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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, March 23 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• LW Alex Ovechkin (73K) & C Nicklas Backstrom (58K), Capitals (vs. Blue Jackets): Ovechkin's salary hasn't rebounded from his extended 10-game goal-less drought, even with six points in his last five games. Backstrom is criminally cheap for the someone ranked fifth in the points race. The Blue Jackets are allowing 8.51 scoring chances per 60 minutes since Feb. 23, and they lost 5-2, Wednesday, to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

• LW Mike Hoffman (66K) & C Jean-Gabriel Pageau (36K), Senators (vs. Penguins): Pittsburgh ranks 29th in scoring chances against per 60 minutes when on the road since Feb. 23. Only two teams are expected to allow more 5v5 goals per 60 minutes than Pittsburgh's 3.15. Ottawa's insistence on balancing the limited healthy forward talent resulted in Hoffman's line playing 20.73 percent of the 5v5 minutes last time out.

• C Nick Schmaltz (27K) & RW Patrick Kane (110K), Blackhawks (vs. Stars): It is impossible to roster Kane and LW Artemi Panarin together, even with a minimum-salary goalie. Schmaltz has three assists in two games as the center for the second line. Any additional production he provides relative to his low salary can help offset Kane's monstrous price tag.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET - Jake Allen (113), Blues (vs. Canucks): The Blues allow a league-low 3.55 scoring chances against per 60 minutes with their 1.83 expected goals against per 60 minutes also representing the best rate in the league while at home. Vancouver is expected to score a modest 2.45 goals per 60 minutes while acting as the visitor.

• BARGAIN - Budaj (75K), Lightning (at Bruins): Budaj relieves G Andrei Vasilevskiy who allowed four goals in three consecutive losses. Budaj stopped 26 of 28 shots faced in his most recent start. Boston has been expected to score a modest 2.45 5v5 goals per 60 minutes while at home over the past month.

• FADE - Connor Hellebuyck (87K), Jets (at Kings): The Kings have climbed up to rank sixth in expected goals per 60 minutes over the past month. Hellebuyck has allowed at least three goals in four of his past five games.

• CONTRARIAN - Curtis McElhinney (95K), Maple Leafs (vs. Devils): The Maple Leafs are on the second half of a back-to-back and will turn to McElhinney, after G Frederik Andersen picked up Tuesday's 5-2 win. The Devils have averaged a league-worst 6.84 scoring chances per 60 minutes while on the road over the past month.

Photo courtesy Getty Images

Bargain Plays

• C John Hayden (25K), Blackhawks (vs. Stars): Hayden has joined C Jonathan Toews and LW Richard Panik on the Blackhawks top line, with the trio playing 27.55 percent of 5v5 minutes in their most recent game. Hayden has a goal and two assists in his four games with the big club.

• LW Matt Nieto (25K), Avalanche (vs. Oilers): Nieto has gone point-less in four consecutive games and has just one goal in March. He has topped 15 minutes in two of his past three outings while skating on Colorado's second line with C Matt Duchene and LW Gabriel Landeskog. With neither of the high-priced stars performing consistently, Nieto is a safer low-risk option at the minimum salary.

• D Zach Werenski (27K), Blue Jackets (at Capitals): Werenski has oddly been held below 20 minutes in four of his past five games, but he has still be able to tally two goals and four assists. Head coach John Tortorella is intentionally managing his minutes in preparation for the playoffs, but he is still being used in ideal offensive situations.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Top Fades

• LW Jamie Benn (59K), Stars (at Blackhawks): Benn has been skating on a line with C Cody Eakin and RW Ales Hemsky of late, with the trio playing 23.47 percent of 5v5 minutes in the Stars' most recent game. The line severely handicaps Benn's personal ceiling at a salary reflective of his usual spot beside C Tyler Seguin.

• RW Nikita Kucherov (65K), Lightning (at Bruins): Kucherov has three goals in his past two games and eight goals and 15 points this month. He has at least three shots on goal in four straight games, but he's still operating at an inflated 19 percent shooting rate for March.

• D Roman Josi (52K), Predators (vs. Flames): Josi hasn't scored since a two-goal game Feb. 25. He does have 28 SOG in the drought, as he has been the victim of poor luck. His salary is too high for nothing but the chance of an assist in a difficult matchup.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Contrarian Options

• D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (51K), Coyotes (at Panthers): Ekman-Larsson has scored in back-to-back games with a total of 10 shots on goal in his past four outings. Florida is expected to allow 2.61 goals per 60 minutes while on home ice since Feb. 23. Arizona has averaged 8.20 scoring chances per 60 minutes while on the road over the same span.

• C Anze Kopitar (71K), Kings (vs. Jets): The Jets have allowed 11.76 scoring chances per 60 minutes in two road games since Feb. 23. Kopitar has been playing at a lower ceiling most of the season, largely due to the caliber of his linemates. He has tallied just one or fewer SOG in all but three games this month, but he has topped 20 minutes in all nine outings.

• LW Max Pacioretty (70K), Canadiens (vs. Hurricanes): Canadiens head coach Claude Julien has bumped C Alex Galchenyuk off the top line. A perceived downgrade, C Phillip Danault has actually played better with Pacioretty and RW Alexander Radulov this season. The trio owns a Corsi For rating of 55.47 percent in over 330 5v5 minutes together.

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