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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Monday, March 20 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
- LW Patrick Maroon (36K) & C Connor McDavid (73K), Oilers (vs. Kings): The Kings are on the second half of a back-to-back and lost Game 1 to the Calgary Flames by a score of 5-2. G Jonathan Quick started but lasted less than 12 minutes with two goals on seven shots. Edmonton's top line with C Leon Draisaitl on the right wing averages 3.22 expected goals for and nearly 12 scoring chances per 60 minutes.
- LW Filip Forsberg (67K) & RW James Neal (59K), Predators (vs. Coyotes): The Predators new-look lines featured the top-two wingers flanking C Calle Jarnkrok. The trio played 13.52 percent of the 5v5 minutes in Saturday's game, but they totaled 10 SOG. Arizona continues ranking near the bottom of the league in every defensive metric, including 10.55 scoring chances against per 60 minutes, since Feb. 20.
- LW Henrik Zetterberg (63K) & RW Gustav Nyquist (56K), Red Wings (vs. Sabres): The Red Wings' offense has rarely been a recommendable target, but Buffalo ranks 29th since Feb. 20 with 10.76 scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes. The goaltending has helped a bit with a more-reasonable 2.88 expected goals allowed per 60. Zetterberg, Nyquist and LW Tomas Tatar own a Corsi For rating of 56.57 percent in 120 minutes.
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
Bargain Plays
- LW Tyler Ennis (28K), Sabres (at Red Wings): Ennis has vastly underperformed this season with no points since Feb. 25. The three-time 40-point player has just nine points and 67 SOG in 41 games played. He was bumped up to the Sabres' top line with Cs Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly in their most recent game. Ennis' 17:17 of TOI was his most since the season opener. He can be paired with either linemate.
- RW Joonas Donskoi (29K), Sharks (at Stars): The Sharks' third line of Donskoi, C Tomas Hertl and RW Mikkel Boedker played 17.11 percent of the 5v5 minutes together in their most recent game. The trio has a Corsi rating of 52.81 percent in just over 40 5v5 minutes. Donskoi has no points but seven SOG over his past five games. The Stars' goaltending is always a target.
- D Jake Muzzin (25K), Kings (at Oilers): Muzzin's minimum salary is undeserved, as he has played over 21 minutes in each of his past five games, totaling three assists and 11 SOG. The Kings lost three of those five games, but Muzzin has remained productive and a key contributor in a large role.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
Top Fades
- C Ryan Johansen (66K), Predators (vs. Coyotes): Johansen has developed into a pass-first center with 12 goals and 43 assists on the season. He has been separated from his top two options in Forsberg and Neal. He tallied just two SOG in his first game without them, failing to produce more on his own. It's a quality matchup, but he lacks the ceiling has with the other two stars.
- LW Evander Kane (48K), Sabres (at Red Wings): With Eichel and O'Reilly now playing together, Kane has been placed on a line with C/LW Zemgus Girgensons and RW Brian Gionta. The three have a CF% of just 47.15 together and average just 5.08 scoring chances per 60 minutes. Kane's own scoring chances have lessened in quality despite stable shot counts.
- D Oscar Klefbom (32K), Oilers (vs. Kings): Klefbom played more than 23 minutes in each of his past two games, and he has a goal and an assist over his past three outings. The Kings are coming off a 5-2 loss, but they've defended the points well all season and limit the fantasy production of opposing defensemen very well. Klefbom's upside is capped.
Contrarian Options
- RW Jordan Eberle (49K), Oilers (vs. Kings): With the McDavid line serving as the most likely target, Eberle's ownership will remain low. The team's second line of Eberle, C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and LW Milan Lucic was the most used trio at 5v5 in the Oilers' most recent game, playing 25.88 percent of the 5v5 minutes. Eberle has a goal and three assists this month, recording three SOG on four occasions.
- C Tomas Hertl (46K), Sharks (at Stars): Hertl is the third-most expensive Sharks center and the fourth-most popular in the minds of the general population. He has just one assist in March and has gone without a shot on goal in each of his past two games. He has had three SOG in three of nine games this month, but he averages 17.6 minutes per game and has a very favorable matchup for a natural goal scorer.
- LW Tanner Pearson (44K), Kings (at Oilers): Pearson was held without a shot on goal during Sunday's loss to the Flames, but he had tallied at least three in each of his previous six games. He has just one goal and one assist for the month, but his 4.3 shooting percentage is well below his rate of 13.5 for the season. His ice time has dipped slightly, but he remains beside Cs Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter.
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