Defenseman Niklas Kronwall gets a kick out of delivering crushing open-ice hits but enjoys contributing offensively, too.

With three straight multiple-point games recently, Kronwall is providing some much needed offense from the blue line for a team whose top defense pairing is off to a slow start offensively. With five goals and eight assists, Kronwall is third on the team in scoring, behind Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, heading into Friday's home game against the Florida Panthers.

"He's got that golden touch right now," Brad Stuart, Kronwall's defense partner, said. "He's getting pucks through, he's shooting it well. Anytime you can do that, you create opportunities for yourself."

Kronwall, whose point total has increased every season in the NHL, has learned to pick his spots better.

"My first few years, you're too eager, you jumped in the play maybe when it wasn't there," Kronwall said. "That way you turned the puck over and here they come on a two-on-one instead. You have to learn when to jump in and when not to."

Kronwall is shooting only slightly more than he did last season (1.78 shots per game vs. 1.51 in 2008-09), but it's enough to suit coach Mike Babcock, who said his top defense pair, Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, needs to shoot more.

STARS 3, RED WINGS 1: The power play was the difference as Dallas scored twice on the man-advantage while the Wings went 0-for-4. Detroit registered only eight shots on goal during eight minutes on the power play, much to coach Mike Babcock's dismay. The Wings passed on too many shooting opportunities, looking for the perfect play, and it cost them.

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