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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Wednesday, Feb. 15 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
- C Claude Giroux (62K) & RW Wayne Simmonds (62K), Flyers (at Flames): Simmonds has replaced Flyers RW Jakub Voracek on the right side of Giroux and C Brayden Schenn. The three were together for 32.59 percent of all 5v5 minutes in the team's most recent game. The trio has a negative Corsi For rating when together, but their average of 8.09 scoring chances per 60 minutes is Giroux's best.
- LW Alexander Steen (52K) & RW Vladimir Tarasenko (78K), Blues (at Red Wings): Steen is being given the brief opportunity to replace temporarily injured C Paul Stastny as the center for Tarasenko on the Blues' top line. Along with LW Magnus Paajarvi, the three played 23.58 percent of 5v5 minutes last time out. Red Wings G Petr Mrazek has allowed 10 goals in his past three starts.
- C Boone Jenner (42K) & RW Cam Atkinson (62K), Blue Jackets (vs. Maple Leafs): The Maple Leafs are coming off an impressive 7-1 beatdown of the New York Islanders on home ice Tuesday, but they'll take the road for the second half of a back-to-back. Atkinson's been the consistent driving force of the Columbus offense all season, but Jenner racked up 10 SOG in his past three games.
Bargain Plays
- C Sean Couturier (32K), Flyers (at Flames): Couturier notched a goal and an assist Feb. 2, against the Montreal Canadiens, but he has gone point-less in four games since, just once tallying more than one SOG. He has averaged more than 18 minutes per game during the slump, and has recently been paired up with Voracek. It's a cushy matchup against Flames G Brian Elliott.
- D Nikita Zaitsev (25K), Maple Leafs (at Blue Jackets): Zaitsev has played over 20 minutes in six consecutive games. He had a goal and four assists in those games, despite inconsistent shot counts. His high hit and blocked shot numbers provide a high, steady floor which returns value above his salary.
- LW Jussi Jokinen (30K), Panthers (at Sharks): Jokinen enters with back-to-back multi-point games, though his two goals came on just three SOG. He has played at least 17 minutes in three of his past four games, on a second line with C Vincent Trocheck and RW Reilly Smith. The three average 63.54 shot attempts per 60 minutes as a unit.
Top Fades
- C Tomas Hertl (52K), Sharks (vs. Panthers): Hertl's salary has skyrocketed after a stint on the Sharks' top line beside Cs Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. He has been dropped to the third line but returned to his natural center position. He'll play between Ws Timo Meier and Joel Ward, offering much less potential for production.
- LW Jaden Schwartz (49K), Blues (at Red Wings): Schwartz has been juggled throughout the lineup of late, but he spend the majority of his last game with C Patrik Berglund and Ws Dmitrij Jaskin and David Perron. He could still see some time with Tarasenko, but he can't be trusted at this salary with a third-line role.
- D Mike Green (39K), Red Wings (vs. Blues): The short slate makes Green stand out a little more, but he becomes one of the highest-priced blueliners. He is point-less in his past three games, tallying just two SOG,
Contrarian Options
- D Seth Jones (39K), Blue Jackets (vs. Maple Leafs): Jones has played no less than 23:25 in seven games since the all-star break, scoring three goals and adding two assists. He has tallied four SOG in three of those games, recording multiple SOG in all but one outing.
- RW Anthony Mantha (37K), Red Wings (vs. Blues): The Blues play much worse on the road than at home, having posted a sub-.500 record to date. Mantha had a two-point game last time out, and he totaled nine SOG over his past two contests. He has two goals and four assists this month.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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