Hawks' Lang returns to Detroit with a vengeance

DETROIT -- Robert Lang's first trip back to Detroit with the Blackhawks was a smashing success.

He scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period against his former team, helping the Hawks rally for a 3-2 victory over Detroit on Friday night.

Brent Seabrook had a goal and an assist, and Patrick Sharp also scored for the Hawks, who trailed 2-0 after the first period.

Lang also had an assist, and Nikolai Khabibulin made 32 saves.

Lang signed with the Blackhawks as a free agent during the summer after playing with the Red Wings for three seasons.

"It was just fun," Lang said of his first trip to Joe Louis Arena.

He converted a power-play chance 9:19 into the third. His one-time slap shot from the top of the left circle bounced in off Hasek's shoulder and gave the Hawks a 3-2 lead.

"Just got off a good shot," Lang said. "Went in off his shoulder, got one by Dom."

It was the second time in less than a week that he has scored a big goal against his old team. He tied the game late in the third period last Saturday in a 4-3 shootout win over the Red Wings at the United Center.

Lang and Detroit coach Mike Babcock were never comfortable with one another.

"He's got a lot of ability," Babcock said. "There's never been any question about that."

Lang, whose 2 goals and assist this season have all come against the Red Wings, also didn't dwell on the relationship.

"A lot of good memories," he said. "I can't say anything bad."

Henrik Zetterberg and Kris Draper scored for Detroit, which lost in regulation for the first time this season. Dominik Hasek stopped 26 shots.

"I think we started good and had a good first 15 minutes," Zetterberg said. "But then we stopped."

The Blackhawks scored twice within 1:01 late in the second period to tie it at 2-2.

Sharp put in a loose puck from a goal-mouth scramble for a power-play goal with 2:27 left in the second, and Seabrook beat Hasek with a screened wrist shot from the point with 1:26 remaining in the period.

The Hawks had gone 10 power-play chances without a goal in its first three games, but they were 2-for-8 Friday night.

"The power play's coming. We're shooting a lot," said Blackhawks coach Denis Savard. "We had a lot of chances and came through tonight."

Two fortunate bounces gave Detroit a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Zetterberg's attempted pass across the crease deflected in off the skate of Hawks defenseman Brent Sopel 7:26 into the opening period. Draper's shot from the high slot area trickled through Khabibulin and the Blackhawks goaltender knocked the puck into the net himself as he tried to grab it off the goal line.

"After the first period, we started playing well," Lang said.