The West Michigan Phantoms opened up their first play-off series in the near 10-Year history of the franchise on Sunday, but fell short in a very tight defensive game against DeBoer by the final of 2-0.  The game would feature numerous moments of glory for several Phantom members, but none greater than Keith Moorman in the final seconds of the contest who came to the aid of his Phantom team-mates and managed to unleash a furious round of haymakers to DeBoers Andrew Pavolsky.  The fight which would occur officially with just one second remaining in the contest, was a result of a DeBoer player cross-checking the Phantoms Casey Rosenberg from behind in front of the DeBoer goal.  Within seconds, the Phantoms Brad Zehr was on the scene and quickly returned the favor to the back of the DeBoer player which sent all members of both squads into an all-out clash in front of the cage, including several members from both teams who flew off their respective benches to join the Sunday-Afternoon-Waltz.  During the altercation which brought visions of the Phantoms Fighting Days back to the team, the Phantoms own Scarecrow stole the spotlight and went to town on the opposition and completely waylaid and haymakered his advisory in a no-contest decision in which the referees allowed the Phantom and DeBoer members to go the distance. The altercation between the Phantoms and DeBoer was mounting during the entire game, as both teams displayed a great effort and highly competitive nature during the first game of this best of three series.  DeBoer would manage to climb on the scoresheet first, as a 1-on-1 break into the Phantom zone would yield a DeBoer shot just to the left of Phantom defenseman Casey Rosenberg and on net.  The puck to the pads of Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would pin-ball off the leg pads and through the five-hole to just cross the goal-line for a 1-0 DeBoer lead.  Despite a Phantom man-advantage late in the opening period, the Phantoms offense would not be able to connect on any chances and the Phantoms would enter the first intermission trailing DeBoer 1-0.  In the second period, the great defensive battle between these two teams would continue and so did the penalties, as a combined ten minutes in penalty minutes would be dished out yielding wide-open ice and chances on both ends.  For the Phantoms, the team would not be able to connect on point-blank opportunities and several empty-net chances during the middle frame and would again manage to hear the periods horn sound without a single tally.  For DeBoer, they too would experience several great chances of their own in the middle stanza, however, Phantom netminder Kevin Wootton would keep up his A-Game going strong and deny the black-shirts on any-and-all second period chances.  In the third period, the defensive play would continue as the top-seeded DeBoer and the fourth place Phantoms would try to get more offense, only to be denied on the creasemasters at each end.  Late in the period, while exerting pressure, DeBoer would manage to complete a wrap-around behind the Phantom cage and over-power a Phantom defenseman to slip the puck behind Wootton in the Phantom goal to increase their lead to two goals at 2-0.  Following the goal with 3:43 remaining in regulation, the Phantoms Nate Tyler and DeBoers Andrew Gohlke would become entangled behind the Phantom goal and add to the games high penalty minute totals.  Both players would be sentenced on a two minute minor for body-checking, while the Phantoms Nate Tyler picking up an added two minutes for slashing.  The physical game would continue to grow as with 26 seconds remaining in the game, DeBoer would be banished on a tripping infraction to give the Phantoms a late third period power play in an effort to kill the goose-egg.  However, despite the extra-man-Phantom-Band in addition to the Phantoms lifting their goaltender for yet another skater, the Phantoms would not be able to strike and as the final seconds appeared on the board, a brawl deep inside the DeBoer zone would ultimately end the contest in a furious finish.  As mentioned in the opening, the Phantoms Keith Moorman and DeBoers Shay Gallagher would each be ticketed with a five-minute-major for fighting and a game misconduct.  In addition, DeBoer would tally two additional minors for Crosschecking and Unsportsmanlike during the buzzer sounding finish, including two minutes sentenced against the DeBoer netminder.  On the game, a total of 40 penalty minutes would be dished out collectively with 21 minutes towards DeBoer and 19 minutes towards the Phantoms.  The Phantoms were led by Keith Moorman with 7 penalty minutes and a Game Misconduct, followed by Nate Tyler with six minutes in penalties, Gordie Anderson with four minutes and Trent Kik with two minutes.  The 2-0 victory by DeBoer marks just the first game this season that the Phantoms have been shut-out, but the two goals scored by DeBoer marks the fewest the Phantoms have surrendered in four games against DeBoer this season.  The opening game of this best-of-three game series would be handed to DeBoer who takes a 1-0 series lead in the series.  Game Two will return to Walker Ice & Fitness on Sunday, April 22^nd at 9:30pm.  If Game #1 was any sign as to how this series will progress, we encourage those available to set your calendars for the next clash between these two growing foes.