Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Sharks will smell blood vs. Coyotes

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, Feb. 4 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

  • C Logan Couture (53K) & LW Patrick Marleau (42K), Sharks (vs. Coyotes): San Jose's second line has been doing the heavy lifting lately. Old man Marleau has seven goals in his last five games! Arizona ranks dead last in xGA60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes) and SCA60 (scoring chances against per 60 minutes).
  • LW Jaden Schwartz (56K) & RW Vladimir Tarasenko (77K), Blues (vs. Penguins): The Blues scored five goals in their first game with Mike Yeo as the bench boss. They will catch the Penguins on the second game of a back-to-back. Matt Murray started Friday's game, so it's safe to assume Marc-Andre Fleury (.878 SV%, 4.06 GAA in 12 road games) will be between the pipes.
  • C Ryan Johansen (68K) & LW Filip Forsberg (62K), Predators (vs. Red Wings): Nashville is 5-1-1 in their last six games. While they have underachieved this season, they have still been great at home. Johansen and Forsberg have combined for 14 points in the club's last seven games. The Red Wings will be playing their second game in as many nights.

Goalie Breakdown

  • TARGET & BARGAIN - Devan Dubnyk (75K), Wild (at Canucks): Dubnyk at 75K is just too easy. He is likely going to win the Vezina and the first place Wild are taking on one of the most offensively-challenged teams in the NHL. This is a no-brainer.
  • FADE - Marc-Andre Fleury (82K), Penguins (at Blues): Fleury's affordable salary may tempt users into drafting him, but remember his road splits? They're not pretty: .878 SV%, 4.06 GAA in 12 road games.
  • CONTRARIAN - Robin Lehner (104K), Sabres (vs. Senators): Lehner is the most expensive goaltender on the slate and will surely be faded with Dubnyk at 75K. However, Lehner has shined against his former team, posting a .951 SV% and a 1.42 GAA in six career games against Ottawa.

Bargain Plays

  • D Dion Phaneuf (27K), Senators (at Sabres): Eleven of Phaneuf's 20 points this season have come with the man advantage. Buffalo has the league's second-worst penalty kill. Even if Phaneuf doesn't record a point, his secondary stats (102 shots, 84 hits, 95 blocks and 63 PIMs) can be enough to return value to his modest salary on most nights.
  • RW Mikko Rantanen (30K), Avalanche (vs. Jets): Rantanen hasn't had the most productive rookie season, but he averages over 18 minutes per game and is on a line with Nathan MacKinnon. He does have two goals in his last three games and Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has an .896 SV% and a 3.20 GAA on the road this year.
  • C Sam Gagner (26K), Blue Jackets (vs. Devils): In a total opposite situation compared to Rantanen, the veteran Gagner has been very productive this season despite a bottom-six role. The Devils will likely start backup goalie Keith Kinkaid in their second game in as many nights.

Top Fades

  • C Henrik Sedin (54K), Canucks (vs. Wild): Henrik doesn't have a high enough floor, nor a high enough ceiling to warrant his 54K salary. A matchup against the first place Wild and Devan Dubnyk make him a must fade.
  • LW Daniel Sedin (59K), Canucks (vs. Wild): Daniel's floor is higher thanks to his willingness to shoot the puck, but he still can't be trusted given the matchup.
  • D Shayne Gostisbehere (45K), Flyers (vs. Kings): Gostisbehere was a healthy scratch in Philadelphia's last game. Even if he plays on Saturday, he doesn't warrant a 45K salary against the red-hot Peter Budaj.

Contrarian Options

  • C William Nylander (46K), Maple Leafs (at Bruins): Nylander has just two points in his last seven games, so he'll surely have low ownership. He has been reunited on a line with Auston Matthews, where he began the season and recorded 11 points in his first nine games.
  • RW T.J. Oshie (44K), Capitals (at Canadiens): Oshie will likely be faded against Carey Price, but the Caps have been rolling lately, large in part due to Oshie's 19 points in his last 15 games.
  • LW Gabriel Landeskog (55K), Avalanche (vs. Jets): Landeskog is having an awful season, but Connor Hellebuyck has been brutal on the road. Landeskog can add to his value with his willingness to hit and block shots.

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