Mantha left the Capitals' previous game Tuesday vs. Detroit after just 8:18 TOI due to an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day for the time being. The 28-year-old has nine goals, 15 assists, 101 SOG, 29 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus through 54 games prior to the injury.
With Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson making their season debuts on Sunday, Mantha and Nicolas Aube-Kubel will be healthy scratches vs. the Blue Jackets. Mantha has four points (1G / 3A) while playing 13:22 ATOI in his last nine games.
Mantha is listed as a game-time decision for Thursday's game but being activated from IR clears the way and suggests that he will play tonight. Mantha is expected to skate on the second line with Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie and will be on the second power-play unit.
Mantha was on the ice for Thursday's morning skate and all signs are pointing towards him playing for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in early November. Head coach Peter Laviolette would not commit to Mantha playing, so consider him a game-time decision.
Mantha was a full participant on Wednesday and could be back in the Capitals lineup on Thursday. Head coach Peter Laviolette did not rule Mantha out, so monitor his status during Thursday's morning skate.
Mantha was placed on IR on November 5th and moved to LTIR on Wednesday to make room for Nicklas Backstrom to be added to the roster ahead of his season debut.
As expected, Mantha will return to the Red Wings lineup on Tuesday. Mantha will replace Robby Fabbri, who is out with a jaw injury, and should skate on the top line with Dylan Larkin. Mantha has scored 12 goals with 12 assists (24 points) in 29 games this season.
Mantha suffered a couple of injuries, including a punctured lung, back on December 21st but will be back in the lineup in Buffalo. At this time, there's no word on who Mantha will replace in the lineup.
Mantha will not play this afternoon vs. the Bruins but head coach Jeff Blashill is hopeful that he'll return Tuesday in Buffalo. Mantha's return to the lineup would obviously be huge for the Red Wings, as he leads the team in points-per-game (0.83), scoring 12 goals with 12 assists (24 points) in 29 games this year.
Mantha passed the concussion test and was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. Mantha is also dealing with fractured ribs and a punctured lung, so he's still going to be sidelined for about one more week. Mantha hopes to be back before February 15th.
Mantha, who has been out since December 21st, will be sidelined until at least late February. Head coach Jeff Blashill did not rule out the possibility of Mantha missing the rest of the regular season, especially when you consider that the Red Wings season is effectively over.
Mantha was body-slammed by Jake Muzzin in the Red Wings loss to the Maple Leafs and suffered an injury to his rib cage that will keep him out of a minimum of four weeks. Mantha had a terrific start to the season but injuries have completely derailed a career-year.
