Mantha’s Gordie Howe Hat-trick Gets Criticized Flames Player Off To Hot Start

Anthony Mantha was a low risk, high reward free agent signing by the Calgary Flames this summer. The knock on the 30-year-old right winger has always been about his motivation and consistency.

The physically intimidating but skilled forward has thrice been a 20-goal scorer in the NHL. Yet the 20th overall pick in the 2013 draft has never quite lived up to that potential. Mantha even found himself watching from the press box in the playoffs last season after a trade to the Vegas Golden Knights.

With little to lose as a franchise in transition, the Calgary Flames gave him a one-year, $3.5-million deal in July with the hope the Longueuil, QC product could help another Quebecer — Jonathan Huberdeau — rediscover his own consistency.

One game into the season, it sure looks like it could pay off as the Flames followed Mantha’s lead and claimed an exciting 6-5 overtime win on Wednesday.

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Mantha opened the scoring for the Flames after the visitors fell behind 3-0 in the first period in Vancouver. With a little more than four minutes to play in the opening frame, he scooped up the puck at mid-ice and raced past all Canucks and made a slick move on the breakaway, showing off his soft hands, speed and vision.

After the Canucks quickly restored their three-goal lead, Mantha showed his heavy hands, too — dropping the gloves to fight J.T. Miller. That scrap seemed to inspire his teammates, and the Flames scored four straight goals over the final 40 minutes to take a 5-4 lead.

The Canucks tied it up and it took an overtime beauty by sophomore Connor Zary to finish off the comeback but Mantha’s antics — including an assist on Martin Pospisil’s goal early in the third period — really helped the Flames overcome a rough start.