CHICAGO – Robert Lang scored a goal in the third period and Chris Osgood had 23 saves to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Kirk Maltby and Mikael Samuelsson also scored goals for the Red Wings, who are off to their best start in franchise history at 11-1.

Detroit is off to the best start in the NHL since the Pittsburgh Penguins started off the 1994-95 season with a 11-0-1 record. The Red Wings remained undefeated on the road with a 6-0 record.

Lang scored an unassisted goal for Detroit from the right circle with 15:21 left in the third period to break a 2-2 tie.

The Hawks missed a chance to tie the game at 3 with under two minutes to play when Matthew Barnaby’s shot went off the left post.

Henrik Zetterberg added an empty net goal with 27 seconds left to complete the scoring.

After becoming the first NHL goalie to win 10 games in October on Thursday night, Manny Legace got his first night off of the season. Osgood was tested early when Curtis Brown passed through the Detroit defense for a shot on goal that Osgood saved.

Tyler Arnason and Kyle Calder scored goals for the Hawks, who are off to a 3-8 start.

It was the second of three consecutive games between the teams. Detroit beat the Blackhawks 5-2 on Thursday in Detroit and they play again in Detroit on Tuesday. Notes: Detroit was without D Jason Woolley (groin). … Chicago was without C Tuomo Ruutu (back). … The three game series versus the Red Wings is the first time that the Blackhawks will play the same opponent in three consecutive regular season games since Nov. 12-15 1953 when the Blackhawks played three straight games against Montreal. … The Blackhawks had their first sellout of the season.

AP-ES-10-29-05 2315EDT