A combination of good offense and tough defense turned out to be more than enough last Friday night for the Kettle Moraine/Mukwonago/Oconomowoc boys hockey team.

Playing at the Naga-Waukee Ice Arena against Greendale, the Lasers fell behind after the first period by a 1-0 score and then bounced back big in the final two periods, eventually scoring an easy 5-1 victory.

The win moved the KM record to 3-0 on the season. That's the best start since the 2007-08 season.

KM/MHS/OHS got itself into some early trouble with penalties. Greendale scored its lone goal of the game when it took advantage of a 5-on-3 situation after a pair of KM penalties. Greendale (3-2, 0-2) led after the first period, 1-0, despite getting outshot by an 8-1 margin.

"I like our physical style of play and our overall toughness," said KM coach John Brymer. "But we have to learn to stay out of the box. You can't be giving teams a two-man advantage and expect to win. We dominated in the first period even though we were down. We knew that if we played good hockey, we could do well in the final two periods. Greendale is an improved team. So this was a good night for us."

After falling behind 1-0 after the opening period, the KM offense exploded for three goals in the second stanza and two more in the final period.

The winners displayed some excellent scoring balance as five different players scored the goals. Scoring for the Lasers were junior defender Andy Behling, sophomore forward Allan Moutvic, senior forward Greg Simandl, sophomore defender Connor Freeman and senior forward Jim Rice. Austin Freeman had assists on both third-period goals.

The three goals by the Lasers in the second period came in a span of just 4:10.

KM has outscored its three opponents to date by a 13-1 margin.

KM/MHS/OHS will return to the ice on Saturday, hosting De Pere at Naga-Waukee. The Lasers will host Arrowhead on Tuesday, Dec. 11.