Kolosov Shutout
Phantoms Hammer Hamilton 3-0
November 13, 2026
Allentown, PA – Aleksei Kolosov recorded his second shutout of the season and fourth of his career in a 15-save performance while Riley Thompson scored his first career pro goal to propel the Lehigh Valley Phantoms past the Hamilton Hammers, 3-0, on Friday night in the first of a two-game weekend homestand.
Zayde Wisdom (4th) and Zach Aston-Reese (3rd) also scored for the Phantoms while Andrew Perrott recorded an assist in his season debut and first-ever game for Lehigh Valley.
Lehigh Valley (6-7-1) equalled a team-record for fewest shots allowed in a game and limited its opponent to just 15 shots for the fifth time ever and first time since April 5, 2024 vs. Providence. The Phantoms fell one shy of the franchise record for fewest shots allowed of 14 which was accomplished twice by the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2003 and 1997.
It was a solid defensive effort overall with the Phantoms endlessly getting sticks in passing lanes and lifting sticks of Hammers’ forwards in dangerous areas to limit the chances that Kolosov saw. But when he was tested, Kolosov was solid. His quick rebound denial of Joey Larson at the side of the net in the second period might have been his best of the night, but there were others.
“I thought we stuck to the plan. We believed in the plan,” head coach John Snowden said. You could see it the whole game that we were engaged. We understood what we needed to do to be successful inside of the game. At times, we were on it, we were around it, we were getting chances, we weren’t giving up a whole lot, and then even when we got stuck…and it comes back toward us, I thought we did a good job of being settled and our bench was calm. We killed plays in the D-zone, didn’t give up a ton, and if we needed, Koli was really good tonight. I just think overall, in all the facets of the game, we checked off all the boxes.”
Wisdom’s energy and hard pursuit led to the first goal of the game. He disrupted the Hammers trying to find a breakout, picked off a soft pass, and was ready to take a quick stride after the intercept and roof a backhander to the upper-right corner at 6:41 for an impressive unassisted tally and a 1-0 lead.
Noah Powell raced past the defense on a strong connection by Garrett Wilson and was slashed on his breakaway to receive a penalty shot. But his try at 18:04 of the first period went off the blocker on the left arm of the lefty-style goaltender in the team’s first penalty shot attempt of the season.
Hamilton (5-10-2) had a pair of power plays in the second period and then another one that carried into the third. But the Phantoms penalty kill was equal to the task and continued to limit Hamilton’s chances.
Aston-Reese rifled one off the post in the third period as Hamilton stayed alive. But another quick retrieval kept the play going. Ty Murchison’s chance from the point came back over to Astron-Reese in the right circle who found space between the right arm and ribs of Kotai just moments later for a 2-0 lead at 5:30 of the third period. Perrott’s assist on the play came in his first game of the season. The former Rockford IceHogs and Hershey Bears defenseman had been recovering from an injury in the preseason.
More hard work along the boards led to the final goal with Alex Ciernik helping prevent the Hammers from finding a clear. His nudge back to Hunter McDonald opened a quick shot from left point that found the stick of Thompson trying for a deflection in the left circle. That redirect at 14:16 into the third was the first pro goal for the free-agent signee out of Ohio State and boosted Lehigh Valley’s lead to 3-0.
“I just pinned in the corner, and then kind of tried to work the puck up to Mac,” Thompson said. “I just showed my stick, he saw it, and then tipped it. I looked behind me and saw it went in the top right there. It was just a big relief, but credit goes to those guys for helping me get that, obviously.”
Snowden has been pleased with the progression of the big center’s game in his first full professional season.
“I think the big thing that I’ve noticed with him is his size and his ability to hang onto pucks with people on top of him. He does a lot of really noticeable things for us as a coach and us as a team. His ability to hold guys off and extend O-zones, or win pucks down below the dots. And when he gets into the D-zone. He’s got a really good stick, and he’s big, and he’s strong, and if he gets into anyone, it’s hard to get around him at that size. Obviously, his game’s coming. That’s his first one, and he’s deserved that. He’s earned it. I’m glad it finally came, and hopefully it snowballs for him there because he’s doing a lot of really good things.”
Kolosov’s fourth career shutout moves him into third all-time in Lehigh Valley history behind Alex Lyon (6) and Dustin Tokarski (5). Kolosov also became the first Lehigh Valley goalie to record two or more shutouts in multiple seasons.
The Phantoms are back on Saturday, November 14th against the Charlotte Checkers on Hockey is for Everyone Night.
Sunday at 6:05 is a trek up the northeast extension to face the rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the first time this year.
Friday, November 20 through Saturday, November 28 is an action-packed stretch at PPL Center with four big home games against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins.
Lehigh Valley Record Book –
Fewest Shots Allowed
15 – November 13, 2026 vs. Hamilton Kolosov Shutout)
15 – April 5, 2024 vs. Providence
15 – November 25, 2023 vs. Rochester
15 – February 11, 2023 vs. Bridgeport (Ersson Shutout)
15 – November 26, 2022 vs. Rochester
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
