Phantoms Fall to Penguins 6-5 Despite Offensive Outburst

Matt Dumba's hat trick powers Wilkes-Barre/Scranton past Lehigh Valley in high-scoring affair

Feb. 6, 2026 at 9:55pm

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The Lehigh Valley Phantoms scored five goals, including a late tally to make it a one-goal game, but it wasn't enough as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeated their rivals 6-5 on Friday night. Matt Dumba led the way for the Penguins with a hat trick, while Joel Blomqvist made 36 saves in the win.

Why it matters

This loss is a tough one for the Phantoms, who were looking to gain ground in the tight AHL standings. The team showed fight and resilience by scoring five goals, but ultimately couldn't overcome Dumba's heroics and the strong goaltending of Blomqvist. The game also featured the Phantoms wearing special Olympic-themed jerseys during warmups, adding an extra layer of excitement for the fans.

The details

The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Dumba and Ville Koivunen. The Phantoms responded in the second with tallies from Maxence Guenette and Tomasino to tie it, but Dumba scored twice more to put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton back in front. Lehigh Valley made it a one-goal game late in the third on a power-play goal from Lane Pederson, but Dumba completed his hat trick to seal the win for the Penguins.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 7, 2026.
  • The Penguins opened the scoring just 1:14 into the first period.
  • Lehigh Valley scored a shorthanded goal in the first period at the 15:34 mark.
  • The Phantoms scored a power-play goal midway through the third period to make it 6-4.

The players

Matt Dumba

A veteran NHL player who recorded a hat trick for the Penguins, scoring three of their six goals in the game.

Joel Blomqvist

The Penguins' goaltender who made 36 saves to earn the win.

Phil Tomasino

A former Penguins player who scored a goal for the Phantoms in the second period.

Carson Bjarnason

The Phantoms' starting goaltender who faced 23 shots in the loss.

Danny Briere

The Flyers' general manager who was in attendance to watch the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This high-scoring affair showcased the offensive firepower of both teams, but ultimately the Penguins' veteran leadership and strong goaltending proved to be the difference. The Phantoms will look to bounce back and gain ground in the tight AHL standings, while the Flyers' brass in attendance will be keeping a close eye on the development of their top prospects.