Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Wednesday, April 19 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• LW Zach Parise (47K) & C Eric Staal (46K), Wild (at Blues): The Blues own the worst 5v5 Corsi rating of all 16 playoff teams, yet they lead the Wild, owners of the best CF%, three games to none. Minnesota is averaging nearly a full expected goal per 60 minutes more than St. Louis and roughly 1.5 more scoring chances per 60. Lean on Minnesota's most experienced forwards, as will head coach Bruce Boudreau.

• LW Alex Ovechkin (65) & C Nicklas Backstrom (59K), Capitals (at Maple Leafs): The Capitals' first line of Ovechkin, Backstrom and RW T.J. Oshie led the team with 21.31 percent of the 5v5 playing time in Game 3. Even still, head coach Barry Trotz said he's committed to playing Ovechkin more in Game 4. He has two goals on 15 shots on goal through three games. Backstrom has two goals and an assist on eight SOG.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Bargain Plays

• LW Clarke MacArthur (25K), Senators (at Bruins): MacArthur was held without a shot on goal in the Senators Game 3 victory, but he was able to tally three SOG in each of the series' first two games. He played 16:45 in Game 2 and 14:17 in Game 3, primarily on a line with C Jean-Gabriel Pageau and LW Tom Pyatt. He is also seeing time on the top power-play unit as the fourth forward.

• D T.J. Brodie (25K), Flames (vs. Ducks): Brodie has played 65.28 percent of the power-play time and 29.22 percent of the 5v5 time through the first three games of the series. He has been producing on offense, with four assists through the three games. At the minimum salary, he is a much better target than the higher-priced forwards, as he receives much of the same opportunity.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Top Fades

• C Evgeny Kuznetsov (57K), Capitals (at Maple Leafs): More ice time for Ovechkin, and subsequently Backstrom, will mean less time for Kuznetsov. His TOI already dipped in Game 3, his lowest of the series thus far, though he did register his first goal of the postseason. He possesses a salary similar to Backstrom, with the latter being the preferred target.

• LW Jason Zucker (35K), Wild (at Blues): Zucker played just 15.2 percent of 5v5 minutes in Game 3. His 13:15 of total ice time was his least playing time since Game 81 of the regular season. His salary hasn't dipped very much, despite a lack of playoff production. Opt for the more proven options from Minnesota.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Contrarian Options

• RW Michael Frolik (38K), Flames (vs. Ducks): Frolik has just one assist in the three games thus far, but he tallied a series-high three SOG in Game 3. He has played no less than 18:39 in each of the three games. His 5v5 line has been the most used by Calgary, while he has also played 13.9 percent of the power-play minutes.

• LW Nick Ritchie (27K), Ducks (at Flames): Ritchie play 13:38 in Game 3, his highest total of the playoffs. He responded by scoring his first goal, though he tallied just one SOG for the second consecutive game. He played just 10.59 percent of the 5v5 minutes, but he remained opposite RW Corey Perry with Antoine Vermette centering the third line.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two overtime losses aren't going to rattle the Washington Capitals.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have captured momentum, and currently lead the first-round series 2-1 entering Game 4 at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night.

Heading into the pivotal contest, Capitals defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said he isn't fazed by the increased stakes.

"This is what you enjoy, you enjoy being down and playing desperate hockey," Shattenkirk told Sean Fitz-Gerald of The Athletic after the morning skate.

All three games thus far have been decided in overtime, and the Presidents' Trophy winner will have to push the pace to avoid a 3-1 hole heading back to D.C.

"We know our aspirations, our aspirations are certainly as big as they get," forward Justin Williams told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "It's very rare when you see a team waltz their way all the way to the Stanley Cup."

Based on the series to date, it's safe to assume Game 4 will continue the wildly entertaining trend.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will face a hearing Wednesday for spearing San Jose Sharks forward Chris Tierney in Game 4, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.

Here's the play, which occurred late in the second period Tuesday night.

Draisaitl was ejected from the game, which the Oilers went on to lose 7-0.

Bruins forward Brad Marchand was suspended two games in the regular season for a similar incident.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel's agent is denying a report claiming his client won't re-up with the Buffalo Sabres if Dan Bylsma remains head coach.

"I don't know where anyone is getting these reports, but they are ridiculous in a word," Peter Fish told John Vogl of The Buffalo News on Wednesday.

Multiple sources told WGR 550's Paul Hamilton that Eichel has no desire to sign a contract extension with the Sabres this summer if Bylsma is still employed by the club, but the 20-year-old's representative said there's no ill will between his client and the coach or general manager Tim Murray.

"Jack, he left Buffalo, he thought he had a real good meeting with coach Bylsma and a real good meeting with Murray," Fish said. "When he got home to Boston, he was genuinely excited with the thoughts that maybe they're just a few players away from getting into the playoffs."

