By Mike Thornton
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA- Jim Campbell and Tony Voce combined for six points, but the Phantoms fell short in the shootout to the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday night at the Wachovia Spectrum, 5-4. Campbell paced all scorers with two goals.

The first period generated six goals, with four for Philadelphia. It was the Monarchs, however, that jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to Brad Smyth just 1:51 in. The Phantoms answered with a pair from Campbell, the first only 23 seconds after Smyth put his team on the board.

A set of power play goals put Philadelphia up 4-2 before the break. David Printz scored at 11:51, followed by Voce with just twenty-one seconds remaining in the period. Printz fired a blue line bomb, while Voce redirected a Campbell feed from the top of the crease.

It was a different story in the second, as the Phantoms struggled to generate any offense. They were held to just one shot on goal. The Monarchs had 16 and scored twice. Jeff Tambellini tallied his 23rd at 8:26. With just 44 seconds left in the second period, Richard Petiot finished a goalmouth scramble.

The Phantoms turned the tables in the third, outgunning the Monarchs 15-1, but could not beat Adam Hauser. The overtime did not settle matters, sending the Phantoms to their second shootout in three nights. Unfortunately it carried the same result.

Voce was the only Phantom to light the lamp in the extra-extra, while the visitors tallied three times for the 5-4 final.

Jaime Storr finished the game with 25 saves, while Hauser had 26.

When asked about the shootout, Head Coach John Stevens remarked, "You're pretty excited when you get two points, but it's a terrible way to lose. We give up a point tonight to a team outside our division and I guess it's the only solace in it."

The shootout loss marks the seventh of the season for the Phantoms, tied with Omaha and Hershey for the league lead. Philadelphia's overall record dips to 20-27-1-7.