Brad Stuart scored his fourth goal of the season, and along with Jonathan Ericsson had a team-high four hits in an 8-2 win over the Kings. (Photo by Dave Reginek)

There isn’t much that occurs during a game that boils Brad Stuart’s blood quite like an honest to goodness cheap shot by an opposing player.

So it’s easy to see why Stuart was obviously disturbed with Los Angeles center Jarret Stoll late in the third period of the Red Wings’ 8-2 thrashing of the Kings Saturday at Joe Louis Arena.

With the Wings already throttling the Kings by four-goals, Stuart pushed the puck into the offensive zone and uncorked a shot just as he crossed the blue line near the LA bench. A split-second later Stuart was picking himself off the ice after a blind-side hit courtesy of Stoll, which sent the Wings’ defenseman banging into the half wall.

“In my opinion it was a little late,” said Stuart, after the game.

During the following TV timeout, Stuart skated over to referee Dean Morton to voice is displeasure with the hit and the fact that nothing was called. “I could have been wrong, 6-2 or 7-2 game,” Stuart said, “I got a little bit angry about it, but it happens.”

As hockey justice would have it, Stuart got the last laugh though when he capped the scoring with a slap shot from the right point.

“Kind of a meaningless goal, but it's nice to score, I guess,” he said. “The game got out of reach at that point; we're just trying to kill the clock off. It's nice to get them, I guess.”

With two more goals by Wings’ defensemen Saturday – Niklas Kronwall also scored – Detroit has a league-best 24 goals scored by members of its defensive unit.

“It's something we don't talk about or think about,” said Stuart, who has four goals and two assists this season. “I take more pride being in the top 10 in goals against and the penalty kill,. That's what we're focused on more.”