The agent said he and Eichel plan to meet with the GM again.

"We hope to be having talks with Tim Murray when the time is right here, and ... (Eichel would) like nothing better than to bring the Stanley Cup to Buffalo because it's a great city. They're a passionate fan base. A lot of fans are a lot like Jack in the way he grew up in his family," Fish said.

"So I just don't know where this is coming from, and quite frankly it's someone who's got an axe to grind for some reason who doesn't know him and doesn't understand him."

Eichel just finished the second season of his three-year, entry-level contract. Bylsma has three years remaining on the five-year agreement he inked in 2015.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel is reportedly presenting the Buffalo Sabres with an ultimatum.

The 20-year-old forward has no desire to sign a contract extension with the club in the offseason if Dan Bylsma is still the head coach, multiple sources told WGR 550's Paul Hamilton.

Eichel has one more year remaining on his entry-level deal before he becomes a restricted free agent. Bylsma has three years left on his contract.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray said last week that he would meet with team owners Terry and Kim Pegula this week, and WGR 550 reports that discussion will take place Wednesday.

Eichel led Buffalo in points and ranked second on the team in goals this season despite missing 21 games due to injury.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A swift tap where the sun don't shine on San Jose Sharks forward Chris Tierney could potentially make what's been a difficult playoff debut infinitely worse for Leon Draisaitl.

The Edmonton Oilers' second-most-prolific forward was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for an unnecessary spear at the most unnecessary of times: trailing 5-0 in the second period of Game 4 on Tuesday night.

It's just the latest stick infraction to draw the ire of hockey fans, following spears from Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand in the regular season, as well as Andrei Markov's prodding of Rick Nash and Matt Calvert's cross-check of Tom Kuhnhackl in the playoffs.

Crosby avoided discipline, but Marchand didn't, as the league handed him a two-game suspension to conclude the regular-season schedule. Markov shrugged off the angst of some Rangers supporters, and Calvert was forced to sit Game 3.

Basing any potential discipline for Draisaitl on recent history leads to one question: How the hell will the NHL handle this?

A players' fame shouldn't matter, nor should a history of infractions or the intensity of playoff hockey. A deliberate poke to an opponent's nether regions or a cross-check forceful enough to shatter a composite stick is intent to injure, plain and simple.

If the Department of Player Safety aims to get rid of the tomfoolery, it should impose automatic suspensions. Does forcing Draisaitl to sit out the third period of a blowout send a better message than removing him from the roster for a pivotal Game 5?

There's no defense for Draisaitl's decision, not even frustration or an attempt to set the tone for his team. Simply being escorted to the dressing room early - and in the midst of a blowout - lets him off too easy.

After several infractions in the April alone, the NHL has a chance to set a precedent that can help eliminate these incidents from the game as the playoffs proceed. The league should take it.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets staved off a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, but even in victory, they continued a trend that's characterized every playoff game they've ever played.

The Blue Jackets' 5-4 win in Game 4 cut the Penguins' series lead to 3-1, but Columbus allowed at least three goals for the 14th straight postseason contest, as pointed out by NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.

Columbus was outscored 7-2 in the first two games of this series before exchanging 5-4 results - an overtime loss on Sunday and a win on Tuesday.

The last time the Blue Jackets faced the Penguins in the playoffs back in 2014, five of the six games were decided by a 4-3 margin in the highly competitive first-round series.

It wasn't as flattering for Columbus in its first foray into the postseason against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. The Blue Jackets were outscored 12-2 in the first three contests and 18-7 in the series as they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup Final participants.

They played well enough to win Tuesday's game against the Penguins, but having to continue to play without Zach Werenski - arguably their best blue-liner - isn't going to make it easy to cure these defensive struggles.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers might want to put Tuesday night's seven-goal defeat in the rearview mirror, but Todd McLellan describes it as a learning experience.

"Tonight was a big lesson ... (it) proves to our group that teams can take it to another level," the head coach said following a 7-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. He added, "It was their night."

Several Oilers players expressed a desire to move on quickly from Tuesday's shellacking when asked about it postgame.

Connor McDavid called it a "one-off" and said, "you just scrap it." Cam Talbot said, "You shelf it. It's one and forgotten," and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said, "It doesn't matter what the score was, we just have to look forward to the next game."

McLellan acknowledged his young club simply doesn't have the familiarity with the postseason that its opponent possesses.

"We're learning as we go. Our top scorers haven't experienced this level of hockey," he said.

"They really haven't. When you look at (Joe) Thornton, (Patrick) Marleau, (Joe) Pavelski, (Brent) Burns ... those are some pretty experienced guys (who) have lived through these types of games and they knew where they had to take it. Our guys now have experienced it."

The series shifts back to Edmonton for Game 5 on Thursday night. The Oilers split the first two games at Rogers Place, and they'll have two of the three potential remaining contests on home ice.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.