Fresh off signing a new four-year contract, Detroit Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha was anticipated to be carrying a major portion of the team’s offensive load.
So far in the young 2020-21 NHL Season, that hasn’t come to fruition.
Through the first six games, Mantha has tallied only a single goal to go with two assists. Over the pace of an 82 game season, that amounts to 14 goals.
Mantha knows he must be better.
“Obviously I could sit back and be disappointed, but today is a new day and tomorrow is a new game,” Mantha said. “I just need to get my game going and do what I do best.”
It was a particularly rough two games for Mantha against the Chicago, during which two defensive lapses led directly to pucks in the net for the Blackhawks. Head coach Jeff Blashill responded by keeping Mantha mostly on the bench in the 3rd period of yesterday’s game.
“I watched clips the last couple days and had a meeting with Blash,” Mantha said. “I think it’s just a matter of getting my feet moving again and being intense in battles.”
Of course, for any player at any level, they may begin gripping their stick a bit harder and overthinking things when the situation isn’t ideal. But for Mantha, it will be a process of just getting back into a normal rythym to start turning things around.
“When things don’t go your way you start overthinking,” he said. “I am thinking more than I used to, but like I said if I make it simple, those battles and shots, being involved in the plays, things will line up for me.”
The Red Wings will take on the Dallas Stars in a two-game series beginning Tuesday night.
– – Quotes via Free.com Link – –
