I mentioned this on Twitter earlier, but you'll want to subscribe to the new DFS tools on Frozen Tools if you haven't already. Order now and get $20 off! I used the Featured Optimized Lineups tool to give me a start in constructing a DFS lineup for Thursday. That lineup was good enough to turn my remaining $4 balance at DraftKings into a $30 prize.

In case you're wondering how I won, I've also been picking up tips from Steve Dotzel by editing and posting his articles without actually playing much daily fantasy. If you regularly play any kind of DFS, you should also be reading his articles, which you can find here. They appear early Saturday morning, so check back shortly if today's article isn't on the site yet. This week, he explains the difference between using the optimizer on Frozen Tools and stacking lineups.

Steve's strategy mainly focuses on four-player and three-player stacks of players from the same team, while mixing in a goalie and a cheap power-play plug with the remaining slots. Although I didn't follow that strategy to a tee, the lineup I used is below. Keep in mind that these aren't necessarily the best options on each team – just what seemed to best fit my budget along with a few players recommended by the Frozen Tools DFS Customizer.

Major stack: Toronto (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Mark Giordano)

Minor stack: Pittsburgh (Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust)

Remaining players: Ville Heinola, Jake DeBrusk

Goalie: Semyon Varlamov

All of these players with the exception of Heinola recorded a point. He was recommended because he had been hot with points in each of his previous four games. I was lucky enough to benefit from the Leafs' seven-goal game and to a lesser extent, the Bruins' eight-goal outburst. A win from Varlamov over the Blue Jackets didn't hurt either. Same with Malkin's overtime goal assisted by Rust.

–

Speaking of Varlamov, his season appears to be getting back on track. And because Ilya Sorokin is sidelined, you don't have to worry about starts right now. Varlamov now has three consecutive wins, including wins on back-to-back nights (Thursday and Friday). His most recent win was a 27-save shutout of the Rangers, which was his second shutout of the season. Since the younger Sorokin appears ready to take on more starts, Varlamov seems like a strong trade candidate this offseason. Varlamov could have helped teams like Edmonton or Toronto, but finding room for his $5 million cap hit would have been a challenge for those teams.

At the other end, Igor Shesterkin might not be as easy a matchup against the Islanders as you think. Shesterkin is 1-6-1 lifetime against his New York rivals.

–

With two goals on Friday, Tage Thompson has scored 30 goals. Considering that Thompson had never scored 10 goals in a season prior to this one, 30 goals is quite the feat and probably not what you had projected.

On a related note, Ryan O'Reilly may have won a Stanley Cup and a bunch of awards the season after he left Buffalo, but O'Reilly has never had a 30-goal season in his career. This is proof that major trades like the one that brought Thompson to Buffalo can often take years to evaluate.

–

Ross Colton scored a pair of goals and added an assist in the Lightning's 5-2 win over Chicago. Colton has been on what appears to be the Lightning's new third line with newcomers Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel. These will be names to keep in the back of your mind for deeper playoff pools.

Paul recorded two helpers, including this snazzy effort.

This is just spectacular stuff from Nick Paul. Think he's enjoying his new team? pic.twitter.com/9CmFgqIxa8

— Bolts Jolts (@BoltsJolts) April 2, 2022

–

The man that Paul was traded for had a memorable game of his own on Friday. Mathieu Joseph scored for the first time as a member of the Senators and filled the statsheet as well. Joseph scored a hat trick while adding an assist on seven shots in the Senators' 5-2 win over Detroit. Joseph's icetime in Tampa had increased nearly three minutes over last season. He has taken on an even more significant role with the Senators, averaging over 15 minutes per game compared to under 11 minutes last season. He'll need to see more power-play time before he is a real fantasy option, but at least his career is progressing.

Mads Sogaard earned a win in his NHL debut, stopping 27 of 29 shots he faced. For more on the 6-7 Sogaard, see his Dobber Prospects profile.

