B’S OBLIGING IN DETROIT’S NEW HOUSE

DETROIT — The Bruins provided ideal, Washington Generals-type competition for the Red Wings last night, as the home team inaugurated its gorgeous Little Caesars Arena with a 5-1 breeze of a victory.

The Wings sent out a more veteran lineup than the B’s for the first hockey game played at their stateof-the-art, $862 million puck palace and it showed. The visitors gave up easy goals, and generated relatively little attack.

“I just thought they were better than us,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, his team now 3-1-0 this preseason after its first subpar showing.

“They had more jump on the puck,” said the coach. “In the previous games we created our share of turnovers and got on pucks. (Last night) we didn’t have that same jump for some reason. We were circling a lot, maybe looking for an easy game. I thought the other games we did a much better job of taking care of business.”

Several camp longshots who had played well enough maybe to remain in the running for an NHL spot probably earned a trip to Providence (AHL).

“Well, that’s training camp,” said Cassidy. “I won’t go that far yet because we want to look at it again. But there were some guys who dropped off — against a lot of speed out there and a good lineup. That’s what you’re going to face 82 times a year. That’s what the evaluation process is for.”

Austin Czarnik scored the lone B’s goal — a power play whistler from the left circle past a strong Matt Beleskey screen. The diminutive Czarnik was praised by Cassidy.

“Czarnik had another good energy game and he scored,” said Cassidy.

There was praise, too, for ex-Boston College star Ryan Fitzgerald: “I think Ryan has been very good. I thought coming in it would be tough for him to push for a job. He’s been good. He’s opened my eyes. His hockey acumen is very good, even against good players. He has a good stick, he’s smart and his pace has improved from last year. He’s been a pleasant surprise. We’ve moved him around to center, right wing, the penalty kill and the power play. For me personally, he’s a much better player than I maybe would have thought coming in.”

Cassidy also had encouraging words for rookie defenseman Rob O’Gara, who could make the team with Torey Krug out.

“(O’Gara) has been steady,” said Cassidy. “He doesn’t play the same style as Torey, so it’s not an equal replacement, but I think he’s done a good job when he’s been in there. So that’s one to watch.”

The Bruins had rookie Charlie McAvoy paired with Kevan Miller (playing on the left, his off-side). McAvoy made 3-4 errant passes in the first period, but then settled down and played better.

The B’s opened with their expected No. 2 line: David Krejci centering Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak. But in yet another game marred by too many minor penalty calls (no faceoff violations, but five slashing infractions), there was a lot of line-juggling. DeBrusk generated three good in-close chances.

“Jake got going,” said Cassidy. “He started finding some holes and popped in there. He was good — but more when he was off that line than when he was on it.”

Fine with 40

Cassidy was asked before the game if he has any problem with the idea of having a 40-year-old No. 1 defenseman in Zdeno Chara.

“I don’t, no,” said Cassidy. “Not our 40-year-old. Maybe a team up the street (would), but I don’t. Until he proves he can’t play, he’s our guy. He’s our shutdown guy. I don’t see that happening anytime soon.” …

The Bruins host the Chicago Blackhawks at the Garden tomorrow night.

Sweet Motown digs

The new arena is spectacular, a key addition in the magnificent revitalization of downtown. The locker rooms are enormous. The glassroofed concourses outside the seats are bright, spacious and space age. The Wings, who used to have to change and bus to suburban practice rinks, have a first-rate practice rink a short walk down the hall from their dressing room. The arena, with 20,000 bright red seats, feels surprisingly cozy and promises to be very loud. It features a massive video scoreboard and old-style organ.

“The design of the building was such the crowd was going to be on top of you,” said Detroit coach Jeff Blashill. “They used as steep an angle as they could under the (building) code today. They created the gondolas to help create that intimate feeling.”