Fantasy - Fact or Fiction: 3 players to watch using advanced stats

Every Tuesday, we examine three players you should watch in your hockey pool using advanced statistics.

As Wayne Gretzky once famously said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."

While debates over advanced statistics in hockey continue to rage, the basic tenet is that attempting to get the puck on net more than the opposition is a recipe for success.

This week, we'll take a look at two players whose progress is based on firing at will, and another who could break out by following suit.

Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens

Max Pacioretty has become one of the most prolific and consistent goal scorers in the NHL, and with 99 goals in his past 222 games since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, he's averaging close to 37 goals for every 82 games played.

So far this season, the Montreal Canadiens forward is on pace to come under the career-high 39 goals posted last season. His shot rate, however, is up, meaning he could be in line for a bump in production at some point this season that could put him over the 40-goal mark.

Pacioretty ranks fourth among forwards with a minimum of 100 minutes played after averaging 12.55 shots per 60 minutes this season. With 96 actual shots on goal through 26 games, he's in line to top 300 shots for the first time in his career. 

He also leads the league with 77 shots on goal at even strength (nine more than Alex Ovechkin), lending further evidence to the fact that he's one of the top offensive players and one that fantasy managers should target to acquire, if possible.

Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets

This name might not pop out as a high-level offensive force, but Cam Atkinson is doing his best to reach those heights.

The Columbus Blue Jackets forward ranks higher than Pacioretty in shots per 60 minutes with 12.71, and eighth among all forwards with 62 shots at even strength.

The 25-year-old recorded 21 goals in 79 games last season, and is on pace to push for 25 goals and 300 shots for the struggling Blue Jackets by the end of 2014-15.

Surprisingly, Atkinson is owned in only 16 percent of Yahoo leagues, with significant value to be found in deep pools.

Alex Chiasson, Ottawa Senators

A key piece of the Jason Spezza trade, Alex Chiasson has scored six goals on only 27 shots in 20 games for the Ottawa Senators.

What's odd is that Chiasson's shots per game rate of 1.35 is down from 1.82 last season with the Dallas Stars, despite seeing over a minute more ice time in Ottawa.

Among forwards with at least 100 minutes played, Chiasson ranks 377th with 3.36 shots per 60 minutes, and 363rd with 12 shots on goal at even strength.

A second-round pick of the Stars in 2009, the 24-year-old displayed an ability to score at Boston University, in the AHL and early on in his NHL career. Acquired by the Senators with a view to balancing out the offense in light of Spezza's departure, Chiasson could become a decent fantasy option if he follows the example of the two players mentioned above.

Shoot away, young Alex.

(Statistical information gathered from Puckalytics.com)