PORTLAND — The only real difference between Saturday’s regular season game and a playoff game is that this one could end in a tie.

That’s what Worcester and the Portland Pirates had to settle for in front of 5,002 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Worcester goaltender Curtis Sanford and Portland’s Rastislav Stana engaged in a tremendous goaltending duel in the 1-1 game. Though fans might have loved to watch this exciting matchup play itself out, the two teams were forced to settle for a point each in a much needed game with plenty of playoff implications.

The tie bolstered Worcester’s positioning in sixth with 88 points. Portland, with losses by Hartford and Manitoba, moved into a tie with the Wolfpack with 85 points. Hartford would have seventh-place because of their 1-0-1 record against Portland in the regular season.

Manitoba, which finished its regular season Saturday night with 84 points, is in ninth. Portland could still jump ahead of Hartford Sunday with a win or tie against Saint John and a Hartford loss.

Portland built a 1-0 lead in the second on an Andreas Salomonsson goal but despite the stellar play of Stana, Worcester managed to tie it with 6:33 left on a Jason Dawe score.

Stana, who shutout Worcester last Saturday 3-0, made 35 saves including a sprawling stop on Jeff Panzer with :34 left in overtime. Sanford had 42 saves for Worcester.

The first period had a playoff pace and intensity about it. Portland outshot the IceCats 15-7 but neither team managed to score.

The Pirates took the lead with a superb second period. Portland got a power play tally from Salomonsson, some fine penalty killing and some excellent saves from Stana. Portland outshot Worcester 17-10 in the second and peppered IceCat goaltender Curtis Sanford at times.

Portland broke the scoreless tie just 1:52 into the period. Salomonsson wristed a shot upstairs from between the circles for his seventh of the year.

Worcester had pair of power plays and a chance to tie it, but the Pirates penalty kill shut them down. Stana came up big during one stretch. Sergei Varlamov found himself all alone in front but Stana poked the puck away with his stick nixing that threat. Aris Brismanis had a wrister and a blistering shot from the point that Stana turned away.

Portland had ample opportunity to add to its lead but could not in the second. Chris Ferraro sent Salomonsson in alone. He fired off a shot before a defender chased him down but Sanford kicked it away. Brad Parsons had a backhander stopped on a break after he came out of the box. Matt Pettinger also had a backhander turned away.

Stana helped preserve the lead in the third. Worcester had an early power play on a Mel Angelstad charging call. Stana robbed Varlamov from point-blank range. Then he smothered an Eric Nickulas bid from the slot. He stopped a Jeff Panzer shot and rebound try while sprawled on the ice with 8:55 left.

Worcester, which outshot Portland 15-8 in third, finally managed to put one by Stana with 6:33 left in regulation. John Pohl fed Jason Dawe in front for a one-timer while the teams were skating four-on-four.

PIRATES NOTES: The Pirates were without forward Glen Metropolit for the second game in a row because of a concussion. Portland finishes the regular season this afternoon, 5:05 p.m., against Saint John.