'Had To Work Hard'

Anthony Mantha’s story is one of perseverance.

And tonight, the 30-year-old will skate in his 500th NHL contest as the Flames host the Penguins at the Scotiabank Saddledome. GET TICKETS

Asked to reflect on his journey so far, Mantha focused on the adversity he’s fought through over the course of his decade-long pro career.

All while showing a sense of appreciation for how far he’s come.

“It means a lot,” he said Tuesday morning. “Obviously, it took a while for me to get there, a lot of injuries throughout the way.”

Mantha was limited to 43 games in 2019-20, and 37 games two seasons later.

Not to mention the fractured tibia he suffered in a prospects tourney in 2014.

Those setbacks have made him stronger, bumps in the road on a hockey journey.

“It’s tough to come back from injuries, you know, mentally, physically,” Mantha said when asked about the lessons his career has taught him. “(I) had to work hard in both aspects, and I think it brought me to who I am now.”

It’s fitting, too, that this Mantha milestone comes in the form of a matchup between the Flames and Penguins.

His great-uncle, Jean Pronovost, is a former Pittsburgh and Atlanta Flames captain.

The forward totalled close to 800 points over an NHL career that landed him in the Penguins Hall of Fame.

Flames head coach Ryan Huska sees Mantha as a big piece of his lineup, and the numbers show it so far; the big winger has put up four points in five games.

“He’s been good for us so far,” Huska said Tuesday morning. “I like the way he protects pucks, when he’s moving his feet and he’s on the puck, he’s a hard guy to take the puck from, because he’s a big man.

“When you look at 500 games tonight, it’s not an easy league to play in, so I’m always impressed with guys that are able to get to those milestones,” he added. “We’re excited for him, usually on a night like this one too, you always get the best out of a player, so we’re looking forward to seeing that from him tonight too.”

Mantha has reached a milestone in his hockey journey - the second such feat he’s accomplished over two weeks of regular season hockey in Calgary.

Last week in Edmonton, he tallied his 300th career point, a goal that stood up as the game-winner in his first Battle of Alberta.

It’s plain to see, though, this one means a bit more.

“It’s a milestone: it’s 500 games, it’s 10 years and counting in the NHL for me,” Mantha said.

“It’s awesome, that’s for sure.”