Apparently the fact that the Phantoms have lost their last five contests against Howies and the fact that entering Sundays play the Phantoms were 5-15 against Howies lifetime didnt mean much for the Yellow and Black.  On Sunday, when the Phantoms returned to the rink after destroying the newly named Dangleberries one week ago by the final of 11-1, the team was looking to continue the early success of the teams 25th anniversary season.  For the twenty-first time in team history, the Phantoms and Howies would lock-horns under the Cedar Rock lights and give everyone in the building a true hockey show.  With the Phantoms enjoying the added boost of speed and offense this season, the Phantoms have risen to reach another bar that is closer to the pinnacle that Howies has set for the last several years.  On Sunday, the Phantoms would get on the board first and early, as newcomer Norm Farr would tally his fourth of the season just 6:38 in (unassisted) to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead.  Roughly five minutes later, Howies would capture the equalizer to lock the contest at 1-1, as a wrist shot from the left wing would radiate through the five-hole of the Phantom goaltender.  With time running out in the opening stanza, Howies would slip into their first lead of the night, as a defensive folly by the Phantoms would result in a short-handed breakaway for Howies.  With just 35 seconds remaining in the first period, Howies would net the goal and the lead after the first 16 minutes.  Following the opening period, Howies out shot the Phantoms 10-8. 

In the second period, the Phantoms would respond and take charge.  Norm Farr, already with the first goal of the night, would manage to again be the hero for the Phantoms, as the Rivertown Fury product would net his second of the night just 2:10 into the period to deadlock the contest at 2-2.  Minutes later, the Phantoms would storm into their second lead of the night, as Norm Farr would set-up Brad Brooks with his second of the season to lift the Phantoms into a 3-2 lead.  Just 2:59 after the Brooks strike, the Phantoms would stun Howies and march into a 4-2 lead, as with 7:30 remaining in the middle stanza Tim Czycyk would set-up Trent Kik with his first of the season.  Late in the second period, Howies would begin to come back and narrow the contest to a 4-3 lead, as the Calvin Kids would net their third of the game with 3:30 remaining in the period.  The Phantoms would skate into the second intermission with a 4-3 lead.  In the second period, the Phantoms out shot Howies 12-5.  During the intermission, team captain Chris Benedict reminded his team and informed the new players what Howies did to the Phantoms during the last silver championship game.  With everyone reminded of how Howies can come back, the Phantoms set their sights on preserving the lead and capturing the game.  For Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton, the words that Benedict uttered during the intermission, was all that the veteran netminder needed to hear to remain tuned-in for the balance.  In the third period, who other than Norm Farr would give the Phantoms a huge boost yet again.  For the second consecutive game this season, the Rivertown product (assisted by Brad Brooks and Chris Benedict) would net his third of the game to secure the Hat Trick and restore the Phantoms two-goal-grip at 5-3.  With Howies down by two, they would begin to crank up the intensity and fight their way back into the game. The Howies pressure would pay off, as the Calvin Kids would climb to within one goal with 7:43 remaining, as the Phantoms would yield another breakaway to a highly skilled team.  With Howies down by one, they would continue to throw everything and anything at the Phantoms.  With the clock becoming a burden for Howies, they would be aided by the second of two Phantom penalties in the third period.  Brad Zehr would be ticketed on a delay of game call, after the Phantom defensemen would launch the puck into the netting deep inside the Phantom zone.  With Howies on the hunt for the equalizer, the Phantoms would be tested for not only on the penalty kill, but also for the balance of the game.  The Phantom defense and offense would play excellent and kill off the Howies extra-man-band.  In the final minutes, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would perform absolutely acrobatically astounding in the Phantom goal, shutting the door and throwing away the key.  Despite Howies pulling their netminder for an extra attacker, the Phantom crew would fend off their archrivals and skate to a 5-4 victory.  For the Phantoms, this win against Howies marks only the sixth win in the past 21 games against Howies and only the second win in regulation against the former Calvin College group.  Moreover, the four goals surrendered by the Phantoms marks the least amount of strikes that the Phantoms have surrendered in any game against Howies in the franchise history.  In the third period, as mentioned, Howies threw everything at the Phantoms as they out shot the Yellow and Black 15-5 during the final 16 minutes.  On the game, Howies out shot the Phantoms 30-25.  On the Nautys penalty minute clock, the Phantoms were ticketed with two minors for four minutes, while Howies was inflected with a lone minor for two minutes.  The Phantoms will return to Cedar Rock on Sunday, May 3rd to tangle with the Turkeys.  Game time is set for 3:00pm.