Phantoms Fall in Weekend Finale

Studnicka and Bump Score

October 11, 2026

Allentown, PA – Jack Studnicka and Alex Bump each recorded a goal and an assist, but the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (0-2-1) dropped a 5-2 decision to the Cleveland Monsters (3-1-0) on Sunday afternoon at PPL Center.

The Phantoms twice held one-goal leads but couldn’t hold off a Cleveland comeback in the finale of the two-game weekend series. Lehigh Valley also came tantalizingly close on several other occasions, getting the puck behind Monsters goaltender Evan Gardner three different times without being able to finish the play.

Cleveland outshot Lehigh Valley 38-26, including 12-6 in the third period, while the Phantoms were whistled for five minor penalties.

“I think we put ourselves in the same situation as last night, and parade to the penalty box again,” head coach John Snowden said. “So self-inflicted stuff. We’re learning a lot right now.”

BOX SCORE

Studnicka wasted little time getting Lehigh Valley started, scoring his first goal as a Phantom just 1:15 into the contest. Jackson Edward and Bump assisted on the early strike for a 1-0 advantage.

Guillaume Richard answered for Cleveland at 13:53, sending the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1.

Bump put the Orange and Black back in front at 5:24 of the second period, converting a feed from Studnicka and burying a puck from downtown for his second goal in as many games since returning from the Philadelphia Flyers.

But the Monsters answered with two goals late in the middle frame. Josh Eernisse tied the game at 16:17 before Steven Lorentz scored on the power play with just three seconds remaining in the period to give Cleveland its first lead at 3-2.

Lehigh Valley had its chances to respond, but Gardner and the Monsters kept the Phantoms off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

“We had some pretty Grade-A looks at it,” Snowden said. “We just got to find a way to go in.”

Luca Pinelli extended Cleveland’s advantage to 4-2 at 15:55 of the third period, and Mikael Pyyhtia added an empty-net goal at 18:55 for the 5-2 final.

Aleksei Kolosov made 33 saves for Lehigh Valley while Gardner stopped 24 shots for Cleveland.

Studnicka, who joined the Phantoms this season, acknowledged the challenges of a young group still learning to play together.

“It just comes down to executing our game plan,” Studnicka said. “We had five days to kind of put it into place, and from top to bottom, it just wasn’t good enough.”

The Phantoms will now head out on their first road trip of the season, beginning Wednesday, October 14 at Hartford before continuing to Springfield for two games to conclude the three-game swing.

Snowden believes the change of scenery could be beneficial for his young team.

“I think it is a good opportunity to get on the bus, get on the road, get in a different environment, get a different setting,” Snowden said. “I think it probably comes at a pretty good time for us.”

Lehigh Valley returns to PPL Center on Saturday, October 24 against the Syracuse Crunch and Sunday, October 25 against the Belleville Senators for PhanCon, including a postgame skate with the players presented by NJM Insurance.

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