Riding the wave of the longest winning streak in West Michigan Phantom-Cedar Rock History to start a season, the league leading West Michigan Phantoms were able to tally another victory on the season to improve to a perfect 4-0. The Phantoms, which were again led by the youth movement combination of Brad Brooks and Norm Farr, were able to fend off a constant parade of penalties during the second period and secure a pair of goals in the final period to skate to a 7-5 victory against the Dangleberries. The victory marks the second straight win against the Dangleberries this season. While the Phantoms would again see the vast array of penalties, both teams would combine to create a busy evening for the special team units on either club. A total of 29 penalty minutes would be assessed during the 48 contest, with the Phantoms receiving the bulk of the minutes at 16. Just 4:57 into the contest, the Phantoms Gordie Anderson would kick-off the sin-bin parade, as the veteran Phantom offensemen would be sentenced on a slashing infraction. The Dangleberries would waste just 34 seconds before their power play unit would capitalize, as the second-placed club would get on the board first at 1-0. The Phantoms would respond 81 seconds later, as Brad Brooks would light the lamp (assisted by Chris Benedict and Norm Farr) to even the contest at 1-1. With just under four minutes remaining in the initial period, Brad Brooks would again net a light a lamp-lighter, as the Rivertown Sports referee and Fury Forward would lift the Phantoms into their first lead of the night at 2-1 (assisted by Norm Farr). However, the Dangleberries would not go silent before the horn. With 2:34 remaining in the period, the Dangleberries would strike with a goal of their own to skate into the first intermission tied 2-2.
The Phantoms held the shot advantage during the opening period against the Dangleberries, outshooting them 9-4. In the second period, an almost mirror image of the first period would take place. Just 1:28 into the period, the Phantoms Gordie Anderson would again be banished on a hooking infraction. Before the Dangleberries could kick their power play unit into high gear, the Phantoms Nate Tyler would be sentenced with a roughing call, a mere 33 seconds after the Anderson penalty. With the Dangleberries now presented a 2-man advantage for 1:27, they would climb into a perfect opportunity to restore their lead. The Phantom luck would continue to go sour; as yet another Phantom penalty would be assessed against the yellow shirts, as Scott Vandonkelaar would be banished with a delay of game call just 30 seconds following the Tyler roughing penalty. With the Phantom penalty box now at standing room only, the Dangleberries would have a 2-man advantage for nearly 2:30. With such a huge obstacle standing in their way, the Phantoms would not be able to contain the extra-man-Dangleberry-band, as the Berry Bunch would net their second power play goal of the game and their first on a 4-2 advantage to climb into a 3-2 lead. Despite the gallant efforts of the Phantom penalty killing unit only surrendering a single goal against during the extended Dangleberry power play, just 2 seconds after the Phantoms climbed back to full streak, the Dangleberries would strike with an even-strength goal to climb into a two-goal lead at 4-2. With the Phantoms now behind the eight-ball, the team would begin to step it up. Norm Farr would trim the Dangleberry lead to one, as the Rivertown product would strike just 2:10 following the Dangleberry 2-goal-lift, to bring the Phantoms to within one with 10:57 remaining in the second period (unassisted). As the second period clock would continue to tick down, the Phantoms Brad Brooks would net his first-ever Phantom hat-trick with 3:35 remaining in the period (unassisted) to even the duel at 4-4. The Phantoms would not be done, 2:15 following the Brooks strike, line mate Norm Farr would put the Phantoms into a 5-4 lead (assisted by Scott Vandonkelaar), as the Phantoms climbed into their second lead of the night. With 31 seconds remaining in the period, the Phantoms Casey Rosenberg and a Dangleberry player would begin to shout Mothers Day pleasantries towards each other deep inside the Phantom zone. With tensions boiling, the Dangleberry player would drop the gloves and throw a punch towards the former Mona Shores varsity stand-out. The momentum of the punch would throw Rosenberg off balance and to the ground, where he quickly regained control and came back against the Dangleberry player who was frustrated with the Phantoms sudden surge back into the lead. With all of the events happening just inches away from the Phantom goal crease, the Phantom netminder had a seat that only pay-per-view could offer. Once law and order was restored, the on-rink officials had the task of sorting out the penalties. For the Phantoms, Casey Rosenberg would receive just a two minute minor for roughing. For the Dangleberries, their forward (who threw the punch) received a five-minute major for fighting and a game misconduct and another Dangleberry player would receive an unsportsmanlike call for third-man-in. During the second period, the Phantoms out shot the Dangleberries 9-8 and held a 5-3 lead. In the third period, the Phantoms would net their first powerplay goal of the game, capitalizing on the powerplay they received during the altercations late in to the second period. Phantom captain Chris Benedict would capture his second point of the night, as he would strike to give the Phantoms a 6-3 lead just 70 seconds into the third period. The Dangleberries would charge back into contention with a pair of goals 2:02 apart to narrow the Phantom lead to 6-5. However, Phantom captain Chris Benedict would capture his second goal of the contest roughly four minutes after the fifth Dangleberry goal, to ruin the Dangleberries efforts to achieve the equalizer. The Phantoms would go on to capture the victory 7-5 and improved to a perfect 4-0 on the season. On the game, the Phantoms out shot the Dangleberries 28-17. The Phantoms did their best to make their team sponsor proud, as on the Nautys Penalty Minute board the yellow and black were ticketed on 8 minors for 16 minutes. For the Dangleberries, they were sentenced on four minors for eight minutes and a single major for five minutes totaling 13 minutes. The Phantoms will return to action on May 17th to tangle with arch-rival Howies.
