Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: New Flyers lines will soar over Buffalo

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Tuesday, March 7 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

  • C Claude Giroux (63K) & RW Wayne Simmonds (62K), Flyers (at Sabres): The Flyers' new top line of Giroux, Simmonds, and LW Jordan Weal have a Corsi For rating of 58.33 percent in nearly 40 5v5 minutes together. They average 42.78 shots on goal, 12.22 scoring chances and 3.67 expected goals for per 60 minutes. The Sabres have the league's second-worst CF% since Feb. 1 at 45.72 percent.
  • LW James van Riemsdyk (61K) & C Mitchell Marner (54K), Maple Leafs (vs. Red Wings): The Maple Leafs effectively rolled four lines in their most recent game, with the top 5v5 trio playing 24.9 percent of the minutes and the line of Marner, van Riemsdyk and C Tyler Bozak checking in with 21.63 percent of the minutes. The three average 10.54 scoring chances per 60 in nearly 400 minutes together.
  • LW Max Pacioretty (79K) & RW Brendan Gallagher (57K), Canadiens (at Canucks): Montreal has started March with consecutive wins, two more regulation victories than they had in all of February. The reunion of Pacioretty and Gallagher on the top line has been a big help, as their line centered by Phillip Danault has a CF% of 58.86 for the season, averaging 11.37 scoring chances per 60 minutes.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Goalie Breakdown

  • TARGET - Henrik Lundqvist (95K), Rangers (at Panthers): The Rangers are on the second half of a back-to-back, but Lundqvist will return to the crease after ceding to G Antti Raanta for Game 1. He allowed at least four goals in three of his past four starts, but the Panthers offer potential for a high save total with averages of 33.57 shots but just 6.69 scoring chances per 60 minutes.
  • BARGAIN - Michal Neuvirth (88K), Flyers (at Sabres): Owners seeking a bargain goaltender should go no lower than Neuvirth, and even he carries substantial risk. He allowed four goals in each of past two starts, but the Sabres have been expected to score just 2.19 goals per 60 since Feb. 1. With 30.16 shots and 7.26 scoring chances per 60, the potential is there for a large saves total.
  • FADE - Cam Talbot (116K), Oilers (vs. Islanders): Talbot allowed at least three goals in each of his past three home starts. The Islanders were held to just three goals in their past two games, but they do have a positive Corsi For rating since Feb. 1, while Edmonton has been slightly on the negative end.
  • CONTRARIAN - Jonathan Bernier (104K), Ducks (vs. Predators): While the Ducks' starting goalie is never mentioned until right before puck drop, either Bernier or G John Gibson will be a smart selection. Nashville has averaged 32.62 shots but just 8.20 scoring chances per 60 since Feb. 1.

(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Bargain Plays

  • D Ivan Provorov (28K), Flyers (at Sabres): Provorov played 30 percent of the power-play minutes in Philadelphia's last game. He operates as the lone defenseman on the second unit. He has gone point-less in five consecutive games, but he has steadily supplied some hits and blocked shots. The Flyers should have more success against Buffalo's 29th-ranked penalty kill.
  • C Nick Bjugstad (25K), Panthers (vs. Rangers): The Panthers' line of LW Thomas Vanek, Bjugstad and LW Jonathan Marchessault was the most frequently deployed trio at 5v5 in their most recent game. Bjugstad's 15:05 of ice time was his most since Feb. 9. He notched four shots on goal in the game. Production will follow the increased usage for the third line.
  • LW Artturi Lehkonen (26K), Canadiens (at Canucks): Lehkonen scored his first goal since Jan. 21 his last time out, tallying five shots on goal against the Rangers. He totaled 13:21 in time on ice, playing alongside C Alex Galchenyuk at 5v5.

(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Top Fades

  • C Aleksander Barkov (61K), Panthers (vs. Rangers): Barkov still has the highest ceiling of any Panthers skater, but he is not nearly as safe an option as the team moves toward a balanced, three-line approach. Owners are better off accepting less risk with a player accompanied by a smaller salary.
  • RW Jakub Voracek (64K), Flyers (at Sabres): Voracek is the misplaced star in Philadelphia's new line combinations. He skated on a trio with C Brayden Schenn and C Valtteri Filppula in the most recent game, with the line ranking third in 5v5 frequency. He'll still see plenty of power-play work against the dismal Sabres PK, but his salary is too high to bank on special teams production.
  • D Roman Josi (54K), Predators (at Ducks): Josi has gone without a point in two straight, following a four-game streak of two-point performances. Of those eight points, three came with the man advantage. The Ducks' penalty kill ranks sixth in the league at 84.9 percent.

(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Contrarian Options

  • LW Nick Foligno (57K), Blue Jackets (vs. Devils): Foligno hasn't enjoyed the same scoring as linemate LW Brandon Saad of late, but the two shoot at similar rates while flanking the Blue Jackets' top line. Avoid recency bias and side with the salary savings by opting for Foligno.
  • C William Nylander (63K), Maple Leafs (vs. Red Wings): Nylander offers 15K in salary savings over linemate C Auston Matthews. Matthews is the vastly superior scorer, providing the higher upside. Nylander has been able to compile 14 points since Feb. 1, and he had a shot on goal in all but two games.
  • RW Sebastian Aho (54K), Hurricanes (at Avalanche): Aho has suffered a drop in production, totaling just three goals and two assists since Feb. 1. His usage remains high, and he will have the benefit of the league's best matchup for Tuesday's game. His shot counts have remained high with a total of 39 over his past 13 games.

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