With another loss, Alex Nedeljkovic has just two wins in his past 13 starts. His Calder Trophy run in Carolina last season seems like a distant memory. Given his age, his skills didn't suddenly deteriorate. Instead, it goes to show how important the right team is for a goalie in fantasy. I've seen at least one head-to-head opponent start him recently, which is something I wouldn't do.  

Lucas Raymond scored both Red Wings' goals while taking six shots. He now has points in three consecutive games.

–

Jordan Binnington allowed four goals on 12 shots before getting pulled in the first period in Edmonton. Binnington may have brought you a Stanley Cup, but if you're the St. Louis Blues, you're starting Ville Husso in Game 1 of the playoffs. Husso is a UFA who could be playing somewhere else next season, but you have to start the goalie that gives you the best chance to win.

Because the Oilers have their own defensive issues, the Blues were able to claw back into this game to tie it at 5 before Connor McDavid finished things off in overtime. McDavid's OT goal was his second of the game and 39^th of the season. McDavid made life difficult for St. Louis netminders, firing a season-high 11 shots in this game. There have been only five occurrences of a higher shot total in a game this season, with Nathan MacKinnon providing two of them (season-high 14 SOG and 12 SOG).

Connor McDavid with the OT winner, skillfully tipping home Draisaitl's dish in tight! 39 goals for McDavid and 50 assists for Leon!#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Ud3a2yziEm

— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) April 2, 2022

Zach Hyman scored two goals, extending his point streak to five games.

Evander Kane scored a goal and added two assists, breaking a three-game point drought.

Pavel Buchnevich scored a pair of goals for the Blues, giving him four goals and an assist over his last four games.

–

Logan Thompson shut out the Kraken earlier this week and was close to doing it again. However, an Alex Wennberg goal midway through the third period and Kole Lind's first NHL goal late in the game meant he was forced to settle for a 5-2 win. Thompson has now reeled off four consecutive wins, allowing seven goals over that span. Thompson is still rostered in only 25 percent of Yahoo leagues and 30 percent of Fantrax leagues, so he could provide some decent short-term help with your goaltending.

For what it's worth, Robin Lehner is no longer on IR, so he could return. Even though Lehner has the contract and Thompson is on an emergency loan, Laurent Brossoit is still unavailable. So it's possible Thompson could still start a few games even if Lehner returns.

Jack Eichel scored a pair of goals, giving him his first two-goal game as a member of the Golden Knights. Eichel led all Vegas skaters – forwards and defensemen – with 22:04 in icetime. The Knights dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen for this game.

–

Trevor Zegras lacrossed another team. This time it's the Coyotes. I love how Sonny Milano acts as a guard but shimmies out of the way to give Zegras’s blade just enough room.

TREVOR ZEGRAS DOES IT AGAIN. 🥍 pic.twitter.com/HyUcLsJxPM

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 2, 2022

In his first game in nearly three weeks, Anthony Stolarz pitched a 22-save shutout against the Coyotes. The Ducks had lost 11 consecutive games prior to Friday, so you couldn't be blamed if you didn't start Stolarz – even if the opponent was a Coyotes team without Clayton Keller. The Ducks' next game is Sunday against Edmonton, so I don't think I'd start either Stolarz or John Gibson for that one.

Isac Lundestrom scored two goals and added an assist for the Ducks, breaking a seven-game point drought. Despite the recent slump, Lundestrom has 16 goals, which is good for third on the Ducks.

This is an interesting video from late in this matchup. Zegras got hit from behind by Jay Beagle when he was poking away at the puck. Then sticking up for Zegras in a fight, Troy Terry left the ice with a bloody face after getting punched by Beagle. Then from the bench, Phil Kessel got angry at the ref and was given an misconduct.

Troy Terry vs Jay Beagle from the Anaheim Ducks at Arizona Coyotes game on Apr 1, 2022 https://t.co/4AsgpUjqUY

— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) April 2, 2022

–

If you have a fantasy baseball draft this weekend (like I do), good luck with that. In the meantime, follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding for more fantasy hockey.