The game of hockey lasts three periods and those teams who achieve a victory are normally the ones who play the game for the full three periods.  On Sunday, the Phantoms returned to the cornfield in Cedar and tangled with their archrival Howies.  Entering Sundays contest, the Phantoms and Howies have split the two previous meetings this season, with Howies capturing the most recent game by the final of 8-3.  The Phantoms were looking for a big performance by the entire squad and two important points in the silver division.  Despite a very close contest, it appeared that the Phantoms were on their way to a victory, but with just 76 seconds remaining in the game, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton misplayed the puck and those two important points fizzled away dashing the hopes of the other nine dressed Phantoms.  The game got off to a quick start, as Howies would climb into a 1-0 lead just 43 seconds into the contest.  Roughly four minutes later, Sean Wert would bring the Phantoms back (assisted by Norm Farr), as Wert slid a puck past the Howies netminder to even the contest at 1-1.  Three minutes later, the Phantoms would receive a go-ahead-tally from captain Chris Benedict (unassisted), as the East Kentwood Assistant Coach would net his first of the game to lift to the Phantoms into a 2-1 lead.  However, less than a minute later, Howies would come right back, as the defending Silver champions would deadlock the duel at 2-2.  Following the opening period, both teams would be tied 2-2, with Howies outshooting the Phantoms 15-7.  In the second period, Howies would again strike early, as they would net their go-ahead-goal just 54 seconds into the period to climb into a 3-2 lead.  The Phantoms would answer back with 10:44 remaining in the period, as Chris Benedict would set up Norm Farr for his first of the night to bring the Phantoms back into a tie at 3-3.  Later in the second period, the Phantom offensive would strike with two goals in the span 1:58 to climb into a 5-3 lead.  Sean Wert would begin the charge with an unassisted strike and Brad Brooks would complete the two-goal launch (assisted by Chris Benedict) 1:58 later.  However, Howies would manage to trim the Phantom lead to 5-4 with just 1:08 remaining, as both teams would enter the second intermission with the Phantoms up 5-4.  In the second period, Howies out shot the Phantoms 12-11.  In the third period, the offense from both teams would explode, as 10 goals would be scored in the final frame.  Howies would begin the scoring explosion just 1:35 into the period to tie the contest at 5-5.  Brad Brooks would answer back for the Phantoms 1:33 later, as the Phantom rookie would receive a set-up feed from Sean Wert to restore the Phantom lead at 6-5.  Howies would continue to go head-to-head with the Phantoms, as the Calvin Kids would return the red-light show 1:51 later, as Howies again tied the contest at 6-6.  As the Phantoms displayed in the second period, the offensive crew would again manage to net a pair of goals in a short span.  Sean Wert and Chris Benedict would each tally strikes in the span of 2:07 to lift the Phantoms into an 8-6 lead with just 6:16 remaining.  However, Howies would continue to keep pace, as they would net two goals in the span of 1:21 to tie the game at 8-8.  With just 1:16 remaining in the contest, Howies would manage to capitalize on a huge Wootton error in front of the goal. A light shot from the circle would manage to slide on the rink and beat Wootton on the five-hole, giving Howies their first lead since the early stages of the second period at 9-8.  With the Phantom goaltender lifted for the extra attacker, Howies would sink two empty net goals to take claim to an 11-8 victory.  In the third period, Howies outshot the Phantoms 13-11 and on the game, Howies outshot the Phantoms 40-29.  All of the penalties called during the contest were whistled against the Phantoms, who collected three minors for six minutes.  The defeat lowers the Phantom mark to 5-3 on the season.  The team played without the services of Casey Rosenberg (work), Scott Vandonkelaar (surgery) and Brad Zehr (work).  The team will return to action on Sunday, June 21st at 5:00pm to seek revenge against the Turkeys.