Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Lightning’s top line to topple Senators

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Feb. 2 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

LW Ondrej Palat (53K) & RW Nikita Kucherov (69K), Lightning (vs. Senators): The Lightning's top line with these two wingers centered by Vladislav Namestnikov own a Corsi For rating of 58.47 percent in any venue. The Senators possess a CF% of just 47.86 while on the road. Tampa Bay's trio is expected to score 3.45 goals per 60 minutes of 5v5.

LW Patrick Marleau (40K) & C Logan Couture (46K), Sharks (at Canucks): Marleau has completely turned his season around since the beginning of December, with a further surge since Monday, Jan. 23, during which he has compiled 18 shots on goal in four games. In just under 36 minutes played with Couture and RW Mikkel Boedker, the trio has a CF% of 55.56.

LW Patrick Sharp (38K) & C Devin Shore (29K), Stars (vs. Jets): Sharp and Shore were part of the Stars' most common forward trio at 5v5 in their most recent game, a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The two also see time on the second power-play unit. In over 81 minutes with C Radek Faksa the trio has averaged just 3.69 scoring chances per 60 minutes, but the two have combined for six points and 12 SOG in their past two games.

Goalie Breakdown

TARGET - Carey Price (84K), Canadiens (at Flyers): While Price has been stuck in his worst stretch of play in recent memory, he will receive some help Thursday, as C Alex Galchenyuk rejoins the Canadiens' lineup. He'll center the team's second line, providing additional depth to defend against Philadelphia's stellar top-six forward group.

BARGAIN - Corey Crawford (79K), Blackhawks (at Coyotes): Crawford comes with a low expected save total against an Arizona team averaging just 28.03 shots per 60 minutes, but he has high win and shutout likelihoods with the Coyotes averaging just 6.69 scoring chances with an expected goal rate of 2.25 per 60.

FADE - Ondrej Pavelec (86K), Jets (at Stars): Don't be fooled by Pavelec's 3-2 record in five starts since rejoining the Jets, he has allowed at least three goals each time out and has made a high of 24 saves in his past three starts. The disappointing Stars still average more than eight scoring chances per 60 minutes.

CONTRARIAN - Cam Talbot (86K), Oilers (at Predators): Talbot allowed four goals on just 19 shots in his most recent starts, against the Minnesota Wild. It snapped a stretch of seven starts in which he allowed more than two goals just once. The Predators average 31.74 SOG but just 6.79 scoring chances per 60 minutes. He has the opportunity for a high save total.

Bargain Plays

LW Ryan Dzingel (25K), Senators (at Lightning): Dzingel scored two goals in Ottawa's most recent game, nothing three SOG in 14:34. He's playing almost exclusively with C Kyle Turris and RW Bobby Ryan at 5v5, providing additional upside. The Lightning allow an adequate 7.10 scoring chances per 60 minutes.

C Brian Boyle (27K), Lightning (vs. Senators): Boyle has at least one shot on goal in 12 consecutive games, tallying four or more on four occasions. He has played at least 15 minutes in five straight, while working on the left side of C Valtteri Filppula and LW Jonathan Drouin. The Senators allow 59.14 shot attempts per 60 minutes of 5v5.

D Ivan Provorov (28K), Flyers (vs. Canadiens): The Canadiens own a bottom-third penalty kill and they're tied for the third most times being short handed. Provorov operates on the second power play, with the only slightly more expensive Mark Streit. Provorov has 19 SOG in his past five games.

Top Fades

D Victor Hedman (51K), Lightning (vs. Senators): Hedman has notched more than two SOG in just one of his past 11 games. He did tally three assists last time out, snapping a four-game point-less streak. There are more appealing options at far lower salaries.

RW Patrick Kane (75K), Blackhawks (at Coyotes): Kane has the highest upside of anyone from the Blackhawks, but with such an appealing matchup owners are better off seeking value from the team. Kane hasn't had a multi-point outing any of his past six games, a requirement at his lofty salary.

LW Daniel Sedin (62K), Canucks (vs. Sharks): Sedin has been shooting at inconsistent rates, and he hasn't had a multi-point game since Dec. 6. With hits and blocked shots not being a regular part of his game, his floor and ceiling are both too low for his salary.

Contrarian Options

C Derek Stepan (50K), Rangers (at Sabres): Stepan has just two assists in his past five games, but he has multiple shots on goal in four of those, and he hasn't played less than 18 minutes since Jan. 4. His trio with Ws Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider played over 22 percent of all 5v5 minutes in the Rangers' most recent game.

D Kevin Shattenkirk (42K), Blues (vs. Maple Leafs): Stars puck-moving D John Klingberg was featured here ahead of his Tuesday matchup with the Maple Leafs. While he failed to record a shot, he did pick up an assist and log over 20 minutes. Shattenkirk follows the same mold with plenty of ice time ahead of him. He has three goals and seven assists in January.

LW Alexander Steen (53K), Blues (vs. Maple Leafs): Steen isn't even the most popular LW on his team, let alone the entire slate. He did have six goals and eight assists in January, making him one of the most productive. His six goals came on just 18 SOG, but he did top 18 minutes in each of his past four games.

Canucks World