The West Michigan Phantoms earned their second consecutive victory on Sunday and their third straight victory against the Puck-Ups, as the yellow shirts went the distance in the overtime shoot-out to secure a 4-3 victory. Ironically enough, this marked the third straight game against the Puck-Ups that a shoot-out would be needed to decide the verdict. The Phantoms would get on the board 3:50 into the contest, as Chuck McCloud would set-up Brad Zehr on the Phantom offensive line and the Muskegon native would waste no time registering his first goal as an official Phantom forward this season. The offense for the balance of the period would be silenced as both netminders would stand strong in their respective goals. Late in the period, the Phantom's Chuck McCloud would be ticketed with a double minor for high sticking. The Phantom penalty kill would fend off the infraction during the balance of the first period, but with 2:12 left in the minor in the second, the Puck-Ups would light the lamp on a shot from the right-slot to tie the contest at 1-1. Less than 20 seconds later, Brad Zehr would strike with his second of the night, on a play in which Zehr would watch the puck bounce off his face and to the rink. With the puck in the crease, Zehr would land his blade on the puck to bury the biscuit for a 2-1 Phantom lead. With 7:11 remaining in the middle stanza, the Phantom's Jason Schemmel would be banished with a high-sticking minor. The Puck-Ups would again be presented an opportunity to attain the equalizer. With the Phantom's ill-decision to fend off the penalty with two forwards and a single defensemen, the Puck-Ups would make the Phantoms pay with their second powerplay goal of the night to again tie the game at 2-2. Following the second period, both team's were deadlocked at 2-2 and the shots on goal were even at 17-17. In the third period, the Phantoms would take their third lead of the night with 5:58 remaining in the frame. Justin Calkins would set-up Keith Mooreman in front of the Puck-Up goal and the former Viper unleashed a howitzer that completed blinded the Puck-Up netminder and gave the Phantoms a 3-2 edge. Late in the period, the Phantoms would suffer a defensive breakdown and despite Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton making the initial save on a 3-1 inside the Phantom zone, he would not be able to glove the puck on the rebound and the Puck-Ups would tie the contest 3-3 with just 2:36 remaining in regulation. As mentioned, the previous two encounters with the Puck-Ups were prolonged to the shoot-out, this game would make that three. The Puck-Ups would take the first shot in the shoot-out and the Phantom's would be saved by the goal post. Jason Schemmel would register a five-hole goal on the Phantom's first attempt to put the Phantoms in the lead 1-0. The Puck-Ups would be unable to answer on their second shot, as Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would use his goal stick to deny the duke on the Puck-Up forward. Brad Zehr would head over the boards for a chance to win-it for the Phantoms, but the glove of the Puck-Up goaltender would deny Brad his game-winning goal. The Puck-Ups would have one more opportunity to continue the duel, but the Puck-Up would fire the shot over the top of the Phantom goal and the Phantoms would win the shoot-out 1-0 and capture the victory by the final of 4-3. Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton raised his undefeated streak to 15 straight games in the shoot-out. The Phantoms played without the services of Tim Czycyk. Trent Kik was activated from the team's sub list to fill in the void left by Czycyk and despite not registering a point, the combination of Trent and Jason Schemmel was a huge line for the Phantoms. On the game, the Puck-Ups outshot the Phantoms 28-26. On the Nauty's Penalty Minute Board, the Phantoms were ticketed with two minors for six minutes, while the Puck-Ups were called on a singleton for two minutes. This game will go down as the franchise's 200th victory. There will be more information concerning this achievement in the coming days. The Phantoms will return to the friendly clines and enviros of Cedar Rock Sports Plex on Sunday, for a 5:00pm duel with the Hawks. West Michigan Phantom Hockey...We Are The Phantoms!
