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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, October 13:
Triple Threats
- LW Alex Ovechkin (72K), C Evgeny Kuznetsov (49K), RW T.J. Oshie (43K), Capitals (at Penguins): There's no team better equipped than the Penguins to overcome the loss of Crosby. C Evgeni Malkin will seamlessly slide into the No. 1 center role. The harm to the Penguins comes with a total revamping of their top line, with LW Chris Kunitz and RW Garrett Wilson up top.
- RW Nikolaj Ehlers (44K), C Mark Scheifele (55K), D Dustin Byfuglien (54K), Jets (vs. Hurricanes): With Ehlers and RW Blake Wheeler listed at the same position in Squad Up, opt for some salary savings with Ehlers. The Jets can be considered heavy favorites at home against the Hurricanes. This trio will see significant time together at 5v5 and on the power play.
- LW Patrick Sharp (51K), C Jason Spezza (55K), RW Jiri Hudler (39K), Stars (vs. Ducks): Unlike the Jets threesome, this trio from Dallas will play together on the second line at 5v5 and offer exposure to two separate power-play units. Spezza's upside increases while playing on the right side of LW Jamie Benn and C Tyler Seguin on the top unit.
Bargain Plays
- G Cory Schneider (75K), Devils (at Panthers): A road matchup may not be ideal, but Schneider carries a minimum goalie price tag and is coming off a season in which he posted a .924 save percentage and a 2.15 goals against average in 58 starts. The Panthers are still reeling from the loss of LW Jonathan Huberdeau, and Jonathan Marchessault makes their top line a lot less scary.
- C Danton Heinen (31K), Bruins (at Blue Jackets): Officially listed as a center, Heinen is likely to begin his NHL career on the right side of the Bruins' second line with Cs Ryan Spooner and David Krejci. Heinen totaled 93 points in 81 games over two years at the University of Denver. He is expected to remain with Spooner and LW Matt Beleskey on the second power play.
- LW Pavel Buchnevich (29K), Rangers (vs. Islanders): Buchnevich skated with LW Chris Kreider and C Mika Zibanejad all preseason, and the threesome will remain intact to begin the season. W Rick Nash has been dropped to the third line as a result. Buchnevich will skate on the right side of the Rangers' second 5v5 line and top power-play unit.
Top Fades
- C Aleksander Barkov (63K), Panthers (vs. Devils): Barkov will begin life without Huberdeau, who is sidelined for the next 3-4 months due to a leg laceration. In Huberdeau's place steps Marchessault, who totaled 41 fewer points than his fallen teammate a year ago. Barkov will also face the top-tier goaltending of Schneider.
- LW Rick Nash (56K), Rangers (vs. Islanders): As mentioned above, Nash begins the season on the Rangers' third line at 5v5 and on the second power-play unit. Should the Rangers struggle to generate goals, he'll surely be the first one to benefit from a juggling of the lines but his expected drop in ice time has not yet been met by a drop in salary.
- RW Corey Perry (60K), Ducks (at Stars): The Ducks are set to open their season with Perry on the right side of the second line with LW Mason Raymond and C Antoine Vermette at 5v5, while joining the top power-play unit on the point. The Stars don't have much defensive depth, but Perry has always struggled in the past when separated from C Ryan Getzlaf.
Contrarian Options
- C Tyler Ennis (38K), Sabres (vs. Canadiens): Ennis was expected to play predominantly on the right wing this season but the injury to C Jack Eichel is likely to force him back into a center role. He'll compete with Cs Johan Larsson and Ryan O'Reilly for first-line minutes with Ws Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart. It's a quality trio against Canadiens backup G Al Montoya.
- G Tuukka Rask (83K), Bruins (at Blue Jackets): Home teams are generally favored, especially in the early part of the season and in home openers. Rask, however, was significantly better on the road last season, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.37 GAA in 30 starts. The Bruins poor defense should allow plenty of shots from Columbus, while Rask has the talent to stop most of them.
- LW Zach Parise (57K), Wild (at Blues): The Blues are the lone team to open the 2016-17 NHL season by playing each of the first two nights. G Jake Allen stopped 17 of 19 shots from the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday, and he'll receive his second start in a row. Even with the Wild on the road, roster Parise's reasonable salary against the only tired team on the slate.
