Mangiapane opened the week with a career-high four-point effort, including his first-career hat trick, in a 6-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 17. He was held off the scoresheet in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins last Friday, but closed out the week with a pair of goals - including the game-winning tally - in a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
He added an assist in the Feb. 17 contest for six points in three games.
"Especially when you're starting out and you play those first few games in the league, I knew I had the skills to play at this level, but like most players, it's about building confidence, and going out there and showing what I could do," Mangiapane said earlier this week. "Obviously, when you get called up, you're told to dive right in and not dip your toe in the water, but for me, that was tough, for whatever reason.
"But every game I played, I felt like I was breaking out of my shell. I owe a lot to the coaching staff and to my linemates for sticking with me and picking me up along the way, too."
In 61 games this season, Mangiapane has 15 goals and 27 points. But in the past three, especially, he's been the driving force in the Flames' offence.
When he was on the ice, 5-on-5, the Flames had a 72.22% (65-25) share of the even-strength shot attempts, a 76.60% (36-11) split of the scoring chances, and a 71.43% (5-2) grade of the high-danger looks, helping the team win two of three games.
"He's not afraid to take it to the hard areas," said interim head coach Geoff Ward. "He doesn't defer and take it to the top all the time. If he sees a seam, he's going to take a puck through. You saw it (on Feb. 17) on the second goal, he takes the puck off the wall on the forecheck and he's right to the net.
"The other thing with him is, he's got poise. When he gets to the inside, he's not just throwing the puck into pads. He waits until he gets his opening and then shoots it. The poise and the fact that he wants to take the puck to the inside, to the scoring areas - but are hard to get to - that results in more opportunities for him."
