Detroit Red Wings

Mantha has no regrets
April 7, 2017, 1:05 PM ET [2 Comments]
Bob Duff
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Given the chance to do it all over again, Anthony Mantha would do it all over again.

Out for the season after breaking the ring finger on his right hand in a fight with Luke Witkowski of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings forward Mantha would change little about the sequence of events that led to his injury.

The saga started March 24 when Mantha engaged in a spirited fight with Tampa Bay forward Greg McKegg after McKegg had checked Detroit forward Dylan Larkin with what Mantha felt was a dirty hit.

“That fight, the first fight against McKegg, obviously I defended Larkin there,” Mantha said. “I thought it was kind of different. I did what I do when people get hit from behind. I will defend that always.”

Mantha was assessed an instigator penalty after the fight. “I did agree to McKegg than it was two vicious punches that I threw,” Mantha said. “It’s on myself, the fighting. I don’t know what happened in my head at that moment. I did apologize to him in the penalty box and on the ice afterwards.

“The next game obviously, I kind of knew someone was going to come (after him). Then the second fight happened.”

In the March 30 rematch with the Lightning in Tampa, Mantha was challenged by Luke Witkowski and suffered his broken finger in the ensuing bout.

“Like I said, I knew it was going to come,” Mantha said. “I tried to stand up for myself. Obviously he was stronger. It was pretty hard for me to do anything there.

“The finger, it kind of sucks that it happened but if nothing happened there, I keep playing the game and we don’t really talk about it anymore.”

Mantha doesn’t know how he broke his finger. He’s even studied video of the fight but still can’t figure out when it happened. He does know that other than the injury, he has no regrets about the entire episode.

“I don’t know why I fought that much this year,” Mantha said. “It’s just things that happen, and it happens quick. I’m not really (looking to) change my style of play but maybe I just know I can stand up for myself, and that’s what I do.”

Lorito Debut
Forward Matt Lorito was recalled from AHL Grand Rapids, and barring a sudden turnaround in the health of Andreas Athanasiou, he will make his NHL debut in Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

“Obviously, when I got the call I was real excited,” Lorito said. “I’m just real happy to be here.”

Detroit coach Jeff Blashill liked what he saw of the 5-9 Lorito in exhibition play and intends to give him every chance to display his skill set at the NHL level this weekend.

“He’s been a guy who in the American League is a proven offensive player,” Blashill said. “He’s a little undersized, so until those guys get to the NHL you never know for sure.

“I know in the preseason he was really, really good offensively. He did a real good job on the power play, especially on the half-wall, on his forehand side, kind of walking down and finding seams.

“I think ultimately for him to be an effective player at this level he’ll have to be good on the power play. He’ll get a chance to play with good players tomorrow.”