The Red Wings’ Anthony Mantha has put up three points in three games, two of those being goals. So why aren’t we talking about this about it more? Perhaps it’s been the deafening noise of critics, or the suffocating frustration of what is now a six-game winless streak. Maybe it’s the expectations that come with his new contract that pays him to be a scorer. Regardless of what it is, Mantha may be heating up at just the right time as Detroit is promised some talent back from Covid protocol list this week.
Since Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, and Filip Zadina were sidelined, the Red Wings reverted back to the one-line team that struggled to score goals beyond the Tyler Bertuzzi– Dylan Larkin-Mantha line. Secondary scoring has been an issue since, with the overwhelming number of goals coming off of four sticks: Mantha, Bertuzzi, Larkin, and Bobby Ryan. 80% of the Wings’ 20 goals this season have been from those four forwards.
Mantha is looking more like himself
If you watch his last two goals, that familiar snap shot is back as well as that presence low that had fans and scouts drooling about his scoring ability almost eight years ago. Mantha has always been a dangerous scorer with a shoot first/think later mentality. His goal here from Saturday shows this:
Anthony Mantha 🔝🧀 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/6jV955W8J5
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 31, 2021
On that release, there aren’t many goalies that could fight it off let alone make a save. There wasn’t a hesitation or any other thought than to just shoot.
Contrast that with the breakaway he had in overtime against Dallas last Tuesday where he drove the net and waited just a bit too long to pull the trigger on a shot. A release maybe a few seconds before he was taken down near the net and there’s the chance of a rebound, face off or better yet, a goal. There was a lot of attention to Mantha’s lack of coverage when Dallas came down the ice and ended up scoring the winner in overtime. After being benched on the first two power play attempts during Saturday’s game, Mantha has looked stronger while registering two goals.
The Athletic’s Max Bultman wrote this yesterday as Detroit approaches the 20% mark of games this season:
"This weekend, though, he got his big frame moving again, and it led him to expected goals for percentages of 64 percent and 65 percent, respectively. That’s the play-driving, danger-creating power forward the Red Wings had been missing through the first two weeks of their season."
Bultman adds that Mantha and Larkin will most likely be reunited when many of the regulars return to the roster. Regardless of what head coach Jeff Blashill does with the lines, one thing is for certain: the Anthony Mantha seen in the last few games is gaining momentum and could be the scoring force many expected this season.