Phantoms Files

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John Snowden’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms are 3-2- 1 through the first six games of their 2026-27 schedule. The team sits one point behind the Hershey Bears and Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division standings.

Lehigh Valley carries a three-game winning streak into a pivotal weekend at PPL Center, but it will do so without much of the core that helped build it.

From a Slow Start to a Strong Road Trip

The Phantoms went 0-2-1 in their first three games, all at home. Hartford spoiled opening night (October 3) with a 5-2 verdict. Subsequently, Lehigh Valley then dropped both games of a weekend series against Cleveland, one of them in overtime.

The first road trip changed the tone. In a rematch in Hartford on October 14, goaltender Carson Bjarnason stopped 24 of 25 shots in a 4-1 victory, hinting at the upside thdrate Flyers envisioned when they drafted Bjarnason 51st overall in 2023.

Thereafter, the Phantoms played two games in Springfield. Both matches went Lehigh Valley’s way. On October 16, the Phantoms rolled to a 6-3 win. Jett Luchanko scored his first professional goal. Hunter McDonald and Cole Knuble each scoring for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Alex Bump caught fire offensively. He added two goals in this game. The next night, Bump scored the game-tying goal in the second period and the overtime winner just 15 seconds into the extra session of a 3-2 victory. He finished the stretch with seven
goals in five games, a run that earned him AHL Player of the Week honors.

A Wave of Callups

Just as the Phantoms hit a groove, the Philadelphia Flyers experienced a slew injuries. With the exception of Philadelphia signing veteran free agent Michael Bunting to a one-year contract, the Phantoms have leaned heavily on internal replacements.

Veteran Jack Studnicka got the first crack among the forwards. He went up, and veteran Carl Grundstrom reported to Allentown. Unfortunately, Studnicka struggled with Philly. He subsequently returned to the Phantoms.

Philadelphia continues to deal with injuries both on the blueline (Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York) and up front (Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster most notably). The Flyers have relied heavily on younger callup players: Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, Bump, Cole Knuble and Jacob Gaucher. Jett Luchanko, however, remains in Allentown for now.

Phantoms: Next Men Up

The Phantoms now have to lean on players who have seen limited ice time so far. Zayde Wisdom is expected to take on a bigger role this weekend, and forwards Noah Powell, Alex Ciernik and Riley Thompson should see more action as well.

The blue line will need to step up, too. Cooper Wylie and Helge Grans are in line for larger roles. Rookie Spencer Gill and veteran Cam Dineen will carry more responsibility. Dineen already has been a factor with his shot from the point, scoring twice in his previous three games.

Meanwhile, the goaltending tandem of Aleksei Kolosov and Bjarnason also will need to be sharp with a less familiar group in
front of them.

Undoubtedly, this weekend will test Lehigh Valley’s depth. The Phantoms host the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. ET and the Belleville Senators on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET.