Anthony Mantha couldn’t have picked a better time to score his first four-point night of the season. Somewhere inside the Bell Centre, some 30 friends and family members savored the Capitals’ convincing 8-4 win.
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“Tickets are quite expensive, so I try to give value for money,” said the Longueuil resident with a burst of laughter.
Joking aside, Mantha admitted that he was always filled with extra motivation when he walked the rink at the Canadiens’ home.
“Because of my injury, I only faced the Canadiens once this season. There were a lot of people to watch me play. People I had the opportunity to see on Saturday. It did me good. »
The 27-year-old forward has missed 45 games due to shoulder surgery in November. He has been back in action for 20 games now. For a few games, he feels he has found his way back.
“Hopefully I can keep this momentum going to get into the playoffs,” he said.
After the game, Peter Laviolette, his coach, had nothing but good things to say about him. Especially after watching him work hard to get back into the game.
“It was a very difficult injury. The rehabilitation was long. Sometimes when you start this kind of process, you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Laviolette.
“The returning lore was great news for us because of how he can contribute to our success with his physical play and skill. »
Lars Eller’s accomplice
Mantha scored both of his goals in the space of 34 seconds midway through the second period. On each occasion, the Canadiens and the Capitals were four against four.
“In this situation, there is a lot of space. On each of my goals, Lars (Eller) struggled to get the puck to me. He practically gave me two breakaways. All I had to do was throw the puck,” he described.
A great complicity seems to be developing between the former Canadian center and Mantha. If Saturday evening the Dane was complicit in the two goals of the Quebecer, Tuesday evening, against the Flyers, it was the opposite.
“Lars and him seem to get along well, recognized Laviolette. The two goals scored four against four were very important tonight. »
“Anthony had a big game, like many of our players. The guys had things to be forgiven for after the 7-3 loss we suffered in Toronto on Thursday. »