Category: Opinions and Editorials

Stanley Cup congratulations and Conn Smythe criticism

By Justin G. | Mar 6th 2019 | 5 min read |

Sunday night in San Jose, the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history defeating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 t...

NBC Sports Net ratings fail during 2016 NHL Eastern Conference Finals; biased coverage did not help

By John Fontana | Mar 6th 2019 | 4 min read |

How much blame with a low-rated playoff series rests with the competition itself and how much of it lies with the broadcast arm? I don’t think i...

Fire, brimstone and fan overreactions to the Lightning's first month

By John Fontana | Mar 5th 2019 | 4 min read |

It’s a Tampa Bay thing in sports, isn’t it? Every NFL season since I-don’t-know-when, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faithful end up tarri...

Jonathan Drouin is finally on the path to being Jonathan Drouin

By Jake Hamar | Mar 5th 2019 | 5 min read |

During the 2014-15 season, all eyes were on Lightning rookie Jonathan Drouin. Who was making his long-anticipated NHL debut after his 1st round draft ...

2015 NHL Playoffs: There's nothing before it or after, there's only Game 7

By John Fontana | Mar 5th 2019 | 3 min read |

I wrote this article in April with the entire 2015 NHL Playoffs in front of us (with the collective hockey fan base in mind). While it can be looked a...

2015 NHL Playoffs: Confronted by the drama (again)

By John Fontana | Mar 5th 2019 | 4 min read |

Just when I think I’m out, they drag me back in! – Don Michael Corleone, The Godather Part 3 Time heals wounds, they say. In this case, sp...

An open letter request to SportsClubStats.com; Update the Lightning logo you employ

By John Fontana | Mar 4th 2019 | 2 min read |

Dear SportsClubStats.com, Your website is an oft-referenced tool for fans and media alike regarding playoff odds in a variety of sports. It goes beyon...

A Most Valuable performance by Tyler Johnson

By John Fontana | Mar 3rd 2019 | 2 min read |

The saying has been tossed around since he was with the Norfolk Admirals in 2011-12, it continues to be repeated at the most appropriate times, and it...

Kendall Coyne Schofield’s analyst debut tarnished by Pierre McGuire’s mansplaining

By Lauren Kelly | Jan 30th 2019 | 5 min read |

If you had the opportunity to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game tonight on NBC, weren’t forced to continue to watch it (lik...

From Saskatchewan to Tampa Bay: The Evolution of Slater Koekkoek

By Lauren Kelly | Nov 3rd 2018 | 6 min read |

With the emergence of Mikhail Sergachev, and several Syracuse Crunch defensemen inching closer to assuming full-time NHL duty, Slater Koekkoek continu...