Seeking A Home-Ice Advantage

The Detroit Red Wings moved into state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena at the start of last season, but the team’s play at home continued to be in a state of decay. “Yeah, we need to win, but certainly over the course of the last number of years - not just this year - we haven’t won enough at home,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told DetroitRedWings.com. “I don’t think we’ve had enough times in this building where we’ve tilted the ice. It’s not necessarily easy to do, but I don’t think we’ve had enough times where we’ve done it. “We understand the urgency of that. It’s really hard to go on runs on the road. It’s much easier to go on a run at home. and we have to do a better job of that. We have to make sure when the game is there to be had either way we have to find a way to make a play to win the game. We have to do everything we can to do a better job of getting the fan’s butts in the seats by giving them more to cheer about.… They took a step in that direction Sunday with a 4-2 victory over the Dallas Stars, just Detroit’s second win of the NHL season and first at home. In the midst of a stretch that will see them play eight of 10 at home, the Wings are just 17-19-10 all-time in their new rink. “We all know we need to be better at home,… Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi said. “The fans were good tonight, we got them into it. I think if we keep doing that, if we show a better home record, we’ll be better on the road.… Big Tony Tallies For the first time since Oct. 7, Detroit right-winger Anthony Mantha scored, and he did it by doing what the coaching staff has pestered him to do, going to the front of the net. Mantha also offered a net-front presence on Jonathan Ericsson’s game winner, screening Dallas goalie Ben Bishop as the Detroit went ahead 3-1 for the team’s first two-goal lead of the season. “I was having a pretty good game, a lot of O-zone time so I knew the chances were going to come,… Mantha said. “It’s a matter of time before it actually went in.… Detroit’s goal-scoring leader last season with 24, Mantha was back on the top line Sunday after his indifferent play led to his banishment from the power play and drop to the fourth line. “I thought Anthony did a great job,… Blashill said. “We put him up on that line and I thought he did a real good job. “He’s a guy who prides himself in being an offensive player and it’s hard to have tons of confidence if you don’t produce. I don’t like them to think about production. I’d like them to think about their process and their play. The reality is, when you score and when you produce, you gain confidence in yourself. That’s just the reality. Especially for him to score I thought was a real important thing.… Bernier’s First Goaltender Jonathan Bernier recorded his first win as a Wing. “It’s always good to get the first one out of the way,… Bernier said. “I’ve got to give credit to the guys. They played a real solid game, especially in the third. We didn’t sit back, we just kept pushing. “I felt a little rusty in the first period. I thought my rebound control wasn’t so great. As the game went on, the second and third, I felt more comfortable. It felt pretty good. Sometimes you forget how good it feels to win. I think everyone is going to sleep well tonight.… Blashill anticipates that Bernier will push No. 1 goalie Jimmy Howard for playing time. “I have tons of confidence in him,… Blashill said. “I think he’s a really good goalie. I thought the first couple of games, especially the second one in Boston, was totally not his fault at all. So, I’ve got lots of belief in him.… Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer