Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Jiri Hudler's goal early in the third period proved to be the game-winner, as the Detroit Red Wings took a decisive three- games-to-one series lead with a 2-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Mellon Arena.

Nicklas Lidstrom recorded the other score for the Red Wings, who are one win away from capturing their fourth Stanley Cup since the 1996-97 season.

Chris Osgood stopped 22-of-23 shots to earn his 13th win of the postseason.

Marian Hossa tallied for the Penguins, who lost at home for the first time in the playoffs in their 10th contest.

Marc-Andre Fleury was solid in defeat, making 28 saves.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven series returns to Detroit on Monday.

"You're excited to be in a position like this," Lidstrom admitted. "This is where you want to be, to have a chance to win the Stanley Cup at home, in the next game.

Hudler notched the go-ahead goal for the Wings 2:26 into the third period. After taking a feed from Darren Helm, he turned in the right circle and floated a backhander which caromed off the right post, then Fleury's back, and in.

Pittsburgh had a two-man advantage when Kirk Maltby and Andreas Lilja committed infractions 34 seconds apart midway through the third. Despite several quality chances and heated action in the Wings' zone, Osgood remained strong and turned aside three chances while Henrik Zetterberg repeatedly blocked passing lanes.

"On the 5-on-3 he had some great saves, some point-blank chances. He really saved the game there for us," noted Lidstrom in praise of Osgood.

Fleury kept the home team within one, making a sprawling left pad stop on Zetterberg at the left post with 4:20 left in regulation, as the Swedish winger had an open half of the net at which to shoot.

Fleury was called to the bench for an extra attacker with just over a minute to go, and a pair of Detroit tries toward the empty net went just wide. Sergei Gonchar got one last shot from 30 feet with two seconds remaining, but the chance was smothered by bodies in the slot.

"There's no choice now. We have to win to stay in," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. "We have to win one to get back here. That's what we're thinking. I don't think we're playing catch-up either. We'll get after them in Detroit and see what happens."

The Pens picked up the game's first power play after Dallas Drake was sent off for drilling Ryan Whitney from behind.

It took only 40 seconds before Gonchar fired a low shot from the right point which skipped to Hossa. He sneaked the puck around Osgood's pad and the right post for a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead 2:51 into the contest.

A little more than five minutes in, Pascal Dupuis was called for a cross-check and the Red Wings countered. With time ticking away in the advantage, Lidstrom received the puck from partner Brian Rafalski at the left point and unloaded a cannon shot which got through traffic and past Fleury for the tying goal at 7:06.

The Penguins received a pair of power-play chances with which to break the tie, but failed to convert each time.

In a scoreless second period, Pittsburgh enjoyed an 8-7 edge in shots but the Red Wings led 21-17 overall heading into the third.

"Sure, it's a cliche, but we'll take it one game at a time," noted a tense Penguins head coach Michel Therrien.