Kolosov Activates Shutout Mode

Aston-Reese, Studnicka Score as Phantoms Earn First Home Win

October 25, 2026

Allentown, PA – Aleksei Kolosov stopped all 16 shots he faced and Jack Studnicka celebrated his 400th professional game with a goal as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (4-3-1) blanked the Belleville Senators 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at PPL Center to earn their first home victory of the season.

Zach Aston-Reese (1^st) opened the scoring with his first goal as a Phantom, while Studnicka (2^nd) provided third-period insurance. Rookie Ilya Pautov assisted on both tallies as Kolosov recorded his third career North American professional shutout.

BOX SCORE

On an afternoon filled with comics, costumes, and pop culture fun for the third annual award-winning Phan Con celebration, the Phantoms put together a defensive performance comparable to a superhero’s force field.

Lehigh Valley limited Belleville to just five shots through two periods and neutralized all four Senators power plays, bouncing back from Saturday’s loss to Syracuse with a disciplined effort from start to finish.

The afternoon also featured a pair of milestones unlocked, with Helge Grans appearing in his 300th AHL game and Studnicka marking his 400th professional appearance with the 77th goal of his career.

The Phantoms established their attack early, generating chances from Cam Dineen, Ty Murchison, and Carl Grundström while keeping Belleville pinned in its defensive end. Lehigh Valley registered the game’s first seven shots and held the Senators without a shot through the opening 13 minutes.

Aston-Reese turned that pressure into an opening strike at 8:03 of the first period. Taking a feed from Pautov, the veteran forward scored from a sharp angle low in the right face-off circle to put Lehigh Valley ahead 1-0.

The tally marked the seventh time in eight games this season that the Phantoms scored first.

Belleville had opportunities to respond on special teams, but Lehigh Valley’s penalty kill offered no cheat codes. The Senators entered the afternoon with the AHL’s fifth-ranked power play, yet were held shotless on their first advantage and came up empty on three opportunities in the opening frame.

The Phantoms carried their one-goal lead into the first intermission with an 8-3 advantage in shots.

Scoring chances remained scarce during a tightly contested second period, but Lehigh Valley continued to dictate play. The Phantoms generated eight more shots while allowing just two, establishing a new season low for shots surrendered in a period after allowing three in the opening frame.

Belleville goaltender Kevin Reidler, making his season debut, kept the Senators within reach as Lehigh Valley was unable to capitalize on its second-period power plays.

Despite a 16-5 advantage in shots through 40 minutes, the Phantoms entered the final frame with just a one-goal cushion.

Studnicka delivered a power-up.

After Reidler gloved a Riley Thompson attempt earlier in the period, Studnicka broke through at 8:34, scoring his second goal of the season to double the lead.

Pautov collected his second assist of the afternoon on the tally, while Studnicka finished with a team-leading five shots.

Belleville, completing a three-game weekend, mounted its strongest push in the final period with 11 shots. But Kolosov remained the final boss the Senators couldn’t beat, turning aside three shots during a late Belleville power play as the Phantoms repeatedly cleared the zone to protect their advantage.

Lehigh Valley finished with a 23-16 edge in shots and went a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill while claiming its first victory at PPL Center this season.

The Phantoms travel to Rochester on Friday, October 30 for a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Americans. Lehigh Valley returns to PPL Center on Sunday, November 1 at 3:05 p.m. against the Providence Bruins for Haunted on Hamilton, featuring pumpkin painting, trick-or-treating on the concourse, and a Popcorn Bucket Giveaway presented by Gruber.

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