DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha is among the top NHL rookie goal scorers this year, and he's played far fewer games than his peers at the top.
After Thursday night's heroic overtime winner in Ottawa, Mantha has 7 goals in just 21 games played this season. That puts him tied for 6th place on the rookie goal scoring list.
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Add 10 more games for Mantha this season and at this rate he could be closer to the top of this list. Some of the players on this rookie scoring list have played nearly double the amount of games as Mantha.
The 22-year-old first-round draft pick will be an important piece for the Red Wings if they want to make a push for a playoff spot in the second half of this season. Detroit is at the bottom of the league in goals scored this season -- they need someone, anyone, to start potting goals on a nightly basis, or at least every other game.
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BONUS: Here is Mantha's OT winner from Thursday night:
Niklas Kronwall sets up Anthony Mantha for the win in tonight's @Bridgestone Performance Moment of the Game. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/O1uBgd3dSx
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 30, 2016