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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Sunday, January 8 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):
Goalie Breakdown
- TARGET: Sergei Bobrovsky (101K), Blue Jackets (vs. Flyers): The Blue Jackets' miraculous win-streak is dead, but Bobrovsky remains an elite netminder. He sat out Saturday, and few teams have had more trouble scoring of late than the Flyers, who have been shut out twice in six games, scoring three or more times in only three of nine.
- BARGAIN: Devan Dubnyk (79K), Wild (at Ducks): Dubnyk continues to lead all goalies with a .939 save percentage and even though he has been slightly less effective over his last 10 (.923), he's earned his spot among the best of the best. Away from Minnesota, Dubnyk has been even better with a .943 rate. On the cheap, you can't do better.
- FADE: Marc-Andre Fleury (104K), Penguins (vs. Lightning): There are too many options either much cheaper, or only slightly less expensive, to make Fleury appealing. While he's riding a personal four-game win streak, two of those games came against the Devils and one saw him allow three goals to the Canadiens.
- CONTRARIAN: Cam Ward (95K), Hurricanes (vs. Bruins): Ward has been Mr. Consistent this season. The Hurricanes are hardly dominant, or even regularly competitive, but Ward has seen little fluctuation.The Bruins are second in shots on goal per game, so Ward should see plenty of pucks. Playing to his potential would make him a sneaky low-ownership option.
Bargain Plays
- C Zack Smith (26K), Senators (vs. Oilers): Smith has seen his ice time vary between 8:20 and 17:49 over his last five contests, but he's managed five points (three goals) in the process. The low seems to be anomalous as he's hovering around the 15-16 minute mark on most nights. His lack of power play exposure is keeping his salary low.
- RW Josh Anderson (25K), Blue Jackets (vs. Flyers): Slumping of late, Anderson still has a balanced 15 points through 38 games. He took three SOG in his last game and broke out of a four-game point-less slide with an assist. The Flyers have allowed goals in bunches, and the third-line winger could benefit from it.
- D Radko Gudas (25K), Flyers (at Blue Jackets): Gudas is a great bargain flier (Flyer?) because of his propensity to hit bodies hard and block a few shots. Even if he doesn't score -- goals could be at a premium against Bobrovsky -- he can return value at the minimum for the other ways he impacts a game.
Top Fades
- C Ryan Johansen (60K), Predators (at Blackhawks): Johansen's lack of goals is uninspiring, but not exactly surprising. His scoring has been on a downward trajectory since his breakout season in 2013-14. He has, however, turned into a true playmaker. At his salary, there are too many players with more proven upside this season.
- LW Mike Hoffman (60K), Senators (vs. Oilers): Hoffman has had some bad luck come his way, shooting only four percent over his last 10 games, resulting in only one goal. He's on pace for his lowest goal total in three seasons, and while the Oilers offer a potentially solid matchup, he has more cost-effective teammates like the aforementioned Smith.
- RW Corey Perry (69K), Ducks (vs. Wild): Perry has only three goals in his last 33 games, and hasn't scored since December 13. Despite the home designation on Sunday, he has to try and solve the best goaltender in the NHL this season in Dubnyk. He's primed for another goose egg.
Contrarian Options
- D Justin Faulk (49K), Hurricanes (vs. Bruins): Faulk was finally finding a scoring groove before he was forced to miss four games with a lower body injury. Prior to that, he had notched nine points in eight games. In his two games since being activated, while no points have been accrued, Faulk has skated more than 21 minutes each time.
- C Claude Giroux (62K), Flyers (at Blue Jackets): Giroux, like most members of the Flyers, has hit a snag recently. While he has a single assist in three consecutive games, he has struggled overall since the middle of December. It's difficult to justify him against Bobrovsky, but the home designation and his time on the power play help boost the intrigue a tad.
- RW Sebastian Aho (51K), Hurricanes (vs. Bruins): Aho's expected goals per 60 minutes has been a respectable at 2.67 while only tallying eight markers to date. Not amazing, but he could jump up to his team's upper echelon. With Boston either starting a backup or testing Tuukka Rask for a second consecutive day, Aho is in a favorable situation.
