Squad Up Daily NHL Fantasy Dose: Oilers and Jets primed for outdoor barn-burner
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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Sunday, October 23:
Triple Threat
- LW Milan Lucic (51K), C Connor McDavid (89K), RW Jordan Eberle (59K), Oilers (at Jets): The average total goal count of the past three outdoor NHL games has been seven. There should be some offense between the Oilers and Jets on a tolerable mid-fall afternoon in Winnipeg. The Oilers' top line is the most likely source for the majority of those seven goals.
- LW Nick Ritchie (30K), C Ryan Kesler (51K), RW Corey Perry (93K), Ducks (vs. Canucks): Even with Ritchie's low salary it is impossible to include C Ryan Getzlaf in a stack of the Ducks' top line. Kesler replaces Getzlaf among the Ducks' top two stars, while Ritchie offers some exposure to the second power-play unit.
- LW Jimmy Vesey (33K), C Derek Stepan (45K), RW Kevin Hayes (43K), Rangers (vs. Coyotes): Vesey and LW Rick Nash are listed at the same position in Squad Up. Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault's recent line juggling has Nash on the right side of the two cheaper players in this stack. Luckily, Hayes joins all three on the second power-play squad.
Bargain Plays
- LW Kyle Connor (25K), Jets (vs. Oilers): With the high projected goal total in Sunday's Heritage Classic, Connor offers some-low risk exposure to the home team. He plays on the third line at 5v5, but he has a spot on the second power-play unit with LW Patrik Laine and C Mathieu Perreault. He has one assist and six shots on goal while averaging 15:27 in ice time.
- C Mikael Granlund (34K), Wild (at Islanders): Granlund has just one assist but eight SOG through the Wild's opening five games. He is averaging more ice time per game than he has over any full season in his career, including a season-high 20:29 in Saturday's loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Islanders are allowing 2.80 goals per game.
- D Johnny Boychuk (29K), Islanders (vs. Wild): Boychuk scored his first goal of the season in Friday's game, against the Arizona Coyotes. The injury to D Ryan Pulock will open up more power-play ice time, likely promoting Boychuk from the second unit. He already plays his 5v5 minutes with the first line and C John Tavares.
Top Fades
- G Connor Hellebuyck (96K), Jets (vs. Oilers): The Oilers are tied for the league lead in averaging 4.00 goals per game through their first five contests. They rank only 21st in average SOG per game, offering opposing goalies limited save potential, while having elite finishing ability. Hellebuyck has allowed seven goals on just 51 shots in two starts.
- C Ryan Getzlaf (84K), Ducks (vs. Canucks): While Getzlaf has five points in his first five games, his lofty salary can be avoided in favor of Kesler. Perry is the premier goal scorer on the Ducks' top line, and Kesler joins the two with the man advantage. With Getzlaf playing the distributor role, side with the goal-scoring potential of the cheaper Kesler.
- RW Jakob Silfverberg (46K), Ducks (vs. Canucks): After a strong preseason, Silfverberg's offense has disappeared to open the regular season. He is still playing on the second line at 5v5 and on the second power play unit, but he has registered just a single SOG in each of his past two outings.
Contrarian Options
- RW Drew Stafford (31K), Jets (vs. Oilers): Stafford tallied his first assist of the season in Wednesday's win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he registered just one SOG once again. He hasn't notched multiple shots in any of his first four games, but he remains on the top line at 5v5 and on the top power play unit. His opportunities will come.
- C Charlie Coyle (37K), Wild (at Islanders): Coyle went point-less for the first time this season in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Devils and G Cory Schneider. The Islanders' goaltending poses less of a threat to the Wild's offense. Coyle still managed three shots on goal in Saturday's loss, his fourth straight game with two or more.
- LW Rick Nash (58K), Rangers (vs. Coyotes): Nash had his first multi-point game of the season in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals. His slow start to the season may be corrected by a reunion with Stepan. With Rangers Ws Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello having higher salaries, Nash offers a quality pivot.