): Hall continues to be the most appealing option from New Jersey, as he has racked up two goals and two assists during a four-game point streak. He has multiple SOG in every game this month, twice topping out at six in a game. His ice time has been somewhat variable this month, reaching a high of 20:02 and a low of 13:45 his last time out. He'll face Montreal's backup goalie.
RW Reilly Smith (42K), Panthers (at Canucks): Smith is far from a household name for consistent fantasy producers, but he has been shooting at a high clip of late, totaling 14 SOG in his past four games. He has topped 18 and a half minutes of ice time in each of his past three games.
D Shea Weber (46K), Canadiens (at Devils): Weber began the season with a clearly unsustainable shooting percentage, which has regressed ever since Nov. 22, as Weber has only two goals since then. The Devils have a top-10 ranked penalty kill, but their 141 times shorthanded are middle of the pack. Weber will have chances on the power play.
With speculation swirling about an apparent divide between the Boston Bruins management and Julien, the NHL's longest tenured coach, the club's preparing to embark on an arduous portion of their schedule.
To finish the month, Boston is home to Chicago, at Pittsburgh, home to Detroit and Pittsburgh, and then at Tampa Bay.
In February, the Bruins will visit Washington before hosting Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver, and Montreal. The club will then tour California, meeting the Sharks, Ducks, and Kings.
"It's not going to get easier," netminder Tuukka Rask acknowledged after their shootout loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday, via the Associated Press. "This is probably the biggest couple of weeks in our season coming up, really good teams against us. We'll have to play some good hockey."
If there's a silver lining within the schedule (and for Julien), it's that the Bruins will be rested for these games. They will have the All-Star break, their bye, and another four-day stretch between games over the next six weeks, playing just 13 games.
On the other side of that, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators will be spending their games in hand over the next six weeks, potentially heightening the pressure on a Bruins teams now 17th in points percentage.
"On the Fly," theScore's NHL roundtable series, will reflect on a week full of goals in this installment. Below are three thoughts on a brief flashback to the '80s in the NHL.
Moderation, please
Hagerman: How much fun was this week's 8-7 goal fest between the Penguins and Capitals? Everyone - minus the three goalies who dressed in the game - would likely give it a big thumbs-up.
It was fantastic. It almost never happens. And such an uncanny display makes for great TV, so long as it doesn't happen all the time.
Sure, many fans - and the league - would like to see more goals, but that comes with a limit. As the NHL looks at ways to increase scoring, one could argue problems would also arise with too many goals being scored. Heck, goalies might argue for larger equipment.
Continued onslaughts would have coaches searching for a way to lower the number of goals and slow down the game, while the luster of such crazy contests would fade quickly. It takes away the allure of scoring a goal when everyone is scoring in bunches.
Bring on more 8-7 games, but give us the time and space to recognize just how crazy they are.
High-scoring games seem to be happening more frequently this season, and after years of lament about declining offense league-wide, it's refreshing to see more high-octane affairs with crooked numbers on the scoreboard.
Everyone loves great goaltending, and there's something to be said for solid defense, but most fans would probably prefer a plethora of filthy dangles, bar-down wristers, and perfectly executed one-timers to a game lacking a slew of highlight-reel offensive plays.
Why not have the frenetic pace of three-on-three overtime at five-on-five and all the time?
Back-and-forth barnburners are much better for ratings, and they make for a far more marketable product. They're not ideal for those with heart conditions or fans invested in the teams involved, but for everyone else, they're far more exciting than a 1-0 defensive clinic.
Low-scoring games are fun, too
O'Leary: I like defense. Sue me.
While watching the Capitals and Penguins use up the ink in the scorekeeper's pen was entertaining, it didn't represent the best product the sport has to offer.
Although there were 15 goals - nine of which came in one period - it wasn't exactly a showcase of offense so much as a defensive slopfest.
Scrambles and deflections off shinpads and various other extremities aren't the most entertaining concept to me, even if the puck does wind up in the back of the net.
When teams trade dangerous scoring chances, but don't beat the goalie on every opportunity, it creates intensity. A 0-0 tie late in the third period can be just as gripping as a 7-7 score.
A high number of goals doesn't always determine the quality of the game.
The Blackhawks haven't sold in a long time, and that's not expected to change. Besides, since they didn't win the Stanley Cup last year, they're quite clearly due.
With negligible cap space and Artemi Panarin's raise coming into effect next season, the Blackhawks are fairly limited in what they can bring in. But with the expansion draft approaching, they may consider turning Trevor van Riemsdyk, who will in all likelihood be exposed, into a serviceable part up front.
With Brian Campbell and Michal Kempny making for a sudden surplus on defense, the Blackhawks are in an uncommon position: they require help up front. Van Riemsdyk could fetch a nice return, especially if packaged with one of the club's 10 draft picks.
