Haunting Hurdle

Phantoms Fall to Providence in Haunted on Hamilton Matinee

November 1, 2026

Allentown, PA – Alex Steeves recorded six points with a goal and five assists as the Providence Bruins (5-6-0) overwhelmed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (4-5-1) in an 8-0 decision on Sunday afternoon at PPL Center.

Brendan Gaunce scored twice while six other Bruins found the back of the net as Providence extended its winning streak to three games. Aleksei Kolosov faced 31 shots in the setback as Lehigh Valley was shut out for the first time this season.

BOX SCORE

An afternoon of Haunted on Hamilton Halloween festivities at PPL Center saw the P-Bruins deliver a frightful result for the home side, scoring twice in the opening period before adding three goals apiece in both the second and third.

Providence entered the afternoon having scored 12 goals in its previous two games and continued its offensive surge against a Lehigh Valley squad that struggled to establish sustained pressure throughout the contest.

Ty Gallagher opened the scoring at 10:49 of the first period, carrying the puck from the wing into the high slot before snapping a shot over Kolosov to give Providence a 1-0 advantage.

Just 3:24 later, Lukas Reichel doubled the lead at 14:13. Alex Steeves sent a centering pass across the low slot, where Reichel finished at the back post. Jordan Harris also assisted on the play.

Lehigh Valley was limited to four shots in the opening frame as Providence carried a 2-0 lead and a 9-4 advantage in shots into the first intermission.

The Bruins wasted little time adding to their lead in the second period.

Just 37 seconds after the restart, Jake Schmaltz converted a 2-on-1 rush, beating Kolosov as the Phantoms goaltender sprawled to his left in an attempt to make the save.

Lehigh Valley continued to search for an offensive spark, but Providence maintained control of the pace while keeping the Phantoms from generating consistent pressure.

Gaunce made it 4-0 at 13:28, finishing a rebound from the blue paint on the power play after Ty Murchison was assessed a hooking minor.

Cross Hanas registered an unassisted tally at 18:08 to send the Bruins into the second intermission with a commanding 5-0 advantage.

The final period brought more of the same.

Steeves was awarded a penalty shot just 1:03 into the third period, but Kolosov turned aside the attempt to keep Providence at five goals.

The reprieve lasted only 33 seconds before Steeves scored at 1:36, firing a shot from the right-wing circle off the rush to further extend the Bruins’ lead to 6-0.

Gaunce added his second goal of the afternoon at 10:09, finishing a backdoor tap-in off a Steeves feed. The assist marked Steeves’ fifth point of the contest.

Dans Locmelis capped the scoring at 15:06, burying a rebound for Providence’s eighth goal. Steeves collected another assist to complete his six-point performance.

Providence finished with a 31-21 advantage in shots as the Phantoms dropped their second consecutive game and third in their last four.

Lehigh Valley now turns its attention to a three-game Canadian road trip beginning Wednesday, November 4 against the Laval Rocket. The trip continues Friday, November 6 at the Belleville Senators and Saturday, November 7 against the Hamilton Hammers.

The Phantoms return to PPL Center on Friday, November 13 when they host Hamilton for Friday the 13th Night, featuring free hot dogs for all children ages 14 and under, courtesy of Berks Foods.

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