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CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Sebastian Aho (25) defends Cleveland Monsters center Jack Williams (29) during the second period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on February 27, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms were no match for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this week, or season for that matter. WBS finishes up with a 10-0-1-1 record (with OT and SO losses split apart from one another) to dominate the Flyers’ AHL team, wrapped up with two big victories over the last week. WBSPenguins.com provides the details on the games:
Overall, the AHL Penguins are on a six-game winning streak. There’s only a few games remaining in the AHL’s 72-game regular season.
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The Charlotte Checkers are on a late-season winning streak of their own (five games currently) but they’ve been unable to make up any ground since WBS continues to win. The magic number for Wilkes to clinch second place and the first round playoff bye that comes with it sits at four.
All systems go for down on the farm, Wilkes has two fairly competitive games coming up this week when they hit the road to take on Bridgeport tomorrow before returning home for Saturday’s game against Cleveland (who sits in third place in the North Division). Players like Avery Hayes and now goalie Sergei Murashov have been recalled to Pittsburgh to further test the depth of the organization, sending ECHL stalwart goalie Taylor Gauthier up to the AHL for the first time this season.
Speaking of that, let’s shift gears to Wheeling Weekly for the rare look down a level to the ECHL. 2025 third round draft pick Gabriel D’Aigle has joined the Nailers for the rest of the season.
With Gauthier off to Wilkes and fellow goalie Maxim Pavlenko injured, the depth chart got very stark in Wheeling. It’s fortuitous timing that D’Aigle’s QMJHL season is over to give the Nailers an option. Here’s the lineup they used, rookie Emil Pieniniemi has been shuttling back between the AHL and ECHL as the team works on his development by giving him opportunities to play, but he and D’Aigle are the only two NHL contracts down with the Wheel right now.
Pittsburgh the option to assign D’Aigle next year back to Quebec to play juniors, but since he’s already played four junior seasons the Penguins could also have the young netminder turn pro in 2026-27 and play for Wheeling and/or Wilkes-Barre. D’Aigle made some history for his age with the Nailers, and he’ll certainly hope to be joining Tomas Vokoun in the future as a success story of development.
Unfortunately the debut story didn’t have the happiest of endings, D’Aigle surrendered three goals on 19 shots and Wheeling lost 4-2 after an ENG against. Gotta start somewhere.
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