PREVIEW: Phantoms at Belleville, Game 12
Canadian Roadie Continues at Belleville Senators
TONIGHT – The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-5-1) look to keep the momentum going as they continue their three-game Canadian road swing in Belleville, Ontario against the Belleville Senators (5-5-2), AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators.
Bolstered by the recent returns of Alex Bump and Hunter McDonald, the Phantoms picked up an exciting 5-4 overtime win at the Laval Rocket on Wednesday culminated by Zayde Wisdom’s winning strike in the extra session.
Aleksei Kolosov shutout the B-Sens at PPL Center, 2-0, with a 16-save blank sheet. Tonight’s game is the conclusion of the season series and this week marks the team’s lone excursion north of the border.
Fans can browse rosters and Media Materials for tonight’s game at www.phantomshockey.com/media/media-materials/
LAST TIME – This was the response the Phantoms were looking for. Playing with speed, urgency, high compete-level, and determination, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms rallied from behind three times to take an exciting overtime win at the first-place Laval Rocket, 5-4, on Wednesday night in the opener of the team’s three-game Canadian road-swing. Zayde Wisdom (2nd) blasted home his first career overtime goal while Alex Bump (8th) extended his goal streak to a Lehigh Valley record six games in a row with his power-play crank in the third that gave Lehigh Valley its first lead of the night. Spencer Gill scored from the point in the third period for his first career pro goal while Zach Aston-Reese (2nd) and Noah Powell (2nd) both converted on their chances in the second period pulling the Phantoms to even both times. Filip Mesar paced the Rocket attack with a pair of goals in the see-swa game that turned into a vertiable trackmeet up and down the ice at times. Carson Bjarnason (25/29) was outstanding with a number of challenging saves. When Laval (8-3-1) pushed back and was especially strong in the second period, Bjarnason came through with 18 saves in the middle frame.
CONGRATS GAUCH! – We are pleased to welcome the newest member of Phan Nation, the super-adorable Beckam Gaucher. And congratulations to the Gaucher Family!
TRANSACTIONS –
Oct 29, 2026 – Add Jacob Gaucher (F) – Loaned to Phantoms by PHI
Oct 31, 2026 – Add Hunter McDonald (D) – Loaned to Phantoms by PHI
Nov 2, 2026 – Add Alex Bump (F) – Loaned to Phantoms by PHI
Nov 2, 2026 – Del Cooper Wylie (D) – Loaned to Reading Royals (ECHL)
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Jacob Gaucher – 99 Points with Phantoms
Zack Aston-Reese – 198 Pro Points
Zayde Wisdom – 98 Pro Points
Cam Dineen – 394 AHL Games
John Snowden – 98 Pro Coaching Wins
BUMP IN THE NIGHT – The Philadelphia Flyers have returned forward Alex Bump to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Bump, 22 has played in eight games with the Flyers this season and also played in 17 games with Philadelphia last year scoring 5-4-9 while also registering two goals in six postseason games. He had a massive eight-day stretch with the Phantoms in October in which he racked up a five-game goal streak with seven goals. Bump extended his goal streak to six games on Wednesday at Laval to tie an all-time Lehigh Valley record also held byu Danick Martel and Petr Straka while pulling to within one of the Phantoms franchise all-time record held by Mike Maneluk and Shawn McCosh of the Philadelphia Phantoms.
Lehigh Valley Record Book
Goal Streak
Alex Bump – 6 (Oct 14 2026 – Nov 4 2026)
Danick Martel – 6 (Oct 27, 2017 – Nov 8, 2017)
Petr Straka – 6 (Nov 11, 2025 – Nov 22, 2015)
Phantoms Franchise Record Book
Goal Streak
Mike Maneluk – 7 (Feb 21, 2000 – Mar 4, 2000)
Shawn McCosh – 7 (Nov 24, 1996 – Dec 11, 1996)
MAC ATTACK – The Philadelphia Flyers have returned defenseman Hunter McDonald to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. McDonald played in five games with the Flyers since his recall two weeks ago, getting in two fights, laying out several big hits, and generally playing hard-nosed defense in the longest NHL stint of his career. The Fairport, NY native had only played in one career NHL game at the end of last season prior to his most recent opportunity. McDonald, 24, is in his third full season of professional hockey. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound defenseman has played in eight games with the Phantoms this season scoring 1-2-3. The Flyers’ sixth-round selection in 2022 out of Northeastern University has played 154 career AHL games recording 5-25-30.
