On the first night of the 2024-2025 NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks hosted the Calgary Flames, aiming to build on their impressive recent performance. The game quickly turned intense, as both teams brought physicality from the opening puck drop, setting the tone for a fiercely contested matchup.
Nearly halfway through the opening period, JT Miller aggressively pursued Flames forward Kevin Rooney in the offensive zone. Although Rooney missed the breakout pass, Miller didn’t relent and delivered a powerful shoulder hit. Rooney, unable to brace, collided into the boards and landed awkwardly on his right shoulder, causing the referees to stop the play immediately as Rooney remained down in pain. The hit ignited immediate confrontations, with several Flames players rushing toward Miller to seek retaliation.
Roughing Penalties and Early Goals Fuel the Game’s Intensity
The hit on Rooney sparked a chain reaction leading to five roughing penalties between the teams. Adam Klapka was singled out with an additional roughing penalty against Miller, sending the Canucks to their first power play of the night. Capitalizing on the man advantage, newcomer Daniel Sprong scored his first goal of the season for Vancouver.
Soon after, Flames forward Mikael Backlund was penalized for high-sticking, allowing Brock Boeser to increase the Canucks’ lead on another power play goal. Just under 30 seconds later, Conor Garland added a third goal, amplifying Vancouver’s early dominance.
Calgary finally responded when Anthony Mantha took advantage of a penalty against the Canucks, scoring a short-handed breakaway goal that energized the Flames. However, Boeser quickly restored the Canucks’ three-goal cushion by tipping in a Quinn Hughes shot just under two minutes later.
JT Miller and Anthony Mantha Face Off in Heated Fight
Following the injury to Rooney, Miller confronted Mantha in the offensive zone, initiating a tense altercation. The two exchanged words before dropping their gloves just past center ice, standing squarely in front of Calgary’s bench. Miller landed the first punches, but Mantha aggressively ripped off Miller’s helmet and retaliated with several strikes.
The fight intensified as Miller returned heavier blows with Mantha turned away, but Mantha then gripped Miller’s jersey from behind, forcing him to duck and attempt to free himself. This allowed Mantha to connect with an uppercut before Miller took him down to the ice, concluding the brawl.
Comeback and Overtime Loss Highlight Post-Fight Struggles
After the fight, the Flames rallied with four consecutive goals, erasing the Canucks’ lead. Miller contributed to Vancouver’s late push by scoring a tying goal with less than 90 seconds remaining. Despite this effort, the Canucks fell short, losing the game in overtime.
Fans and observers weighed in on the fight’s outcome, with HockeyFights voters awarding the contest a rating of 5.12. JT Miller received 53% of the votes, while Anthony Mantha earned 25%, and 23% of voters considered the fight a draw.
How This Fight Ranks Among Canucks Season Battles
Among the previously ranked top five fights of the Canucks season, this showdown sets a tense and aggressive tone for the campaign. Canucks supporters are now debating where the Miller-Mantha fight fits in their personal rankings, reflecting the emotional and physical toll the opening night confrontation had on fans and players alike.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How much does Anthony Mantha make a year?
A. The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in a new forward for the 2025-26 season. They signed Anthony Mantha with a one-year contract worth $2.5 million. His deal includes an extra $2 million if he meets certain performance goals.
Q. Are Moe Mantha and Anthony Mantha related?
A. Gary Alexander Anthony is the grandson of Jean Pronovost, who used to play in the NHL. He has no relation to Moe Mantha at all.
Q. What was Anthony Mantha’s injury?
A. A month into the season, Mantha was hurt when he was checked from behind near the net in Montreal. This injury led him to have surgery on his ACL, ending his season just as he was getting into a good rhythm.