Lazers Move Into Tie for 2nd With 7-3 Victory Over Wings

Although there is no need to break out the champagne, there is reason for the Lazers to celebrate.

In turning in one of their finest performances at the Forum, the Lazers defeated the Wichita Wings, 7-3, before a crowd of 4,043, to move into a second-place tie with the Tacoma Stars.

It was also the Lazers second straight victory at the Forum, marking only the second time they have won consecutive games here.

Leading, 5-1, late in the third period, it appeared the Lazers (17-17) were in for a close game when the Wings’ Mickey Thomas scored on a power play and Erik Rasmussen on a penalty-kick.

That’s when Wichita Coach Terry Nicholl pulled goalkeeper Matt Kennedy, and the Lazers’ Tom Hayes and Thompson Usiyan scored empty-net goals to help secure the victory.

“The key this time was our man-down defense,” Lazer Coach Keith Tozer said. “Now we look like we’re a team.”

The Lazers, who killed 6 of 7 power plays, still have the league’s second-worst home record, but Tozer insists that the second half of the season will take care of that.

“I’ve always said the second half would be our best, that it would take a while for everyone to jell together,” Tozer said.

If that’s the case, the Lazers should make it to postseason play for the first time in three seasons.

The Lazers had a balanced and aggressive defense that turned away the Wings’ shots with regularity.

The Lazers were outshot, 33-24, but maintained their composure, thanks also to goalkeeper David Brcic’s 12 saves.

Said Nicholl: “We left our offense at home. I’m very disappointed.”

Both teams began the game slowly, with the Wings getting off the better shots early and opening a 1-0 lead when Brcic mishandled a shot by Mark Kevans 2:26 into the second period.

Chris Chueden made a steal and evened things up with his 23rd goal a minute later, which seemed to give the Lazers momentum as they got stronger in all aspects of the game as it progressed.

Before the end of the half, the Lazers killed two Wichita power plays and opened a 3-1 lead on goals by Chris Whyte and ex-Wing Chico Borja, who has scored at least one point in his last seven games. Borja, the Wings’ leading scorer last season, finished with one goal and an assist.

The Lazers play the Minnesota Strikers Saturday in Minnesota.