By Jacob Messing

The overhauled Arizona Coyotes remain winless through five games, the Buffalo Sabres grab their first win, three Washington Capitals sit atop the scoring race, and the Erik Karlsson-less Ottawa Senators have grabbed at least a point in all five games.

News: First Losses And Slow Starts

The last undefeated teams fell Friday night as the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings scored four goals in the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights.

On the bottom end of the standings, three Stanley Cup contenders are struggling early on as the Edmonton Oilers are 1-3-0, the Dallas Stars are 2-3-0, and the New York Rangers are 1-5-0.

Star of the Week: Nicklas Backstrom

4 GP | 3 G | 6 A | 9 pts. | plus-two | 5 PPP

For the second week in a row, a member of the Washington Capitals takes the honors. The 29-year-old playmaker scored three goals and nine points in four games.

The ever-consistent center was taken off the line with Alex Ovechkin, but remains potent alongside T.J. Oshie and 22-year-old breakout candidate Andrej Burakovsky.

AHL Call-Up To Watch: Vegas’ Full House

It was only a matter of time before an injury or trade opened up room for KHL star Vadim Shipachyov. The 30-year-old made his NHL debut Sunday against the Bruins, scoring a goal in the Knights’ 3-1 win.

The playmaking center was buried in the AHL due to being waiver-exempt, allowing general manager George McPhee to save his players from being exposed to waivers and lost for nothing. But Shipachyov will be Vegas’ No. 1 center from here on, so you’ll see plenty of the Russian moving forward.

Fantasy Player To Add

Martin Frk | RW | Detroit Red Wings

With four games this week, including Sunday’s only matchup versus the Vancouver Canucks, the Detroit Red Wings forward is a prime option. Starting Monday, the team plays every other day.

Frk has three goals and an assist in five games, as well as 10 shots on goal, five hits, two blocks, and two power play points. He’s owned in just 8.4 percent of leagues.

If his 11:46 of ice time scares you, Detroit has plenty of other options due to the team’s low level of ownership. Even Dylan Larkin, who has a point in every game, is available in 39 percent of leagues.

Game To Watch

Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 7:30 PM EST

The Atlantic Division rivals square off for the first time this season as former Red Wings coach Mike Babcock looks to push 2016-17’s standout team further against Jimmy Howard and the Wings youth.

Toronto’s bulk of sophomores bring speed, skill, and a never-surrender mentality versus a Detroit team carried by Howard’s stellar crease work and 37-year-old captain Henrik Zetterberg.

The Wings went 0-3-1 against the Leafs last season, just one of five teams they didn’t register a win against. The Leafs added Patric Marleau this summer, who has 25 goals and 50 points in 66 career games versus Detroit.

Injuries: Wild Running Thin

Minnesota’s Mikael Granlund is expected to miss the next week as he continues to heal from a groin injury. Teammates Nino Niederreiter (high-ankle sprain, three weeks), Charlie Coyle (broken fibula, six to eight weeks), and Marcus Foligno (facial fracture, one week) were all injured Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Dubnyk on the injuries: "It's something you can't prepare for but we're a deep team..it's going to be a good opportunity for a lot of guys."

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 14, 2017

Vegas’ Erik Haula was placed on the IR list on Saturday with an undisclosed injury. The Knights also placed Marc-Andre Fleury (head) and Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) on the IR Sunday.

Vancouver’s Alex Edler will miss the next four to six weeks with an MCL sprain.

Boston’s David Backes, currently sidelined with a diverticulitis, has resumed skating, but the team announced he might still need surgery.

Anaheim’s Ondrej Kase was placed on the IR with a head injury; there is no timeframe on his return.

Carolina’s Trevor van Riemsdyk was placed on the IR with a concussion on Saturday.

Washington’s Matt Niskanen is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl is experiencing concussion-like symptoms mixed with an eye injury and is out indefinitely.

Los Angeles’ Kyle Clifford is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @JMessing23.