PORTLAND – Either the offense has to get a whole lot better or the Portland Pirates’ defense does.

After scoring just three goals total in their first three games, the Pirates could only muster one goal in its home opener Friday night.

Portland remained winless after a 4-1 loss to Hartford in front of 2,992 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

“Unfortunately, we’re not getting enough good chances,” said Pirates coach Tim Army. “That’s what happens when you play from behind. We haven’t had a lead yet. In 240 minutes of hockey, we haven’t had a lead.”

Portland fell behind 2-0 in the first and were down 3-0 in the opening minutes of the second. The Pirates even pulled goaltender Rastislav Stana on a power play late in the second period and failed to score.

“It seems like every little mistake that we make is going in our net,” said Pirate forward Colin Forbes. “That’s a result of mental lapses. Offensively we’re not getting any goals and guys are kind of pushing it and kind of forgetting about their defensive responsibilities.”

A Hartford power play in the first period, had Portland scrambling after the wrong players went out for the kill. The Pirates struggled to recover and before they knew it, two turnovers in the defensive end led two goals.

“On the first goal, we turned the puck over three times in our end and on the second goal, we turned the puck over high in our end,” said Army. “I call them mental mistakes, but it should be instinctive to make the plays and now we’re down 2-0.”

With 6:46 left, Jayme Filipowicz flung a shot from the point that snuck by Stana. With 52 seconds left in the period, a turnover led to a Paul Healey goal on the rebound of a Chad Wiseman shot.

The lead went to 3-0 4:48 into the second. Wiseman capped off a nice passing play, stuffing in a Fedor Tjutin pass from the slot at the right post.

“We talked about about doing a better job protecting the puck and getting it deep and establishing our forecheck,” said Army. “Four minutes into the second period, we turned the puck over again.”

Portland was so starved for offense that when the Pirates drew a penalty with 1:11 left in the second, Army pulled Stana twice, playing with an extra skater and open net for 52 seconds.

“I’ll play percentages, but I’ll take some risks right now to try to get some bounces,” said Army, who also pulled Stana late in the third.

Portland had a two-man advantage for 50 seconds to being the third period but couldn’t muster a shot. Portland’s power play continued to struggle, going 0-for-7. It is now 1-for-22 in four games.

The Pirates finally scored at 4:56 of the third when Ciernik stole the puck in the slot and wristed in his first of the year at the right post.

Portland put some of its best offensive pressure on in the final minutes while on a power play. The Pirates couldn’t beat Hartford goaltender Jason LaBarbera again, and Jed Ortmeyer made it 4-1 with 1:15 on an empty-netter as the power play expired.

PIRATE NOTES: Former Maine forward Lucas Lawson made his AHL regular season debut Friday. He played two games for Springfield in last spring’s playoffs….Defenseman Nolan Yonkman was called up to Washington by the Capitals Friday….Though the home teams are supposed to wear the dark jerseys this year, Portland wore the white jersey’s Friday because Hartford doesn’t have its white jerseys yet.