The Washington Capitals experienced a further setback in their injury situation on Saturday night when Anthony Mantha exited the game late in regulation against the Florida Panthers. Despite leaving the ice without any visible signs of injury, Mantha did not rejoin the game for the final 5:45 of the third period or during overtime.
Following the game, Head Coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that Mantha indeed suffered an injury, although the extent of it is yet to be determined.
“Yeah, injury, I’m not sure the significance,” he stated. “I’ll have to get an update on that, but definitely left the game from an injury.”
Earlier in the game, Mantha engaged in a notable altercation, defeating Florida’s Nick Cousins midway through the second period in a highlight-reel fight. Despite this, he continued to play for another 6:14 following the altercation, concluding the night with a total of 16:12 on the ice.
The Capitals’ injury streak extends to four consecutive games, with Martin Fehervary, Nic Dowd, and TJ Oshie all sustaining injuries earlier in the week. Subsequently, the team has placed both Fehervary and Dowd on injured reserve.
Nick Jensen was also sidelined during Saturday night’s game, colliding with Florida’s William Lockwood and hitting the boards. Jensen left the ice 9:41 into the game but later returned in the second period.
Even amidst other player injuries, the absence of Mantha could be a substantial setback for the Caps. He currently ranks fourth on the team in points this season, tallying 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists) in 52 games.
Notably, five of those points were accumulated over his last five games, contributing significantly to the Capitals’ recent success. Against Florida, Mantha’s line with Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson showcased effectiveness, accounting for 82.4% of expected goals and 75% of scoring chances at five-on-five on Saturday night.
Following a day off on Sunday, the Caps are set to return home to face the Ottawa Senators on Monday night. If Mantha is unable to play, Hendrix Lapierre could potentially make his debut after being called up on Friday.
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