Top Penguins Prospect Dazzles with Shootout Winner in AHL

If the Pittsburgh Penguins are hard to watch, their AHL affiliate should impress you. WBS was in an intense battle with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers affiliate). It was intense, especially when Phantoms' goalie, Parker Gahagen, made a risky move by throwing his stick to prevent a goal. That bold move earned Sam Poulin a penalty shot with just over five minutes left on the clock. Poulin's execution was flawless, pulling off a smooth backhand to slice WBS's deficit to 4-2.

Sam Poulin's AHL Heroics: A Glimpse into the Penguins' Bright Future

Hailing from Laval, Poulin been making noise since Pittsburgh snagged him in the first round of the 2019 draft at 21st overall. In just 30 games this year, the winger has
racked up 12 goals and 24 points in the AHL. He's only played in 3 NHL games but with the Pens getting younger, may get more of an opportunity.

Yet despite the impressive effort, WBS (29-20-7-1) couldn't seal the deal, ultimately falling short with a final score of 4-2. And to add insult to injury, the Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers affiliate) managed to snag a point in a shootout loss to the Bridgeport Islanders, leaving the Penguins tied with them for third place in the Atlantic division. With just 15 games left in the season, every point counts in the race for playoff contention. On the bright side, the win over their bitter rivals must have been a morale boost for the Phantoms ( 24-23-5-2) even if their overall season hasn't been stellar.