If there is one position the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] have plenty of depth at, it's the goaltending position. And one of their prospects set a franchise record on Friday. Taylor Gauthier - starting goaltender for the Wheeling Nailers, Pittsburgh's ECHL affiliate - led the Nailers to a 4-0 win on Friday night against the Worcester Railers, which brings Wheeling's number to clinch a berth in the Kelly Cup playoffs down to one. With the win, Gauthier, 25, broke Wheeling's all-time franchise record for wins (67) and shutouts (10). Wheeling will play Worcester again on Saturday, getting a chance to clinch with a win. Gauthier began the 2025-26 season on injured reserve, but ever since his return to the lineup, he's been lights-out. In 29 games this season, he is 17-7-5 with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. So far, this is Gauthier's third-consecutive ECHL season of boasting a save percentage of at least .923 - and he posted that save percentage in 2023-24, when he won ECHL Goaltender of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 209-pound netminder signed a one-year, NHL entry-level contract with the Penguins on Mar. 7 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-sign-goaltender-to-entry-level-contract], which runs through the end of the 2025-26 season. The move shored up goaltending depth for the Penguins should they qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Crosby, Malkin Out; Penguins Call On McGroarty Ahead Of Saturday Matchup Against Dallas Stars [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/8cae7ca9-294b-4722-852e-114cc713e79c.jpeg] Crosby, Malkin Out; Penguins Call On McGroarty Ahead Of Saturday Matchup Against Dallas Stars The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin against the Dallas Stars and turn to their young guns for reinforcement. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/crosby-malkin-out-penguins-call-on-mcgroarty-ahead-of-saturday-matchup-against-dallas-stars] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
