Despite leading the team in all three categories, though, the Swamp Rabbits traded Musico for cash last week to the Mallards, who'd just lost Michalek.

``I wasn't playing much,'' said Musico, who was briefly cut by the Rabbits and signed with Reading before getting dealt back to Greenville. ``But that's part of this business, and you have to understand that. It's all about development in this league, so the guys getting paid the big bucks are going to be playing more.

``Luckily, I had a good relationship with the staff there, and we knew the situation with Steve, so they put me into a good situation here, where I can get some more games under my belt.''

Whether this weekend's back-to-back plays out, the easy-going Californian is uniquely qualified to handle either situation, learning a patient, relief-pitcher's mentality in college despite notching the first win and shutout in Penn State hockey history.

``My junior year, I didn't play much because we had guys that were (NHL) drafted and needed development,'' said Musico, who appeared in only seven games that season and 30 in a three-year college career. ``But I understood that and kept a good attitude about it. You just learn to adapt to situations and do your best.