Detroit Red Wings: Anthony Mantha Dazzles in Home Opener

Anthony Mantha scored four times to pace the Detroit Red Wings to victory over the Dallas Stars in the 2019-20 home opener.

The Detroit Red Wings are off to a much more enjoyable start to the 2019-20 season than they were just a year ago.  Last season the Wings started the year winless in the first six contests.  It appears Steve Yzerman and head coach Jeff Blashill have this team inspired to start the new year.

The Wings are off to an excellent 2-0 start in back-to-back hockey games in as many nights with wins over Nashville on the road and a home win over Dallas.  The Stars rolled into Detroit with hopes of spoiling the party, but Anthony Mantha had a different agenda.

Detroit had a fun red carpet pre-game ceremony.  The players all entered the rink on the red carpet with fans flooding both sides hoping to get a handshake, high-five, maybe an autograph or a selfie.  After that, inside of a sold-out ruckus Little Caesars Arena the players were all introduced prior to the puck being dropped.

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It would later be a night to remember for Anthony Mantha.  Mantha scored a goal in the season opener Saturday night, also adding a couple of assists.  Last night he added four more points scoring 4 times for the Detroit Red Wings en route to a 4-3 victory over the Stars.

Mantha recorded a natural hat-trick after the Wings found themselves down 2-0 in the first period.  Mantha scored three consecutive goals allowing the fans to litter the ice with hats.  It was Mantha’s second career hat trick, but he wasn’t quite finished.

Dallas would tie the score early in the third period at three, allowing for some drama to occur later.  With just 0:53 left in the third, Mantha scored a beautiful one-timer from the inner part of the right circle.

After Dallas iced the puck, head coach Jeff Blashill directed a linesman that he’d prefer the faceoff in the left circle.  Dylan Larkin was able to win the draw back to defenseman Filip Hronek. Mantha cruised from the left-wing boards to the middle of the ice, where he’d eventually receive a pass from Hronek in which he deposited into the back of the goal for a Wings victory.

Jonathan Bernier received the nod with Howard having played the night before.  Bernier made a massive left pad save with just over one second remaining in the third period to preserve the win.  It was Radulov for the Stars jamming away to no avail as the whistle sounded.

The top line continues to dominate for the Detroit Red Wings.  Through the first two games of the season, Anthony Mantha has recorded 5 goals totaling 7 points.  Dylan Larkin has notched 4 points, and Tyler Bertuzzi has recorded 2 goals and 5 points.

The Wings offense has started the season without a 30 goal scorer in Andreas Athanasiou.  AA was a game-time decision in both games but didn’t play in either.  With an excellent chance to play Tuesday night when the Wings host the Anaheim Ducks, the offense will receive yet another boost.

The Wings were only able to convert 1 of 8 on the power-play, so the difference in score really should have been more than one goal.  The Wings outshot the Stars to the tune of 33-22 on the evening.

Notes: Trevor Daley left in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return.  Frans Nielsen was also hit in the face with a puck late in the third period and also didn’t return.