Bump Scores, Phantoms Fall in OT

Gaucher Nets Goal in 200th Game with Lehigh Valley

October 10, 2026

Allentown, PA – Alex Bump scored a power-play goal in his return to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after beginning the season with the Philadelphia Flyers, but the Cleveland Monsters rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to defeat the Phantoms 5-4 in overtime on Saturday night at PPL Center.

Luca Pinelli scored the winner just 30 seconds into overtime after Owen Sillinger won the opening faceoff and Cleveland controlled possession. Pinelli fired home the deciding goal from the right-wing circle before Lehigh Valley could gain possession in the extra session.

Jacob Gaucher scored in his 200th game with the Phantoms, becoming just the 14th player in franchise history to reach that milestone. Gaucher has now scored three goals in Lehigh Valley’s first two games of the season after recording both tallies in last Saturday’s opener against Hartford.

Nolan Foote and Cam Dineen also scored for Lehigh Valley (0-1-1), which earned its first standings point of the season. Steven Lorentz scored a hat trick for Cleveland (2-1-0), while Pinelli delivered the overtime winner.

BOX SCORE

The Phantoms appeared to seize control late in the second period with three unanswered goals in less than six minutes, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead entering the third.

But penalties and missed opportunities proved costly in the final frame.

“I just think we took too many penalties,” head coach John Snowden said. “It was just one of those periods that was kind of a clunky period because of the calls and the way that it was being officiated at that time, and it just kind of took the rhythm out of the game.”

Lehigh Valley was assessed six minor penalties in the contest and couldn’t capitalize on a lengthy two-man advantage in the third period.

“We got a full minute and 10 second five-on-three, and we got to generate a better look on that,” Snowden said. “We got to be more direct to the net and work through that.”

The Phantoms opened the scoring at 12:06 of the first period when Foote connected for his first goal of the season from an improbable angle, with Hunter McDonald and Oliver Bonk providing the assists.

Lorentz answered for Cleveland at 16:00, sending the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1.

The second period initially belonged to the Monsters. Lorentz struck again at 13:07 after a Lehigh Valley defensive-zone turnover, giving Cleveland a 2-1 advantage following two unsuccessful Phantoms power plays.

But the Orange and Black responded in a hurry.

Just 64 seconds later, Jett Luchanko and Cole Knuble worked the puck into the low slot, where Gaucher was waiting to bury the tying goal at 14:11.

Dineen followed at 17:31, unleashing a blast from the left point for his first goal in a Phantoms uniform and a 3-2 Lehigh Valley lead.

Then, after Knuble’s hard work drew another Cleveland penalty, Bump delivered a power-play strike at 19:26 to give the Phantoms a 4-2 advantage heading into the second intermission.

It was Bump’s first game back with Lehigh Valley after being assigned by Philadelphia earlier in the week. The 22-year-old forward played three games for the Flyers to begin the season and recorded 26 points in 36 AHL games with the Phantoms last year.

“Just compete, play the right way,” Bump said of his approach upon returning to Lehigh Valley. “I think if I do that, other stuff will come. The offense will come. My skill will come out more, and just try and help this team win in any way I can.”

Cleveland chipped away in the third period. Josh Eernisse scored at 9:49 to pull the Monsters within one, and Lorentz helped complete the comeback when he capitalized on the power play to tie the game at 4-4 with 13:28 elapsed.

The Phantoms had opportunities of their own, including a five-on-three power play lasting more than a minute, but couldn’t find the late, go-ahead goal.

Pinelli ended the contest just 30 seconds into overtime, completing Cleveland’s comeback.

Carson Bjarnason made 26 saves for Lehigh Valley, while Pheonix Copley stopped 26 shots for Cleveland.

Snowden pointed to the Phantoms’ work on the forecheck as an area of success despite the result.

“All of our five-on-five goals started off a forecheck,” Snowden said. “We got to believe in forechecking.”

Lehigh Valley and Cleveland meet again on Sunday, October 11 at 1:05 p.m. at PPL Center, concluding the two-game weekend series as a part of the first-ever Bluey Day.