Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha spoke with the media for eight minutes today, and he told the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan that, of the Wings’ six games, he’s only played in one “good” game. Here’s more from Kulfan and Mantha regarding the big forward’s struggles:
“We’re not going to hide from it, [Sunday] wasn’t a good game,” said Mantha, who felt many different emotions while sitting and watching. “A little bit of everything. Obviously, I could sit back and be disappointed in myself, but today is a new day and I have to get better on the ice and tomorrow is a new game. I’ll make everything possible in my power not to be sat again this year or in the future. I just have to get my game going and do what I do best.”
Mantha has one goal and two assists through six games, with a minus-5 plus-minus rating. The offense hasn’t been there, the impact on games has been limited, and the consistent hard, forceful skating has been largely missing.
“I wish I had the answer,” Mantha said. “I watched clips the last couple of days and I had a meeting with Blash (coach Jeff Blashill). It’s just a matter of getting my feet moving and being intense in battles and everything will line up from there.”
Mantha met with Blashill before Monday’s practice in Dallas.
“He wants to see the Anthony that was playing last year at the start of the season and I want to see that guy come back ASAP,” Mantha said. “It was just to be a little more physical, stopping on pucks and winning those one-on-one battles, and like we said, skating during the game.”
Continued; here’s the video:
