NHL East

McKenna’s weekly NHL Mailbag will be open via Twitter Wednesday through Friday for the remainder of the 2018 NHL season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. To have an NHL related question featured in Hooked On Hockey Magazine tweet to @KMcKenna_tLT5 by using the hashtag #McKennasDigest.  The Calgary Flames have a new head coach, and three finalists have been named for the 2018 Vezina …

It was just seven days ago when the Columbus Blue Jackets and Head Coach John Tortorella were all smiles, after the team had completed its second-straight overtime victory to take a 2-0 series lead against the Washington Capitals in round-one of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now, one week later, the Blue Jackets find themselves losers of three straight (two overtime …

There’s no doubting that the most entertaining first round series of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Washington Capitals. Considering that the Capitals blew another third period lead in Game 3, most NHL fans alike probably thought that the odds were against Alex Ovechkin and company to pull back within one game of …

Over the last decade the New York Rangers have had three different head coaches man the team’s bench on Broadway (Tom Renney, John Tortorella & Alain Vigneault), and all of whom had success leading the Rangers to numerous Stanley Cup Playoff appearances. However, New York only reached the Stanley Cup Finals (2014) once during that span — and was unable …

Joe Hicketts impressed in his short stay in Detroit. The small defenseman plays much bigger than he is, and is never afraid to play the body on his opponent. He demonstrated his booming slap shot and sound positioning. Having played the rest of the year with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American League, he adjusted seemingly with ease to …

McKenna’s weekly NHL Mailbag will be open via Twitter Wednesday through Friday for the remainder of the 2018 NHL season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. To have an NHL related question featured in Hooked On Hockey Magazine tweet to @KMcKenna_tLT5 by using the hashtag #McKennasDigest.  In a quick turnaround McKenna’s NHL Mailbag takes to Hooked on Hockey Magazine just in time for the …

The Detroit Red Wings closed their season out in dramatic fashion, falling 4-3 in overtime to the New York Islanders. They finished fifth in the Atlantic Division and also fifth worst in the NHL. Only the playoff-clinching Philadelphia Flyers lost more overtime games than Detroit’s 13 (14). Henrik Zetterberg scored first, as the Wings entered the intermission up 1-0. In …

The Grand Rapids Griffins hosted the San Jose Barracuda on Friday night as the defending Calder Cup champion Griffins continued their push for the playoffs. They came into the night in third place in the Central Division, while the Barracuda sat last in the Pacific Division. The Griffins dominated the first period, outshooting their opponent 19-6, while the game remained …

McKenna’s weekly NHL Mailbag will be open via Twitter Wednesday through Friday throughout the remainder of the 2018 NHL season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. To have an NHL related question featured in Hooked On Hockey Magazine tweet to @KMcKenna_tLT5 by using the hashtag #McKennasDigest.    @KMcKenna_tLT5 where would you put Alain Vigneault's job security level at? #McKennasDigest — Jeffrey Folker …

The Red Wings stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins by winning a 5-2 contest on Tuesday night. Detroit had dropped 9 of their last 10 while sliding to the bottom of the league’s standings with purpose. Before the game, they were only 5 points away from last place Buffalo. The win puts them at 67 points, not a great way to earn …

Detroit welcomed the Washington Capitals Thursday night. The Wings came into the night 6th worst in the league after earning two points in Tuesday’s dramatic shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The team sank significantly in the past 12 or so games, having recently lost ten straight. With each passing game, they have drifted closer and closer to the league’s …

The Red Wings welcomed Petr Mrazek back to Detroit in his first game against his old team. Now a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, his return was spoiled, as he allowed 3 goals on 19 shots, all in the second period. In his first three games in Philly, Mrazek won each, allowing only four goals against (including a shutout). However, …

A disastrous second period sunk the Red Wings on Thursday night as they hosted the Vegas Golden Knights for the first time at Little Caesars Arena. It was forward Tomas Tatar’s first time playing against the team that drafted him (he was traded at the deadline for a 2018 1st round pick, a 2019 2nd round pick, and a 2021 …

Detroit set a season-high for blocked shots on Saturday night in a win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes came into the night having lost four straight games (3-5-2 in last ten) The two points put them just five points out of a wild card playoff spot. It remains a near impossibility however, as even more players will be traded …

The Detroit Red Wings fell to the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in an overtime thriller on Thursday night. Now-undisputed number-one netminder Jimmy Howard was stellar, stopping 27 of 30 shots in the loss, while Buffalo’s Robin Lehner was even better, turning aside 35 of 37. In the first period, Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen scored from Nathan Bealieau and Johan Larsson. The …