Big update on injured Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha.

Straight from the man himself.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Big update on injured Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha.
Richard Ulreich/CSM/Zuma

It has been a rough season for the Detroit Red Wings fan base and instances of good news have been few and far between, but on Monday morning Red Wings fans got what can only be considered good news. 

Speaking with members of the assembled media, Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill informed reporters that forward Anthony Mantha is expected to make his long awaited return the next time the Red Wings hit the ice. The Red Wings played on Sunday, defeating the Boston Bruins by a score of 3 - 1, and will play their next game Tuesday when they travel to the First Niagara Center to take on Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres.

“Anthony Mantha’s day-to-day,” Blashill said as per The Detroit News. “I anticipate him for Tuesday.”

It has been a long journey back for Mantha who has not played since all the way back in December when he was injured during an altercation with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin. Mantha had come to the defense of his teammate after a relatively harmless hit from Muzzin, but he paid a heavy price. Muzzin appeared got off guard by the retaliation from Mantha and slammed him to the ice, a response that we now know left Mantha with a punctured lung, something that prolonged his recovery.

In spite of how poorly the Red Wings have played overall this season Mantha was having himself a solid season prior to suffering the injury against the Leafs, The 25 year old winger made 29 appearances for the Red Wings in which he recorded 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. His return won't help the Red Wings turn their season around given their current predicament, but no doubt it will be a welcome and much needed boost to their offense moving forward. 

Blashill also provided additional updates on Red Wings forwards Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm. Nielsen has been sidelined by a lower body injury and was listed as day to day by Blashill, while Helm has been out with an undisclosed injury and is also being considered day to day. It sounds like the team is hopeful both men will back in the lineup along with Mantha on Tuesday.

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