“Antman” returns, brings much-needed boost for Capitals
Source: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Anthony “Antman” Mantha makes NHL return after being sidelined for three months. The Canadian forward had sustained a shoulder injury back in November during an OT loss to the Florida Panthers. He was subsequently placed on LTIR the next day after receiving surgery on the injured shoulder.
Mantha who was traded from the Red Wings to the Capitals back in 2020 as part of a blockbuster trade, was considered "the missing piece". His short stint before LTIR was marked by 14 points in just 26 games.
Coach Laviolette had hinted at Mantha's return but indicated it would likely not happen until the playoffs. Mantha was cleared for contact on February 28 and was skating with teammates the same day. It wasn't until Snively and Hagelin were placed on IR on March 3rd that Mantha was activated off the long-term injury reserve.
That same night, Laviolette put Mantha on the second offensive line along with Backstrom and Oshie as the Capitals faced the Carolina Hurricanes. With "Antman" back, the team in red looked like a whole new team, a team we hadn't seen in a while. Shit after shift, the Capitals looked dominant, giving their opponents very few chances. At times where it seemed the 'Canes seemed likely to get one back, they would get shut out by the defense.
Mantha made an immediate impact on the team, helping the Caps to a 4-0 win in his return game. His performance was not impressive, but his presence was what made the difference. The Capitals finally had their top-six forwards on the ice for the first time this season, one of the main reasons they were able to break their seven-home-game losing streak.
The Canadian native could also be seen in Saturday's lineup against the Seattle Kraken, who played their franchise's first game in DC. Once again, the Caps came out with that winning mentality and despite having a poor second period, they were able to “Unleash The Fury”. Thanks to three unanswered goals in the third, Laviolettes’ team finished their homestand with a 5-2 win.
Games Stats:
Captain Alex Ovechkin tallied two goals (764) over his last two games and is now only three goals shy of passing Jaromir Jagr for 3rd all-time.
Vanecek recorded his 3rd shutout of the season on Thursday. He saved all 36 shots he faced that night.
Connor Sheary who recorded two goals Saturday night reached the 100 NHL goal milestone and 200 career points in doing so.
What now?
Following the back-to-back wins, the Capitals have set themselves up perfectly for the remaining of the season. As they currently rank in the second wild-card position, the Caps can not afford to lose any important games. The Columbus Blue Jackets currently sit 10 points behind the Caps with one game back. CBJ is the most likely team to take the Capitals out of a playoff spot. Both teams will face each other on March 17th, a matchup that could potentially determine the final wild-card spot even with a dozen games left.
The Capitals are at a disadvantage against the Blue Jackets when it comes to the strength of schedule. The Washington team has the fifth-highest remaining strength of schedule, while Columbus has the 17th.
The remaining schedule includes a game against all of the five top teams in the league: Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanches, Florida Panther, Pittsburg Penguins, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Additionally, the Capitals will face Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs twice. With that being said, they also have eight games against the lowest-ranked teams in the league.
Tuesday night will also mark the 1000th game for Ovechkin and Backstrom together. Backstrom is only three points shy of 1000 career points.
Source: Associated Press
