Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Chicago gets a Darling matchup in Vancouver

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, November 19:

Triple Threat

  • Valtteri Filppula (28K), LW Alex Killorn (33K), D Victor Hedman (40K), Lightning (at Flyers): Even without the injured Steven Stamkos, the Lightning have the weapons to exploit the Flyers, who allow the most goals per game (3.44) and have the worst save percentage at 5-on-5, per Corsica.Hockey. This trio sees action on the power play, and Killorn and Filppula combined for four points and eight shots in their most recent game.
  • C Tyler Seguin (72K), LW Jamie Benn (71K), D John Klingberg (38K), Stars (vs. Oilers): Edmonton has lost five straight games, allowing 18 goals in the process. While expensive, this high-powered Stars trio can fit into a Squad Up lineup when complemented by a minimum-priced goaltender and a RW in the price range of the Jets' Patrik Laine (41K).
  • C Artem Anisimov (32K), LW Artemi Panarin (48K), D Brent Seabrook (32K), Blackhawks (at Canucks): Panarin and Anisimov feature together at even strength, and Seabrook joins them for first unit power play duties. All three players found the score sheet against Calgary on Friday. The Canucks allowed seven goals to the high-powered Rangers on Tuesday; the Blackhawks rank seventh in averaging 3.11 goals per game.

Goalie Breakdown

  • TARGET: Martin Jones (92K), Sharks (at Coyotes): Losers of four straight games, Arizona allows the second-most even strength scoring chances against per 60 minutes and has the league's second-worst goals against average (3.38). A solid performance should be enough to net the fairly-priced Jones his ninth win of the season.
  • BARGAIN: Scott Darling (76K), Blackhawks (at Canucks): Darling will start with Corey Crawford having played Friday night in Calgary. The backup has won all three of his starts this season, and facing the low-scoring Canucks should help decrease his inflated 2.98 GAA. A win looks to be a safe bet given the disparity between the two teams.
  • FADE: Ryan Miller (94K), Canucks (vs. Blackhawks): Even if Miller can return from missing Thursday's game with flu, he's a poor play given his surprisingly high salary. With a 2-7-0 record and a .899 save percentage, a win looks an unlikely proposition against the Western Conference-leading Blackhawks.
  • CONTRARIAN: Roberto Luongo (75K), Panthers (at Senators): Despite boasting a wealth of offensive talent, the Senators haven't scored more than two regulation goals since October 25. Luongo has won his last three starts and has solid enough rate stats to make for a recommended play, even on the road.

Bargain Plays

  • C Mike Fisher (25K), Predators (at Blues): A third-liner at even strength, Fisher specializes at producing on the power play, with six of his eight points (in 12 games) coming via the man advantage. With Squad Up awarding bonuses for hits, blocks and power play points, Fisher typically makes himself useful despite not being an elite offensive player
  • D Damon Severson (28K), Devils (at Kings): Tied with the injured Taylor Hall for the team lead with 12 points, Severson is one of the top offensive defensemen in the league despite regularly receiving a near-minimum price in Squad Up.
  • LW Patrick Maroon (34K), Oilers (at Stars): Offering some affordable first-line exposure to the pricier Connor McDavid, Maroon has thrived in the month of November, piling up seven points in nine games. With Squad Up awarding bonuses for hits and shots, Maroon has a solid floor in what should be a high-event game between Edmonton and Dallas.

Top Fades

  • RW Nikita Kucherov (62K), Lightning (at Flyers): It's not that Kucherov, who is tied for the league lead with 22 points, is a poor choice, but with six players who have at least 10 points, the Lightning are capable of spreading the wealth. The aforementioned Killorn and Filppula, C Tyler Johnson (43K) and C Vladislav Namestnikov (32K), who plays alongside Kucherov at even strength, all represent better value.
  • C Derick Brassard (61K), Senators (vs. Panthers): With two goals and five assists in 17 games, it's a mystery why Brassard's Squad Up salary remains so high. Three of his points came in the season's first two games, and it's mostly been a dry spell ever since. Ottawa's team-wide offensive futility was alluded to earlier.
  • D Drew Doughty (43K), Kings (vs. Devils): While he plays just over 27 minutes per game and contributes solidly in terms of blocks and hits, Doughty is still too pricey for someone with six points in 18 games. A likely matchup with New Jersey's Cory Schneider (2.21 GAA, .926 save percentage) limits the already low-scoring Kings' offensive ceiling.

Contrarian Options

  • D Torey Krug (39K), Bruins (vs. Jets): The offensive-minded Krug has just one goal despite having fired 54 shots on target this season, and has only three assists as well. He's still a fixture on the Bruins' top power play unit, and, on the road, the Jets' goaltending tandem of Connor Hellebuyck (3.63 GAA) and Michael Hutchinson (2.79) has been less than stellar.
  • LW Max Pacioretty (67K), Canadiens (vs. Maple Leafs): Pacioretty's price and somewhat middling production (four goals, nine assists in 18 games) may turn off many, but he's managed 10 points in 11 home games. The Leafs allow the most even strength scoring chances per 60 minutes, and have the league's third-worst goals against average (3.35), adding to Pacioretty's offensive potential.

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