Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: No cap on Ovechkin and Backstrom's ceilings

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday's slate beginning at 7 p.m. EST (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• C Nicklas Backstrom (50K) & LW Alex Ovechkin (70K), Capitals (vs. Ducks): There's no team hotter than the Washington Capitals right now. They are 18-2-1 since Dec. 31. They have scored at least four goals in 15 of those 18 wins. As expected, Backstrom and Ovechkin have done the heavy lifting. RW T.J. Oshie can also be added to complete the stack.

• C Sidney Crosby (76K) & LW Chris Kunitz (37K), Penguins (at Coyotes): Arizona has the highest xGA60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes) and SCA60 (scoring chances against per 60 minutes) in the NHL. Kunitz has excelled upon his reunion with Crosby, recording three goals and three assists in his last six games.

• LW Alexander Steen (46K) & RW Vladimir Tarasenko (71K), Blues (at Canadiens): The Blues (17-9-4 at home) are 4-1 since Mike Yeo took over behind the bench. The Habs (13-11-4 on the road) just snapped a four-game losing streak, but had to take Arizona to OT to do so. One of Yeo's adjustments was putting Tarasenko with Steen. It has paid off, as the sniper has four goals in five games.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET - Henrik Lundqvist (88K), Rangers (vs. Avalanche): Lundqvist has bounced back from a rough stretch, going 7-1 in his last nine games played, posting a .938 SV%. The Avs generate fewer scoring chances than any team in the NHL. King Henrik is the safest play of any goalie.

• BARGAIN - Jake Allen (75K), Blues (at Canadiens): As mentioned, the Blues have excelled since Ken Hitchcock was fired. Allen has been a big reason why. He is 3-1 with a .958 SV% since Yeo took over. Prior to their 5-4 OT win against Arizona, the Habs had scored just three goals in four games.

• FADE - John Gibson (75K), Ducks (at Capitals): Gibson has been great this season, so it's awfully tempting to draft him considering his minimum salary, but with a matchup against the red-hot capitals, consider him forbidden fruit.

• CONTRARIAN - Cam Talbot (96K), Oilers (vs. Blackhawks): Talbot's ownership will be low with a matchup against the Blackhawks, especially with a high salary. However, the Oilers, fresh off their bye week, haven't played since Sunday. Chicago played in Winnipeg last night and could come out sluggish.

Bargain Plays

• D Nikita Zaitsev (25K), Maple Leafs (vs. Sabres): Zaitsev has three points in his last three games and a very respectable 24 on the season for a rookie defenseman. He also has 72 shots, 117 hits and 91 blocks - great for Squad Up's scoring system. He quarterback's Toronto's third-ranked power-play unit and Buffalo has the league's worst penalty kill.

• LW Marcus Foligno (25K), Sabres (at Maple Leafs): Frederik Andersen is going through a bit of a rough patch lately, but it's not all his fault. The Leafs have the second worst xGA60 and allow the third most SCA60. Foligno (6-foot-3, 228 pounds), Jack Eichel and Evander Kane all stand at least 6-foot-2 and could take advantage of an undersized Leafs d-core.

• C Jake Guentzel (25K), Penguins (at Coyotes): Guentzel has taken just 18 shots in 16 games, but he has somehow recorded nine points. He has played more minutes lately with all of Pittsburgh's injuries up front and can return value based on hits (40) alone.

Top Fades

• LW Milan Lucic (48K), Oilers (vs. Blackhawks): Lucic no longer plays on a line with Connor McDavid and his numbers are hurting because of it. He has just one goal and three assists in his last 17 games and playing less than 16 minutes per night.

• C Ryan Getzlaf (67K), Ducks (at Capitals): Getzlaf doesn't take enough shots to warrant a 67K salary. Both his floor and his ceiling are capped against Washington.

• D Andrei Markov (34K), Canadiens (vs. Blues): Markov had to return to Russia for a personal emergency. It doesn't appear as though he will make it back in time for Saturday's game.

Contrarian Options

• C William Nylander (52K), Maple Leafs (vs. Sabres): Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri and Mitch Marner have all been more effective in Squad Up's scoring system this year. If someone is keen on drafting a Leafs center, it certainly won't be Nylander. However, Nylander leads Toronto with 16 power-play points and Buffalo has the league's worst PK.

• LW Gabriel Landeskog (53K), Avalanche (at Rangers): Landeskog is having a miserable season and has a tough matchup, but he does have four points in his last three games and took eight shots on Thursday against Pittsburgh.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)