SAN JOSE – As expected, the Sharks are sending more reinforcements to Worcester for their minor league affiliate’s playoff push.
Forwards Chris Tierney and Bryan Lerg, and defensemen Taylor Fedun and Karl Stollery were reassigned to Worcester on Sunday, one day after the conclusion of the Sharks’ regular season.
They join Barclay Goodrow, who spent most of the season in San Jose before he was sent down on Wednesday.
Worcester, in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, needs one more point to clinch a playoff appearance. It has four games remaining in the regular season.
Tierney completed his rookie year in the NHL with 21 points (6g, 15a) in 43 games, and was one of the Sharks' more productive players in March and April, with 14 points (5g, 9a) in the final 18 games since March 3.
In 27 games with Worcester, the 20-year-old posted 24 points (7g, 17a).
Lerg, Stollery and Fedun spent most of the season with Worcester before they were all recalled by San Jose in recent weeks as the NHL club dealt with numerous injuries and illnesses.
Earlier in the week, coach Todd McLellan spoke on what players like Tierney and Goodrow could accomplish in the minors.
“They can provide leadership and a strong desire and will to win, and learn how to win in the playoffs,” McLellan said. “Learn what it’s like to play in a series in pro hockey. … They should feel real confident about their game if they perform the way they can there going into the summer, because coming back as a second-year player is not an easy task, by any means.”
The Sharks (40-33-9, 89 points) missed the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2002-03, finishing in fifth place in the Pacific Division and 12th in the Western Conference.
Forward Tomas Hertl and defenseman Mirco Mueller could be possibilities to play in the World Championships for their respective countries. That tournament begins on May 1.
