By Jacob Messing

The Red Wings lost their first shootout in 14 games, the New Jersey Devils continue to win, and Auston Matthews has missed three straight games.

Hot Topic: Rangers’ Slow Start Behind Them

The New York Rangers began the season 1-6-1, an excruciatingly slow start as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist struggled to make up for his team’s defensive lapses and lack of scoring.

But recent history has the organization thinking much more positively. The Rangers now boast a 9-7-2 record, which looks better with an 8-2-0 stat line over their past 10 games, including a six-game winning streak.

Lundqvist is still searching for his game, but the offense is relentless with the league’s third-best power play (25.8 percent) and a defensive group that has closed its harrowing gaps.

Star Of The Week: Jason Zucker

4 GP | 6 G | 1 A | 7 pts. | Plus-four | Three-game goal streak

Zucker posted an assist and two goals in each of the week’s first two losses to Boston and Toronto, but upped his output with a hat trick against Montreal before adding another goal against Philadelphia.

The 25-year-old, building on his 22-goal season from last year, will be a big help as Minnesota attempts to climb out of the bottom of the Central Division.

Zucker led all players last week with six goals and seven points, the latter of which was only duplicated by Nikita Kucherov.

AHL Call-Up To Watch: Jesse What He Does

Jesse Puljujarvi doesn’t boast the NHL or AHL numbers that usually come with a fourth overall draft pick — he was selected at that spot in 2016 — but the Finnish forward is making some noise this year.

The 19-year-old played in 28 games with Edmonton in his draft year, scoring eight points. Puljujarvi was drafted for his goal scoring, but just one of his eight points was a goal. He joined the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 28 points in 39 games.

In 10 games with the Condors this season, the 6-foot-4 forward has one goal and five points. Edmonton called the Fin to the NHL, and he scored in his first game. A boost in his confidence could go a long way for Puljujarvi, who could help an ailing Oilers offense.

Fantasy Player To Add

Adrian Kempe | RW | Los Angeles Kings

Kempe has been a pleasant surprise for the surging Los Angeles Kings, and remains available in 32.5 percent of leagues. The 21-year-old was drafted 29th overall in 2014 and is paying high dividends in his second stint in the NHL, which has become a full-time gig due to his offense.

With seven goals and 11 points in 15 games, Kempe is showing the qualities every team looks for in a first-round pick. As a plus-11 player with 12 penalty minutes, Kempe helps in multiple categories and is even close to a hit per game.

The Kings play three home games and four total this week with one coming against the lowly Florida Panthers on Friday.

Game To Watch

Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens

Saturday, Nov. 18, 7 PM EST.

After a poor stretch, the Maple Leafs have won four in a row, three of which have come without top center and leading scorer Auston Matthews. The Leafs hold a 12-7-0 record and currently sit second in the Atlantic Division.

Montreal, 8-9-1, has hinged largely on Charlie Lindgren in the absence of Carey Price. Lindgren posted a 1.24 goals against average and .964 save percentage and three wins in four starts.

The long-time rivals went head-to-head on October 14 when Matthews scored the overtime winner for his second of the game. Should Matthews return to the lineup on Saturday from his undisclosed injury, this will be a much different game.

Injuries: More Ducks In A Row

Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf will miss up to two months after undergoing surgery to repair his zygomatic bone. Jared Boll was placed on the IR Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. Ondrej Kase was placed on the IR Thursday with an upper-body injury.

Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

New Jersey’s Marcus Johansson was placed on the IR Thursday with a concussion.

New York Islanders’ Nikolay Kulemin was placed on the IR Wednesday with an upper-body ailment.

Edmonton’s Anton Slepyshev was placed on the IR Friday with a lower-body injury.

Detroit’s Justin Abdelkader has been diagnosed with a fractured cheekbone, but the team doesn’t believe he’ll be out long-term.

Ottawa’s Zack Smith will miss the next three weeks with a dislocated thumb.

Colorado’s Patrick Nemeth has been placed on the IR with an undisclosed injury.

Vancouver’s Chris Tanev will miss two to three weeks with an injured thumb.

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