Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Crosby and Sheary will dance around the Devils

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Friday, March 17 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• C Sidney Crosby (99K) & LW Conor Sheary (48K), Penguins (vs. Devils): New Jersey will be playing its second game in as many nights. Crosby and Sheary play together at 5v5. With Evgeni Malkin sitting out Friday, it's possible Sheary will be promoted from PP2 to PP1.

• C Sean Monahan (52K) & LW Johnny Gaudreau (62K), Flames (vs. Stars): Calgary's winning streak came to an end, Wednesday, against Boston. Nonetheless, this duo should have no problem picking up where they left off. Dallas has the second-highest xGA60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes) in the NHL.

• C Rickard Rakell (44K) & RW Patrick Eaves (44K), Ducks (vs. Sabres): It's a shame Rakell is listed as a center even though he plays LW. You have to choose between he and Ryan Getzlaf, but it's an easy choice considering the latter costs nearly twice as much. Rakell has 30 goals on the year. He and Eaves could each have multi-point nights against a Sabres team playing the second half of a back-to-back.

Bargain Plays

• RW Michael Grabner (32K), Rangers (vs. Panthers): When you rely heavily on breakaways to score, your production isn't going to be consistent. However, 32K for a player with 27 goals provides outstanding value, even if Grabner is a complete boom-or-bust player.

• LW Remi Elie (25K), Stars (at Flames): Elie is 11th among NHL skaters with 4.45 iSCF60 (individual scoring chances for per 60 minutes). He has played only six games, but he has a goal and two assists in his last four. If LW Jamie Benn (upper body) can't go, Elie will likely slot in on Dallas' top line with Cs Jason Spezza and Tyler Seguin.

• G Anders Nilsson (75K), Sabres (at Ducks): There's a good chance Nilsson get's the call between the pipes on the second night of a back-to-back. It's not an ideal scenario, but he has been a reliable backup netminder this season and the Ducks offense ranks in the bottom half of the league in terms of goals per game.

Top Fades

• LW Jamie Benn (67K), Stars (at Flames): It's unclear whether Benn is going to suit up or not. Even if he does, he isn't worth rostering against the red-hot Flames.

• RW Corey Perry (67K), Ducks (vs. Sabres): Perry has been relegated to a third-line role and isn't even on the top power-play unit anymore. At 67K, better value can be found elsewhere.

• D Dennis Wideman (29K), Flames (vs. Stars): Wideman has been in and out of the lineup these days and doesn't play significant minutes when he does suit up. Even with a bargain salary and a juicy matchup, don't roster him.

Contrarian Options

• C Tyler Seguin (72K), Stars (at Flames): Seguin will likely be faded with a tough matchup and a high salary, but there is a chance Brian Elliott (illness) won't be at 100 percent if he does play, Friday. This could open the door for a big night from one of the league's most talented players.

• G Brian Elliott (96K), Flames (vs. Stars): On the flip side, Elliott's status on Squad Up is considered questionable, which will leave him with little ownership even though he was on the ice for Thursday's practice. Obviously if you roster Seguin, or any other Stars, don't roster Elliott.

• D Rasmus Ristolainen (42K), Sabres (at Ducks): Ristolainen will have low ownership with a matchup against the defensive juggernaut Ducks. However, he can return value without scoring. He is capable of putting up 5-plus shots, hits and blocks in a single game.

(Photos courtesy Action Images)