Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: A couple of Panthers will be no match for Wild

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Friday, Mar. 10:

Dynamic Duos

  • C Aleksander Barkov (58K) & LW Jonathan Huberdeau (47K), Panthers (vs. Wild): The Wild will be playing their second game in as many nights and will likely start Darcy Kuemper (3.22 GAA) between the pipes. Since Huberdeau returned from injury on Feb. 3, this duo has combined for 24 points in 14 games.
  • LW Jaden Schwartz (62K) & RW Vladimir Tarasenko (84K), Blues (vs. Ducks): Anaheim will also be playing on back-to-back nights. Jonathan Bernier picked up a shutout on Thursday, but if he starts again Friday it will be his first time starting on consecutive days since October of 2015. Tarasenko and Schwartz should take full advantage.
  • C Evgeni Malkin (66K) & RW Phil Kessel (53K), Penguins (at Oilers): Everyone will be salivating over Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby in this matchup, but Malkin has been hotter than both of them lately. He has five goals and three assists in his last three games and comes cheaper than both. Kessel has picked up four helpers in that span.

Bargain Plays

  • G Robin Lehner (75K), Sabres (at Blue Jackets): The Blue Jackets have only scored eight goals in their last five games. Lehner is enjoying a stellar season, yet is priced at the minimum. His affordability allows you to stack your lineup with stars.
  • RW Oliver Bjorkstrand (35K), Blue Jackets (vs. Sabres): Columbus' offense has been cold lately, but Bjorkstrand has three points in his last two games. He is apart of Columbus' lethal power-play unit which will face Buffalo's 29th-ranked penalty kill.
  • C Rickard Rakell (33K), Ducks (at Blues): Rakell has an astounding 27 goals on the year with no signs of slowing down. Despite this, he remains a bargain on Squad Up.

Top Fades

  • C Dylan Larkin (48K), Red Wings (vs. Blackhawks): Don't be fooled by Larkin's recent offensive output. He has three points in his last three games but has only taken four shots. He has been a major disappointment this season but isn't priced like it.
  • RW Corey Perry (54K), Ducks (at Blues): Speaking of disappointment, Perry is having one of his worst offensive seasons ever. He is stranded on the third line with two nobodies and he isn't even on PP1 anymore. Yikes.
  • RW Jordan Eberle (53K), Oilers (vs. Penguins): To make it three in a row, Eberle has also failed to meet expectations this season. He does have three points in his last four games, but there are much better options available at 53K.

Contrarian Options

  • C Evgeni Malkin (66K), Penguins (at Oilers): Malkin will likely be overlooked with Crosby and McDavid going head-to-head, but the Russian has been the most productive of the three lately and comes with the lower salary. He should continue his torrid ways against Cam Talbot, who is showing signs of fatigue. He has started a league-high 59 games this year and has struggled over his last four outings.
  • G James Reimer (102K), Panthers (vs. Wild): Reimer has been spectacular in three of his last four starts, but he got lit up in the other one. Against a presumably tired Wild team, he is worth spending up for when not many others will.
  • LW Alex Steen (53K), Blues (vs. Ducks): Steen will be overlooked since he is having a down year and doesn't line up with Tarasenko at 5v5. He does spend time with him on the power play, though, and Anaheim has been shorthanded 232 times this season -- the third-most in the league.

(Photos courtesy Getty Images)

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