Kevin Allen

National columnist for HockeyBuzz and Red Wings beat writer for Detroit Hockey Now. Previously was USA TODAY's hockey writer for 34 seasons (1986-2019)

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Articles

The Daily: GR Race Discourages Call-Ups; Boeser Fit Red Wings?

1 week ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

If the Red Wings are eliminated tonight, we may see GM Steve Yzerman start to reward some Grand Rapids Griffins for their AHL efforts. But that isn’t definite. The GR player most deserving is Amadeus Lombardi who has overcome a lengthy injury to register 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points in 39 games. The smallish center has five goals and three assists for eight points in his past four games. This is a prospect who has taken a significant step in his development.
The Daily: Red Wings Playoff Odds Under 1%; Panthers Healthier

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

The Detroit Red Wings’ theme song should be “All I Need is a Miracle” because their NHL playoff probability is under one percent (from moneypuck.com). But even a regulation road loss to the Florida Panthers tonight would not eliminate Detroit from playoff consideration. If that occurs, the Red Wings would still be eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit would have four games remaining.
Five Moves Red Wings Should Have Made Earlier (DHN+)

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

With the Detroit Red Wings one loss from being eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff race, we offer five moves the Red Wings should have done earlier to give themselves a better shot:It’s been clear that the team has benefitted from the arrival of Todd McLellan. His voice seems to resonate with these players. It’s hard not to wonder if bringing him in earlier would have been enough to push this group into the playoffs.
The Daily: Red Wings Have 5.1% Shot at Drafting No. 2; Demidov Signs

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

This Red Wings question will sound like the start of a joke, but it’s really not. How bad is Detroit’s competitive situation this morning? The Red Wings are bad enough to miss the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season. But they aren’t quite bad enough yet to earn a place in the NHL lottery for the No. 1 pick. According to the NHL rules, only the 11 worst teams have a shot to pick first, and this morning Detroit is the 12th worst team.
Canadiens Close the Deal After Red Wings Couldn’t

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

When defenseman Albert Johansson’s helmet fell off in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens it was symbolic of the Detroit Red Wings falling out of the Eastern Conference wildcard race. A ninth consecutive season without a postseason was sprawled on the ice next to his bucket. Under NHL rules, Johansson had to immediately put his helmet back on or leave the ice. As he scrambled to reclaim his helmet, and resettle it on his noggin, Josh Anderson headed to the front of the net.
The Yzerman Trade Helping The Red Wings The Most (DHN+)

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

Being a Detroit Red Wings fan these days means being able to grumble about the length of J.T. Compher’s contract and never having to say your sorry. If you are watching Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson or Marco Kasper, it’s hard to complain about Yzerman’s drafting prowess. When you add in the fuss over Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s anticipated arrival, it seems clear that Yzerman has drafted well.
The Daily: It’s Talbot or Bust for Red Wings; Watson Recalled

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

Cam Talbot will make his sixth consecutive start in goal tonight when his Detroit Red Wings play a pivotable road game against the Montreal Canadiens. He has earned the confidence the Red Wings now have in him. Coach Todd McLellan coached Talbot in Edmonton and Los Angeles, and he trusts him in big games. Talbot has rewarded that trust by playing his best hockey this season when the Red Wings needed it most.
The Daily: How Red Wings Can Get Into the Playoffs; Griffins Update

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

While the Detroit Red Wings do have slim chance of qualifying for the the NHL playoffs, the truth is that you have a better chance of losing an item in the U.S. Mail (4.7%) or having a child who plays high school sports and then goes on to play in college (6%) than the Red Wings have of playing playoff games this season. Going into Tuesday’s game in Montreal, the Red Wings own a 4.6% chance of qualifying for the playoffs (from moneypuck.com). The Canadiens have an 84.2% chance of qualifying.
Red Wings Beat Champs to Set Up Big Game in Montreal

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

DETROIT — Playing an important NHL game in Montreal is the stuff dreams are made of when you are a Canadian youngster. The Detroit Red Wings have one of those special games Tuesday when they meet the Montreal Canadiens in the Bell Centre with playoff implications still attached. The hope was to enter this game two points behind to give Detroit a chance to pull even with the surprise holder of the second Eastern Conference wildcard spot. But that didn’t occur.
What Offensive Slump? Griffins’ Score 15 Goals in Two Games

2 weeks ago | detroithockeynow.com | Kevin Allen

For almost two months the Grand Rapids Griffins’ efforts to score goals was like trying to wrestle an extra-large sofa up multiple flights and through a narrow doorway of an upstairs flat. It could be done, with three people working together, but it wasn’t as easy as they wanted it to be. During a recent four-game losing streak, the Grand Rapids squad netted just five goals. In one span from Feb. 12 to March 4, the Griffins scored two or fewer goals seven times in 10 games.