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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Dec. 15 (all advanced stats are at 5v5 and courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):

Triple Threat

• LW Artemi Panarin (57K), C Artem Anisimov (45K), RW Patrick Kane (76K), Blackhawks (at Islanders): The Blackhawks' second trio has a Corsi For rating of 53.66 percent. With C Jonathan Toews back in the lineup they will spend less time on the ice with their opponent's top defensive pair. The Islanders allow the second-most scoring chances per 60 minutes.

• LW Jamie McGinn (25K), C Peter Holland (32K), D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (55K), Coyotes (at Maple Leafs): Holland's first game with the Coyotes went spectacularly, with McGinn scoring twice and Holland picking up an assist on each goal. Ekman-Larsson picked up his ninth assist of the season, snapping a four-game point-less streak. The Maple Leafs allow more scoring chances per 60 minutes than all but three teams.

• LW Jaden Schwartz (58K), C Robby Fabbri (44K), RW Vladimir Tarasenko (79K), Blues (vs. Devils): Recently assembled at practice, the Blues top trio will play their first game together Thursday. They've combined for 59 points on the season, with only Tarasenko playing the full 30 games. The Devils limit scoring chances, but they have a negative Corsi rating of 47.52.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET - Jake Allen (80K), Blues (vs. Devils): Allen allowed five goals on 33 shots in his most recent outing, but he'll make his first home start since Dec. 6. He is 10-0-2 at home this season with a 1.79 GAA and a .932 SV%. The Devils average just 6.58 scoring chances per 60 minutes, ranking 29th in the league.

• BARGAIN - Peter Budaj (75K), Kings (at Red Wings): With news of G Jonathan Quick being out until mid-March, Budaj is cemented as the Kings' starting goalie. He allowed four goals in each of two of his past three games, but he'll face an easier matchup against a Red Wings team averaging just 7.64 scoring chances per 60. They have a paltry expected goals for of 2.16 per 60.

• FADE - Anton Khudobin (94K), Bruins (vs. Ducks): Khudobin will replace G Tuukka Rask who started Wednesday's game, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Khudobin is grossly inferior to Rask in talent and the team in front of him will still be tired in the second half of a back-to-back. He's not worth anything more than the minimum salary.

• CONTRARIAN - Scott Darling (84K), Blackhawks (at Islanders): The Islanders play an open style in which they average 9.79 scoring chances per 60 but allow 10.20. New York's 29.61 shots on goal per 60 minutes at 5v5 will provide Darling the opportunity for a high save total, while his offense will provide the scoring necessary for the win bonus.

Bargain Plays

• LW Kevin Fiala (28K), Predators (vs. Wild): Fiala has three goals and two assists since rejoining the Predators at the end of November. He is averaging 14:08 of ice time in his recent NHL stint, after beginning the year with just 11:56 per game.

• RW Ryan Hartman (25K), Blackhawks (at Islanders): Hartman played 16:27 in Toews' return Tuesday, registering just one shot on goal. He had tallied four in each of his previous two games, and he should return to a high level with a superior playmaker beside him. The Islanders' team defense is extremely exploitable, and he is in an excellent spot.

• D Johnny Boychuk (31K), Islanders (vs. Blackhawks): The Blackhawks have the worst penalty-kill percentage in the league at 72.7 percent. They've been shorthanded only 88 times through 31 games and the Islanders have drawn only 79 power-play opportunities, but Boychuk is a good tournament option with time on the second unit.

Top Fades

• D P.K. Subban (46K), Predators (vs. Wild): Subban enters a game against the NHL's best goaltender (statistically) having gone without a point in three consecutive games. He has totaled 26 shots on goal in his past six, and he played over 25 minutes in five of the six, but this isn't the spot for him to find his offensive touch.

• LW Jamie Benn (74K), Stars (vs. Rangers): Benn has had three multi-point games in his past nine outings, but he has just one other assist during the span. A boom-or-bust player right now, he is unlikely to reach his ceiling with G Henrik Lundqvist back in net for the Rangers.

• RW Blake Wheeler (62K), Jets (vs. Panthers): Priced with a higher salary than teammate Patrik Laine, Wheeler comes with the lower ceiling. He does have a higher floor with more hits and blocked shots, but Laine is a vastly superior tournament play.

Contrarian Options

• C John Tavares (80K), Islanders (vs. Blackhawks): Daily fantasy owners will be keyed in on the Blackhawks top two centers of Toews and Anisimov, with Chicago being the favorite in the game. While the Islanders' defense has been extremely poor all season, they're offense has still be quite good, and they are facing backup G Scott Darling.

• LW Taylor Hall (66K), Devils (at Blues): While Hall has a tough matchup, he enters with eight points in his past six games and 20 points in 20 games on the season. Allen has been shaky in net for the Blues of late, and Hall is the most likely to keep the Devils from being shut out.

• D Jake Gardiner (36K), Maple Leafs (vs. Coyotes): Gardiner has points in three consecutive games, while playing at least 22 minutes in six consecutive outings. His career is back on track and his 12 points through 28 games have him on pace for a career high. The Coyotes are among the league's worst defensive teams, and Gardiner needs to be included in stacks of the Maple Leafs.

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