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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, April 20 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
- LW Filip Forsberg (63K) & C Ryan Johansen (62K), Predators (vs. Blackhawks): The Predators have fully outplayed the Blackhawks en route to their 3-0 series lead. Chicago's 46.75 Corsi For percentage is the worst of Thursday's playoff slate, while Nashville's 53.25 possession rate leads the eight teams. Johansen and Forsberg have totaled three goals and nine points.
- C Jake Guentzel (37K) & RW Phil Kessel (62K), Penguins (vs. Blue Jackets): Guentzel maintains center eligibility, making him impossible to pair with C Sidney Crosby. Using Kessel as an alternative gives an exposure to both lines and to Crosby and C Evgeni Malkin. Guentzel and Kessel have totaled six goals and 11 points.
Bargain Plays
- LW Artturi Lehkonen (26K), Canadiens (vs. Rangers): Lehkonen ranks third on the Canadiens with 12 shots on goal through four games played, with the majority coming from inside the slot. He played 23.8 percent of the power-play time in Game 3, compensating for limited 5v5 usage.
- C Artem Anisimov (30K), Blackhawks (at Predators): The Blackhawks rolled three lines in Game 3, with Anisimov, RW Patrick Kane and LW Artemi Panarin playing 23.1 percent of 5v5 minutes. The trio has struggled through three games, but they did average 7.33 scoring chances per 60 during the regular season.
Top Fades
- D Roman Josi (56K), Predators (vs. Blackhawks): Josi is oddly priced above San Jose Sharks D Brent Burns. Josi has just one assist, no goals, and seven SOG through three playoff games. Burns had his first three postseason assists in game four, but he's averaging more than four SOG per game.
- LW Milan Lucic (42K), Oilers (vs. Sharks): Lucic has two points in four postseason games, but he has just three SOG. He's the middle-priced option of the Oilers' second line, with RW Jordan Eberle also worthy of being faded at a salary of 50K.
Contrarian Options
- C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (39K), Oilers (vs. Sharks): Eligible at the crowded Oilers center position, Nugent-Hopkins is likely to be over looked. He leads Edmonton with 13 SOG through four games, though he has gone without a point. He offers 29K in salary savings over C Connor McDavid, who has just two points in the postseason.
- D David Savard (28K), Blue Jackets (at Penguins): Savard received the promotion to the top power-play unit in the absence of D Zach Werenski (face) in Game 4. He played 52.38 percent of the available time on the PP, and he picked up his first assist of the postseason at 5v5.
(Photos courtesy Action Images)
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