Anthony Mantha left the Washington Capitals’ game against the Florida Panthers with an injury, adding to the team’s already mounting injury troubles. Despite initially showing no signs of injury when leaving the ice, Mantha did not return for the final minutes of the third period or during overtime.
Following the game, Capitals’ Head Coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that Mantha had indeed suffered an injury, though the extent of it is not yet known. Carbery stated, “Yeah, injury, I’m not sure the significance. I’ll have to get an update on that, but definitely left the game from an injury.”
Mantha’s departure came after a physical altercation earlier in the game, where he engaged in a fight with Florida’s Nick Cousins, ultimately winning the bout. Despite this, Mantha continued to play for over six minutes after the fight, ending the night with a total of 16:12 on the ice.
This injury adds to the Capitals’ injury streak, with Martin Fehervary, Nic Dowd, and TJ Oshie all suffering injuries earlier in the week. Both Fehervary and Dowd have since been placed on injured reserve.
Nick Jensen also faced injury concerns during the game, colliding with Florida’s William Lockwood and briefly leaving the game in the first period before returning in the second.
Mantha’s absence could be a significant blow to the Capitals, as he currently ranks fourth on the team in points this season, with 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists) in 52 games. His recent performance has been particularly notable, contributing five points in his last five games and playing a key role in the team’s recent success.
The Capitals will have a day off on Sunday before returning home to face the Ottawa Senators on Monday night. If Mantha is unable to play, Hendrix Lapierre could make his first appearance since being called up on Friday.
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