DETROIT – When asked about Niklas Kronwall's ability to administer game-changing hits, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock made an interesting comparison.

He chose the Stars' Brenden Morrow.

"[Kronwall] is kind of like a predator," Babcock said. "Morrow is like that, too. They're trying to hunt you down."

The Stars' Antti Miettinen was the latest to suffer a bone-rattling check from Kronwall in the open ice. Kronwall unloaded on Miettinen near the Stars' blue line midway through the second period of Game 1 on Thursday, flattening him.

Even more than his two assists in the Red Wings' 4-1 win – which give him 10 in 11 playoff games – the hit on Miettinen and two others defined Kronwall's performance. They also sent a message.

"They have to keep their heads up all the time," Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said.

Said Kronwall: "That's something we need to keep doing if we want to compete with this team."

Kronwall leads Detroit with 29 hits, not exactly a Morrow-like total. But Kronwall and Brad Stuart represent a large part of the Red Wings' physical dimension on defense.

Because Detroit plays with the puck so much, the hitting opportunities are limited. But Kronwall takes advantage when given the chance.

"Sometimes you stay back and let it come to you," he said.

In the playoffs, he's administered a handful of hits like the one that felled Miettinen.

"I think hitting is all about timing," Kronwall said. "Look at Morrow. He's not the biggest guy out there, either. But he's got great timing and is always able to step up and have some big hits."

When Kronwall was selected 29th in the 2000 NHL draft, he was projected by Detroit as a big hitter. People looked at Kronwall's 5-11, 160-pound frame and wondered who would get the worst of any impact.

He's now 6-0 and 189 pounds, not exactly huge by defensemen standards, but he's a big hitter.

While he has been troubled by injuries throughout his career, none have been related to his hitting. Once, in Los Angeles, he severely damaged his knee when he hit a rut in the ice – during warm-ups.

Other injuries have been just as weird.

Stars forward Joel Lundqvist, a Swede like Kronwall, sidelined Kronwall for last year's playoffs with a fractured sacrum, near the tailbone.

"I know I can't change my style because of some freak injuries," Kronwall said.