Author: Matthew Esteves

So long, and thanks for the memories

By Matthew Esteves | Sep 8th 2022 | 6 min read |

I always knew this day would come in some capacity. It isn’t easy or what I wanted to do, but life tends to throw knuckle pucks at you, and the ...

A look back at the 2021-22 Tampa Bay Lightning

By Matthew Esteves | Jun 29th 2022 | 7 min read |

It’s been a few days since the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the 2022 Stanley Cup, and with that distance, it seems an ...

If any team can find a way, it’s these Lightning

By Matthew Esteves | Jun 26th 2022 | 4 min read |

A sense of dread washed over me after Tampa Bay’s Game 4 overtime loss that put them down 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final to Colorado. Game 5 felt eeri...

Morning After Thoughts: Embrace the Champion level response, but there’s still a long road ahead

By Matthew Esteves | Jun 21st 2022 | 4 min read |

Through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, it felt like Tampa Bay was battling several opponents instead of the Colorado Avalanche. Poor pe...

Don’t take this era of Lightning hockey for granted

By Matthew Esteves | Jun 13th 2022 | 5 min read |

Folks, this isn’t supposed to happen—not in today’s NHL. Teams aren’t supposed to make consecutive Stanley Cup finals, not with th...

Morning After Thoughts: The Lightning Have Altered the Atmosphere of this Series

By Matthew Esteves | Jun 8th 2022 | 3 min read |

Maybe the Tampa Bay Lightning shouldn’t have nine days off between series? That’s the thought that courses through my mind after witnessin...

Morning After Thoughts: Lightning show life in pivotal Game Three

By Matthew Esteves | Jun 6th 2022 | 4 min read |

The Tampa Bay Lightning hadn’t been the Tampa Bay Lightning through the first two games of this Eastern Conference Final. They were sluggish, undisc...

Morning After Thoughts: A Predictable Loss, and a Good Wakeup Call

By Matthew Esteves | Jun 2nd 2022 | 3 min read |

I won’t waste anyone’s time with a long rant about how the Tampa Bay Lightning should know better, or that they played well below their talent lev...

Morning After Thoughts: The Lightning Legacy Continues to March Forward

By Matthew Esteves | May 24th 2022 | 4 min read |

The implementation of the salary cap after the 2003-2004 season was meant to increase parity, give more teams a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and eve...

Morning After Thoughts: Little details have the Lightning on the cusp of another Eastern Conference Final

By Matthew Esteves | May 23rd 2022 | 6 min read |

I freely admit my adamant skepticism entering this postseason. This season, the Tampa Bay Lightning were a maddening cacophony of poor decision-making...