Penguins

Minor league report: Penguins lose; Taylor Gauthier sets Nailers win record

Seth Rorabaugh
By Seth Rorabaugh
2 Min Read March 4, 2026 | 3 mins ago
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Forward Aidan McDonough had two goals and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-4 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (36-14-4-2) also got two assists from forward Rugter McGroarty, while forwards Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Tanner Howe each contributed a goal.

Goaltender Joel Blomqvist’s record fell to 10-5-3 after he made 17 saves on 21 shots.

Highlights:

Penguins forward Tristan Broz was scratched due to an undisclosed injury that has been labeled as “week to week,” according to the team’s radio broadcast.

The Penguins’ next game is a road contest against the Syracuse Crunch on Friday, 7 p.m.


Taylor Gauthier became the winningest goaltender in Wheeling Nailers history during a 4-3 road shootout victory against the Rapid City Rush at The Monument in Rapid City, S.D.

Gauthier made 30 saves on 33 shots in regulation and overtime, then did not allow a goal in the shootout. He improved his career mark with the Nailers to 61-39-9. He broke the record established by Andy Franck (60-41-9).

His record for the season was boosted to 11-6-5.

Forward Matthew Quercia scored the lone goal in the shootout while forward Matty De St. Phalle had a regulation goal and two assists for Wheeling (32-15-3-3).

Highlights:

The Nailers’ next game is a road contest against the Rush on Friday, 9:05 p.m.

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About the Writers

Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.

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