WORDS OF WISDOM – Forward Zayde Wisdom has gone from the youngest player in Phantoms franchise history in 2021 to a veteran leader and frequent alternate captain while scoring 42-51-93 in his career with the Orange and Black. Wisdom scored his first career overtime goal on Wednesday at the Laval Rocket to finish an exciting road victory.
Now in his sixth season with the team, Wisdom moved into third all-time in games played with the Phantoms passing Chris Conner on Sunday when we suited up for his 266th career game with Lehigh Valley. Wisdom now trails only Greg Carey (277) and Garrett Wilson (345). Not only can Wisdom catch Greg Carey for second all-time in Lehigh Valley history but he also has an opportunity this season to become just the seventh player in franchise history to reach 300 games with the Phantoms.
GAMES – Lehigh Valley
1. GARRETT WILSON 345
2. Greg Carey 277
3. ZAYDE WISDOM 268
4. Chris Conner 265
5. Colin McDonald 248
FOR WHOM THE BELLEVILLE TOLLS – Belleville (5-5-2) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over Toronto on Sunday after falling 4-1 to Hartford on Friday. The Senators were also shut out 2-0 by Aleksei Kolosov and the Phantoms on October 25. Kasper Halttunen (9-3-12) erupted for his second hat trick of the season against Toronto with all three goals coming on the power play. The 21-year-old Finnish winger, a San Jose second-rounder in 2023, arrived in the blockbuster William Eklund trade last summer and is tied for second in the AHL in goals. Belleville has lost former Phantom Phil Tomasino (4-7-11) who was recalled to Ottawa on October 30. Former Phantoms defenseman Christian Kyrou (0-7-7) scored 10-24-34 in 55 games for Lehigh Valley last season. Former Carolina first-rounder Ryan Suzuki (3-6-9), younger brother of Montreal captain Nick Suzuki, is in his first season with Belleville. Ottawa 2021 first-round selection Tyler Boucher (3-3-6) is the son of former Phantoms and Flyers goalie Brian Boucher. The 23-year-old has battled injuries throughout his development, playing just 115 AHL games over his first three seasons. Belleville head coach Andrew Campbell, a former AHL captain with Manchester, Toronto and Tucson, is in his first full season behind the Senators bench after taking over on an interim basis last December.
SCORING LEADERS
Lehigh Valley
56 Jacob Gaucher 5-4-9
20 Alex Bump 8-1-9
77 Jett Luchanko 1-5-6
44 Cam Dineen 2-4-6
23 Jack Studnicka 3-3-6
42 Spencer Gill 1-5-6
Rochester
12 Kasper Halttunen 9-3-12
x – 53 Phil Tomasino 4-7-11
13 Xavier Bourgault 3-6-9
6 Ryan Suzuki 3-6-9
10 Philippe Daoust 1-6-7
15 Chrstian Kyrou 0-7-7
SPECIAL TEAMS
LV PP 15.8% (25th) / PK 78.4% (21st)
LAV PP 27.3% (3rd) / PK 74.0% (28th)
ON THE AIR – Catch the Phantoms, home and away, on the Phantoms 365 app and on Real Oldies 1470-AM, WSAN and also on FloHockey.TV.
Also available via the Listen Live link at the Phantoms website and on your Smart Speaker system at “Play Phantoms Radio 24-7.”
Bob Rotruck has the play-by-play action all season long.
Service Electric Network is the exclusive home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, providing extensive coverage of all home games. Steve Degler and Steven Swavely call the action from the booth, while Kristi Fulkerson and Dan Fremuth host pregame, intermissions, and postgame coverage, beginning with “Front and Center” live from Chickie’s and Pete’s at PPL Center.
NEXT UP –
The Phantoms conclude their three-game Canadian road swing on Saturday, November 7 at the Hamilton Hammers, AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.
The Phantoms return to PPL Center for their special Friday the 13th promotion against the Hamilton Hammers and are also at home on Saturday, November 14th against the Charlotte Checkers on Hockey is for Everyone Night.
Belleville Senators
Hamilton Hammers
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