Colorado Avalanche
Where to start?
Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog are the big fish being discussed around league circles, but aside from Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, there isn't a nameplate safe in the Avalanche dressing room.
With the talented defensive prospects Colorado covets worth their weight in gold, we may not see one of the larger commodities dealt until after the season, once Vegas has constructed its roster. But because the Avs are essentially the only team preparing a fire sale, they'll most certainly be busy.
"By any means necessary" has to be the approach, as the Avs desperately need to turn over a large portion of their personnel.
Dallas Stars
Dallas is in an interesting spot.
On one hand, the Stars are fifth in the wild-card chase and have a multitude of expiring contracts. And on the other, they're three points out in a shaky Central, and boast a similar roster to that which finished atop the conference last season.
Both on expiring deals, Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya are the most obvious trade chips. Dealing them would almost certainly require retaining salary, and waiving the proverbial white flag on the season.
Minnesota Wild
The prevailing belief that it's in Minnesota's best interest to ship out a defender before the expansion draft has obviously cooled with its 29-10-5 start. The risk of losing a piece on the back end for nothing just isn't worth undermining what has the chance to be a long postseason run.
The Wild have less than $1 million in cap space, and not a single expiring deal in a featured role. There isn't an obvious trade candidate to identify - especially with the resurgent Jonas Brodin currently on the shelf.
Nashville Predators
It's unlikely Nashville can solve its expansion conundrum with one move at the deadline. That said, proactive measures would help soften the blow.
In a perfect world, the Predators preserve their top four, keeping Ryan Ellis, and including Viktor Arvidsson and Calle Jarnkrok in their safeguarded forward list. But because squeezing all three young assets into the protected roster is next to impossible, trading one - depending on Nashville's spot in the playoff chase - might be the club's best option.
Jarnkrok, in particular, is a fascinating candidate and maybe the most likely to be exposed. There isn't a team - including Vegas - that couldn't benefit from his auxiliary talent at $2 million each season through 2022.
St. Louis Blues
All eyes on Kevin Shattenkirk.
With the Blues reluctant to bleed out another asset, and two talented right-shot defenders on the roster, Shattenkirk could wind up being the marquee rental commodity on the market regardless of where his team stands in the Central Division race.
With his potential impact and an expiring deal that many contenders could fit into their salary structures, Shattenkirk has the potential to generate a return few can match.
Winnipeg Jets
While the Jets will hold out hope goaltender Ondrej Pavelec will give them a chance to win, in reality, his return is the worst-case scenario from back when the decision was made to demote him.
The Jets, who cannot maximize the talent on their roster while carrying three goalies, are third from the bottom in the West, and have a few expiring assets they could turn into futures to help push this exciting program over the top.
There's speculation surrounding Mathieu Perreault, but that seems tenuous, given he's having a miserable offensive campaign and the clock will begin next season on his four-year extension. Drew Stafford seems like a more viable option. He's on an expiring deal, and the Jets can eat a portion of his salary.
MacArthur has been denied clearance to pursue a return from team doctors and multiple specialists, despite being symptom free, according to TSN 1200's Dean Brown.
Dorion said MacArthur is "devastated" by the news.
MacArthur suffered his fourth concussion in 18 months when he took a hit from Patrick Sieloff in a training camp scrimmage. He's been limited to four games over the last two seasons due to post-concussion syndrome.
He said in October that he's unwilling to give up on his NHL career.
Anderson has been absent from the club for the last six weeks to be with his wife, Nicholle, who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
Mike Condon has filled in admirably, and has been one of the main reasons the Senators are in a postseason position. He's fashioned a .920 save percentage and earned three shutouts since his acquisition in November, and appeared in 20 consecutive games for the club.
Dorion said he expects Anderson to need a couple weeks of practice to return to form.
Nicholle wrote in her last blog post that her final radiation treatment was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 19.
The Arizona Coyotes shipped struggling sophomore Anthony Duclair down the road to Tucson on Thursday to open up space on the active roster for grinder Ryan White.
With three goals and nine points from 41 games following his 20-goal, 44-point rookie season, the move doesn't require a rationale. Duclair needs a change in setting, and a chance to recoup some confidence; his production is too important to a club ranked second from the bottom in total scoring.
Duclair's teammates have faith in his talent, and believe his demotion is as much an indictment of themselves as it is of him.
"He's too good to not be back up," forward Jamie McGinn said, according to the Coyotes' Dave Vest. "We know he's going to be back up. It's just a wake-up call for our team."
If and when Duclair returns is unknown, though John Chayka and Dave Tippett both indicated that he would be back. Timing his recall with the return of Max Domi, who has been out for more than a month with a fracture in his hand, might be the best thing for Duclair and the team.
