Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Ducks in hot water against Flames

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for the seven-game slate beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST, Sunday, April 2 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

  • LW Johnny Gaudreau (63K) & C Sean Monahan (50K), Flames (vs. Ducks): The Ducks have allowed 9.92 scoring chances and 2.78 expected goals per 60 minutes over the past month. They're on the second half of their all-Alberta double header. Monahan, Gaudreau and LW Micheal Ferland average 11.32 scoring chances per 60 minutes in over 210 minutes played together this season.
  • LW Tanner Pearson (56K) & C Jeff Carter (69K), Kings (vs. Coyotes): The Coyotes rank 30th in Corsi For percentage since March 2 at just 43.32 percent. The Kings rank second in the same time at 55.14 percent. Los Angeles averages 9.51 scoring chances per 60 minutes while Arizona allows 10.57, with a league-worst 3.12 expected goals allowed per 60 minutes.
  • C Eric Staal (50K) & RW Nino Niederreiter (48K), Wild (vs. Avalanche): The Wild lead the league with a CF% of 55.63 percent since March 2 and a league-low 1.81 expected goals allowed per 60 minutes. They average 2.63 expected goals of their own on 8.32 scoring chances per 60 minutes. Staal has notched at least three shots on goal in five consecutive games.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Goalie Breakdown

  • TARGET - Sergei Bobrovsky (90K), Blue Jackets (vs. Capitals): The Capitals have averaged 31.94 SOG per 60 minutes but an uncharacteristically-low 7.48 scoring chances per 60 minutes over the past month. They have more than enough talent to capitalize on any individual chance, but Bobrovsky posted a .967 save percentage in March with four shutouts. He has the highest ceiling of the day.
  • BARGAIN - Antti Niemi (75K), Stars (at Lightning): The Lightning are averaging just 2.18 expected goals for per 60 minutes over the past month. Niemi is having the worst season of his career, and he has just one win since the beginning of February. Both teams are on the second half of a back-to-back and Niemi is expected to receive more goal support.
  • FADE - Jonathan Quick (117K), Kings (vs. Coyotes): Quick is the night's second-most expensive goalie. Arizona averages fewer than 29 shots on goal per 60 minutes, limiting Quick's potential saves total. Should the Coyotes convert for a goal or two, Quick will be unable to return value even with the victory bonus.
  • CONTRARIAN - Anthony Stolarz (75K), Flyers (at Rangers): Stolarz closed out Saturday's shutout victory over the New Jersey Devils, making all 26 saves in relief of G Michal Neuvirth. With Neuvirth and G Steve Mason out, Stolarz should receive the nod on Sunday. The Rangers have averaged just 2.29 expected goals per 60 minutes over the past month.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Bargain Plays

  • C Travis Konecny (27K), Flyers (at Rangers): Konecny joined C Claude Giroux and RW Jakub Voracek on the top line for Saturday's game. The trio played 19.7 percent of the 5v5 minutes for the Flyers' forwards. It was a six-game high of 13:08 time on ice for Konecny. He hasn't scored since March 19 and has thrice gone without a shot on goal during the slump. He'll have more opportunity as part of the star-studded trio.
  • LW Micheal Ferland (25K), Flames (vs. Ducks): Ferland comes much cheaper than the duo of Monahan and Gaudreau, mentioned above. His ceiling is the lowest of the three top-liners, but he's still likely to factor in if the other two have a big night. He had at least one SOG in each of his past 11 games.
  • RW Chris Stewart (25K), Wild (vs. Avalanche): Similarly to Konecny and Ferland, Stewart is the underpriced third wheel on a star-studded line. He played 10.53 percent of the 5v5 minutes with the aforementioned Staal and Niederreiter in Minnesota's most recent game. His 16:22 of TOI was his most of the season.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Top Fades

  • D Victor Hedman (61K), Lightning (vs. Stars): While Hedman regularly offers adequate amounts of hits and blocked shots, his offensive contributions have been sporadic. Despite a quality matchup against the struggling Niemi, Hedman is risky as the slate's second-most expensive defender. Owners should spend slightly more for San Jose Sharks D Brent Burns, who also has a very good matchup.
  • RW Mats Zuccarello (56K), Rangers (vs. Flyers): Zuccarello is the second-most expensive option at his position, with plenty of more productive stars priced below him. He has just one shot on goal in his past four games. He still dished out four assists during the stretch but owners need more goal support in five-man lineups.
  • LW Jonathan Drouin (73K), Lightning (vs. Stars): Drouin is priced 1K above teammate LW Ondrej Palat. Drouin has been the more productive of the two with four goals in his past five games, but Palat has been the more consistent high-volume shooter during the same span.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Contrarian Options

  • RW Nikita Kucherov (95K), Lightning (vs. Stars): A very high position-leading salary may deter some owners from attempting to make room on their roster for Kucherov, but he ranks fourth in the NHL with 22 multi-point games this season. Five of those have come in his past six games, while has notched a total of 26 SOG during the streak.
  • D Jake Muzzin (41K), Kings (vs. Coyotes): An often overlooked defenseman on his own team, Muzzin has assists in two consecutive games and at least two shots on goal in nine of his past 10 outings. He topped 21 minutes in all but one of his past 11 contests.

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