Anthony Manta did not have a chance to play in Montreal this season due to a shoulder injury that left him out of the Washington Capitals for four months.
Longueuil, Que. Native scored two goals in 34 seconds and two assists on Saturday night after the Capitals beat the Canadiens 8-4 at the Bell Center.
“It’s really good (for sure), especially in games like Montreal,” Manta said. “My family and friends are here, I can’t wait to see them. I will try to continue in this series and build as much confidence as possible for the playoffs. “
Capitals coach Peter Laviolet said injuries like Manta’s have periods of rehabilitation when “there is no light at the end of the tunnel”. The veteran coach was pleased to see the 27-year-old perform before his regular season’s home game.
“It’s really good to give him back because of his size, because of the way you can be physical, his skill level and the way he can contribute to our team when he’s in the game,” he said. “It’s good to see him come back and get in rhythm and he can contribute.”
The capital (42-23-10) started a five-game journey with a 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but paid off with a wave of goals in Montreal.
Along with Manta, Washington had five top scorers in Nick Dowd, Alexander Ovechkin, Garnet Hathaway, Justin Schultz, TJ Oshi and Dmitry Orlov. The Russian blue liner added three assists to his result. Vitek Vanacek made 28 saves in the victory.
“We had a few boys who had big nights,” Laviolet said. “But I think everyone was looking for a little redemption from the last game we didn’t play the way we wanted to play.”
Despite the emotional match on Friday night, in which Carrie Price returned between the holes, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis was pleased with the first period of his team. Ryan Pauling scored twice, Jake Evans and Nick Suzuki added goals. Samuel Montembo made 32 saves in the loss.
For St. Louis, Manta’s two goals, scored at four to four, were difficult to return.
“We fell to four against four and they scored two goals, Washington is good with space,” said St. Louis. “I’m going to take a little blame for that, because, frankly, I can’t say we’ve worked hard on four-on-four concepts. Those goals hurt us. “
Montreal (20-45-11) recovered early in the third period with the second part of Poelling for the evening, but Washington responded, leaving the Habs with a series of five losses.
“The fifth goal hurts, the bubble burst at that moment,” said St. Louis. “There is little hope when we make 4-3, but they make 5-3 on the next shift, the bubble burst and it is difficult to get back in the game. You saw him in the third, their players had confidence and moved the puck well. “
Daoud gave the Capitals the lead in the beginning, reflecting Orlov’s shot from his stick at 12:23 from the first period.
Evans equalized the score at 1:56 of the second period with a slap from the top of the right circle of the face.
Manta scored two consecutive goals to regain the lead. The striker recovered from his own shot and scored his first of the evening.
He then beat Montembo with a wrist blow 34 seconds later to give Washington a two-goal lead.
Montreal reduced their deficit to one goal when Jeff Petrie and Pölling combined once.
Washington came back with two goals when Ovechkin, left alone in the slot, scored his 47th marker of the season.
Poehling celebrated his second of the evening by taking a loose puck in the slot and defeating a distracted Vanacek.
Washington responded with three unanswered goals. Hathaway scored its 13th goal of the season. Orlov added the sixth goal of the Sofia team from the high slot. Eventually, Schultz’s shot deflected off David Savard’s wand and past Montembo.
Suzuki’s 20th goal of the season fell to 14:53 in the third period.
Oshi’s goal in the power game at 16:35 on the last frame sealed Washington’s victory.
Add Comment