Rotation produces success.

Byline: Bill Ballou

COLUMN: SHARKS NOTES

SPRINGFIELD - The Sharks continue to persevere, and recently to even prosper, despite having to play with a three-goalie rotation.

"How it works out," Worcester general manager Wayne Thomas, a goaltender in his playing days, "depends a lot on the personalities of the players involved. If they're gonna work hard, practice hard and keep a positive attitude about things, it'll be OK. If they don't, then you might have some diminishing returns. So far, we don't see any of that."

Thomas Greiss got the start last night, 24 hours after turning in a strong performance in beating Lowell, 3-1, and had another fine outing despite being the losing goalie in a 2-1 game.

After a rather shaky beginning to the season, Worcester's goaltending has come around in recent weeks.

On Dec. 22, Sharks goalies finished a stretch where they allowed three or more goals in six straight games. The team goals-against average was 3.27, the saves percentage .886, neither playoff-caliber numbers.

On Dec. 23, Nolan Schaefer stopped 27 of 28 Lowell shots in what was eventually a 2-1 shootout loss at the DCU Center, but that game marked a turnaround in the fortunes of Sharks goalies. Since then, Worcester's goaltenders are 6-5-2 with a 2.05 goals-against average and .927 saves percentage.

Greiss is 1.84, .935 in seven starts; Schaefer is 2.44, .914 in four starts and Patzold 2.95, .893 in two starts.

Worcester is one of just three AHL teams who have split their goaltending three ways on a consistent basis this season. The Sharks, Providence and San Antonio all have no goalie who has been in 20 or more games, but three goalies who have played in at least 10 games.

Plihal returns

Tomas Plihal returned to the lineup after missing two games because of illness. With Plihal back, rookie Scott Mifsud did not dress.

Otherwise, the injured list was the usual - Craig Valette, Grant Stevenson, Sean Collins, Steve Bernie and Glenn Olson. Again, defenseman Brad Staubitz skated up front as a forward.

Jonathan Tremblay also did not dress for the Sharks, and neither did veteran enforcer Mitch Fritz suit up for Springfield.

Becoming special

Worcester has been playing with a special-teams deficit for most of the season, but that gap is closing. The Sharks have 53 special-teams goals scored and 54 allowed. They have a 5-1 edge in that category in their last six games.

They were 3 for 3 killing penalties last night, but 0 for 4 on the power play. Worcester has killed 30 of 31 penalties during the last six games.

Shark Bites

Lukas Kaspar, who scored two goals in his first 36 games, has three in the last five and had an assist on Worcester's lone goal last night. ... Wachusett Regional played West Springfield High in the preliminary game here and won, 4-1. There was also a group from Southbridge High at the game. ... Legendary AHL defenseman Nick Polano, who played for the Providence Reds among other teams, was in the building on a scouting assignment. ... Worcester plays at Lowell today, making it two straight Sunday afternoon games up there. It will the third time the teams have opposed each other in a span of four games. ... The Sharks were shut out in the first period for the 17th time in their last 22 games. They have scored seven first-period goals total in those 22 games. ... Springfield captain Norm Milley, who did not play here last weekend, was back in the Falcons lineup wearing a special face mask. Milley missed a total of six games with a broken jaw. ... Worcester makes this trip west on the turnpike just once more during the regular season. The Sharks will play here again on Feb. 17. ... The crowd of 4,561 was the second-largest of the season here.

NAME: WORCESTER SHARKS

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Thomas Greiss