Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Stars seek offensive oasis in Arizona

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Tuesday, Dec. 27 (all advanced stats are at 5-on-5 and courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):

Triple Threat

C Tyler Seguin (77K), LW Jamie Benn (69K) and D John Klingberg (37K), Stars (at Coyotes): While Seguin and Benn are each close to point-per-game paces, this Dallas trio hasn't been as potent as it was last season. A trip to Arizona could turn back the clock, as the Coyotes allow the most shots (34.9) and the second-most goals (3.15) per game, and are also tops in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA60).

C Jack Eichel (45K), RW Kyle Okposo (53K) and D Rasmus Ristolainen (47K), Sabres (at Red Wings): Detroit G Petr Mrazek has been shaky, managing a .899 save percentage and a 3.06 GAA for the season, but the starting role is his with Jimmy Howard injured. Eichel is without a point in his last five games despite 23 shots on goal; if he breaks out, linemate Okposo and Ristolainen, who has 12 points in 11 December games, will surely benefit.

LW Johnny Gaudreau (60K), RW Kris Versteeg (32K) and D T.J. Brodie (25K), Flames (at Avalanche): This trio plays together on Calgary's first-unit power play; five of Versteeg's seven December points have come on the man advantage, and Brodie has four points over his last five games. Both complement the explosive Gaudreau, while leaving plenty of salary available for a center. See the section below on Chad Johnson for an overview of Colorado's general futility this season.

Goalie Breakdown

TARGET: Braden Holtby (75K), Capitals (at Islanders): Holtby has beaten the Islanders on two of three occasions this season, allowing a total of six goals. He never had to make more than 26 stops in any one game, so while he likely won't rack up the save points, he looks a solid bet for another victory as he faces the bottom feeders of the Metropolitan Division standings.

BARGAIN: Chad Johnson (75K), Flames (at Avalanche): Colorado allows the most goals in the league and scores the fewest, providing a matchup very conducive to a Flames victory. The Avalanche produce just 5.45 scoring chances for per 60 minutes and are last in expected goals for per 60 minutes, so both the underlying and traditional statistics are in agreement. On the road, Johnson has a 1.90 GAA and a 7-3-1 record.

FADE: Cory Schneider (115K), Devils (vs. Penguins): The priciest goaltender on the slate, Schneider may be capable of stealing a game, but he allowed four goals in a loss to the Penguins on Dec. 23. He's won just two of his last 11 starts for the low-scoring Devils, and with Pittsburgh boasting the highest expected goals for per 60 minutes mark of any team, he's likely to come up short again.

CONTRARIAN: Sergei Bobrovsky (107K), Blue Jackets (vs. Bruins): Bobrovsky has won 10 straight straight starts in the midst of Columbus' 12-game win streak, but his price may nevertheless make many inclined to seek cheaper options. For what it's worth, he allowed nine goals over two early-season starts against the Bruins, but Boston is only middle-of-the-pack in terms of expected goals for per 60 minutes.

Bargain Plays

RW Ryan Hartman (26K), Blackhawks (vs. Jets): Injuries to Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa have thinned out Chicago's top-six forward group; the 22-year-old Hartman is featuring on the second line. He's managed four points and seven shots in his last five games, and offers a budget-friendly alternative to prohibitively-expensive teammate Patrick Kane (90K).

D Justin Schultz (30K), Penguins (at Devils): Schultz has been doing his best impression of the injured Kris Letang, monopolizing first-unit power play time and piling up five goals and 10 assists in 12 December games, going without a point on just three occasions in that stretch. He offers some very low-cost exposure to the high-scoring Penguins.

C Sam Gagner (25K), Blue Jackets (vs. Bruins): Columbus is unlikely to pump too many goals past Boston's Tuukka Rask, but Gagner has been too productive to ignore, especially at Squad Up's minimum price. A power-play specialist, seven of Gagner's 13 points in December have come via the man advantage. Despite a bottom-six role at even strength, he provides a solid floor by averaging 2.58 shots per game.

Top Fades

D Roman Josi (53K), Predators (vs. Wild): On top of G Devan Dubnyk's stellar campaign, Minnesota allows a league-low 5.89 scoring chances against per 60 minutes. Josi shoots an average of three times per contest and has a respectable five points in 11 December games, but he and his teammates look hard-pressed to have a productive offensive night against the stingy Wild.

C Patrice Bergeron (56K), Bruins (at Blue Jackets): While he's no longer among the absolute priciest centers, given Bergeron's lowly output of 10 points in 33 games, he's still being valued based on name recognition and his top-line role. Against an in-form Bobrovsky, Bergeron's breakout performance seems unlikely to happen on Tuesday.

RW P.A. Parenteau (48K), Devils (vs. Penguins): The well-traveled Parenteau in a solid run of form, recording three goals and three assists over his last eight games, but his price is mystifyingly high. The likes of Phil Kessel (49K), Mark Stone (48K) and Patrik Laine (42K), to name a few, have all been far more productive in terms of fantasy points per game. Parenteau could well produce again, but is far from a safe option.

Contrarian Options

LW Mike Hoffman (45K), Senators (at Rangers): A road matchup against G Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers isn't as daunting as it seems - New York is among the weakest possession teams in the league and has the sixth-worst mark in terms of xGF60. Hoffman maintains a first-unit power play role and fires three shots on goal per game.

C Jonathan Toews (58K), Blackhawks (vs. Jets): Injuries throughout the lineup have forced Toews to center the first line of Kane and LW Artemi Panarin - a prime spot for Toews to rekindle some offensive form. He broke out of a 13-game goal-scoring slump on Friday, and will feature alongside both players on the top power play unit as well.

D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (51K): It's been a down season for Ekman-Larsson, and while his team will likely concede multiple goals to the Stars, there's no reason he can't help Arizona get a few back, particularly with the man advantage, where Dallas ranks 27th in penalty-kill percentage. 10 of his 17 points have come on the power play, and he's assured of his role as the first-unit's quarterback.

Canucks World