The Phantoms returned to action following the Labor Day holiday on Sunday and tangled with an opponent that was a true surprise to the Yellow and Black. Despite the mid-week schedule showing the Phantoms would take on the winless K-Ogerta at 8:00pm, upon the team's arrival at the Cornfield in Cedar the team was given the notice that they would not be the Phantom opponent during the night, but that rather the Puck-Ups would entertain the Phantoms. With the Phantoms having lost the previous two meetings against the Puck-Ups dating back to last season, the Phantoms would have their work cutout for them. That work would begin even before the puck dropped to begin the contest. As the Phantoms took to the rink for the practice skate, they did so without any black biscuits to shoot around. The team's puck-boy Darren Skuse was a injured scratch for the Phantoms during the contest and no player even considered that fact prior to entering the rink. Despite the lack the pucks for practice, the team was ready to return to the rink after a several week break. As the referee dropped the puck to begin the game, the Puck-Ups began giving everything they had towards the Phantoms. Deep pressure in the Phantom zone would pay off just 50 seconds in the contest as the Puck-Ups would surprise the Phantoms on a quick goal to secure a 1-0 lead. The quick snakebite from the opponents would not last long as Justin Calkins would bring the Phantoms back into contention with a goal of his own just 1:40 later to even the contest at 1-1. The Phantoms would seek and attain their first lead of the night exactly five minutes later as Tim Czycyk would setup Brett Smith with his strike to the back of the night to put the Phantoms on top at 2-1. Despite the Puck-Ups out shooting the Phantoms 10-5 in the opening period, the Phantoms would enter the intermission with a 2-1 lead. In the second period, both team's would have their chances. Yet, the back and forth and fast-paced game would see only the goaltenders shine in the middle stanza as the period would end still tied with the Phantoms on top 2-1. The Men of Phantom nation were able to help narrow the shots on goal in the second period, out shooting the Puck-Ups 9-5 to trim the game totals to a 15-14 advantage for the Puck-Ups. In the third period, the defensive clash that created a very exciting and thrilling first two periods would go by the wayside. In the span of 2:27 the Phantoms would score two goals to jump into a 4-1 lead. The first strike would be netted by Tim Czycyk (assisted by Jason Schemmel and Chuck McCloud), while the second goal to complete the short attack would be recorded by Justin Calkins (unassisted). With the Phantoms in a commanding 4-1 lead, it would appear the Phantoms were en route to an easy victory. But, in dealing with the bronze Phantoms this and last season, appearances change quick. The Puck-Ups would get a boost roughly three minutes after the Phantom's fourth goal, as the lead would be trimmed to a pair of goals. The Puck-Ups would not be done. With just 5:01 remaining in the period, the Puck-Ups would continue their comeback hopes alive as the team would capitalize on a shot from the slot that eluded a wide mass of players in front of the Phantom net to narrow the game to a 4-3 lead for the Phantoms. The comeback would become complete 1:41 later as the Puck-Ups would manage to skate circles in the Phantom zone and capture their largest goal of the night, a goal would complete the hard fought fight and even the contest at 4-4. With the momentum favoring the Puck-Ups to the fullest, the Phantoms were now the ones nervous and wondering what happened. Despite the Puck-Ups out shooting the Phantoms 14-7 in the third period alone, the Phantoms would fend off the maroon-gang in the remaining minutes of the period to force the game to the overtime shootout. This game would mark the first shootout of the season for the Phantoms. With the goaltenders standing guard in their respective zones, the Puck-Ups would decide to shoot first. The Phantom netminder would deny the opening shot of the shoot-out. The Phantom's Justin Calkins would be sent over the boards and he too would come up empty. The Puck-ups would suffer the same fate on their second shot of the contest to remain goose-egged on the board. Tim Vanoverloop would rocket a Phantom puck through the five-hole of the Puck-Ups netminder on the Phantom's second shot of the shoot-out to climb into a 1-0 lead after two rounds. With the pressure on the Puck-Ups, they would have another opportunity to try to beat the Phantom's master of the crease. That shot would again be denied by the goaltending antics of the Phantom's netminder Kevin Wootton. The Phantom's would send Tim Czycyk over the boards and Tim would come up huge as the Blue Vortex player would score over the glove of the netminder to secure the Phantom's a 2-0 win in the shootout and giving the Phantoms a 6-4 victory on the game. Overall, Phantoms were out shot by the Puck-Ups 29-21. On the Nauty's Penalty Minute Board, the Phantoms would be ticketed for three minors for six minutes, while the Puck-Ups would be inflicted with just a single trip to the sin-bin for two minutes. The victory by the Phantoms improves the team's record to 4-3 on the season. The Phantoms will return to action on Sunday to continue their drive up the Bronze standings.