The West Michigan Phantoms endured just their second loss of the season on Sunday night, as Team Chowder exposed flaws in the Phantom defense to post a 6-4 win over the yellow shirts.  The defeat marks the second loss in nine regular season games this season for the Phantoms and marks the second loss that the Phantoms have suffered to Team Chowder this season.  Despite the Phantoms Trent Kik opening the games scoring just 30 seconds into the opening period (assisted by Matt Mead), the Phantoms would sit back and watch Team Chowder strike with three goals in the final 7:11 of the opening stanza to stage a 3-1 lead after the first 16 minutes.  The Phantoms would manage register 11 shots on goal during the opening period, but most were shot on goal from the near center rink.  Team Chowder would tally 10 strikes in the opening 16 minutes of play to net an impressive 30 percent accuracy mark on their attempts.  In the middle period, Team Chowder would again increase their lead to 4-1, as former Phantom Silver member and current Team Chowder forward Jason Devroy would complete his hat-trick just 5:58 into the period.  The Phantoms Justin Calkins would trim the Chowder lead to 4-2, as the Wine Expert would receive a set-up dish from Phantom defenseman Brian Doctor roughly four minutes following the Devroy hat-trick tally to bring the Phantoms within two at 4-2.  However, that two goal window would expand less than a minute later as Team Chowder would again capitalize on a very weak Phantom defense to push the score to 5-2.  Late in the second period, Team Chowder would continue their face-slapping of the Phantoms, as they would mount their sixth goal of the contest with just 23 seconds remaining in the second period.  The Phantoms again managed to out shoot  Team Chowder 12-8 in that period, but again the Phantoms lacked scoring chances on their shots on goal.  In the third period, the Phantoms would correct their ill-advised defensive lapses by making some changes.  Those chances would correct the issues and give the Phantoms some life in the third.  Chuck McCloud would begin the Phantom attempt of a rally just 6:50 into the third period, as the former Grandville Gator would receive a Nate Tyler pass to bring the Phantoms to within three at 6-3.  Trent Kik would net his second of the contest with just 1:22 remaining in regulation (assisted by Justin Calkins) to narrow the score to a 6-4 Chowder lead.  However, the Phantoms just could not muster enough offense to overcome six goals by Team Chowder on the evening and would again suffer a defeat to their now co-league leaders.   On the game, the Phantoms out shot Team Chowder 34-28.  For the second time this season, the Phantoms and their opponent registered zero penalties on the 96KBPS.com Internet Radios Crime Watch.  The game itself marked the third time in now nine games this season that the Phantoms have not been issued a single penalty.  The team played without the services of Darren Skuse, who was ruled a healthy scratch for the third straight game.  Darren Skuse is expected to return to the Phantom line-up for the regular season finale against the Sharkies.  The defeat lowers the Phantoms overall record to 7-2.  The team is now tied with Team Chowder for the top spot in the league.  The Phantoms will close out the regular season on Sunday, November  15^th at 6:00pm against the Sharkies.  Nate Tyler is again expected to be inserted into the line-up as Dan Craveling will be a scratch for the season finale.  Following next weekends game against the Sharkies, the Phantoms and the rest of the bronze-league teams will enter a four week-four game play-off schedule to determine the 2009 Fall Bronze Champion.


STATS:

Phantom Goals:
First Period- 18
Second Period- 75
Third Period- 13,18

Phantom Assists:
12, 11, 9, 75

Shots on Goal:
Phantoms 34
Team Chowder 28

Penalties:
Phantoms 0 for 0 minutes
Team Chowder 0 for 0 minutes

Goaltender Save %:
Phantoms 22 for 28: .786
Team Chowder 30 for 34: . 882