PORTLAND – They had two forwards recently recalled and another in the stands waiting for paperwork to come through.

So how did the Portland Pirates cope? They played defense, lot of defense.

With Brian Sutherby and Darcy Verot summoned by Washington on New Year’s Day and Colin Forbes waiting to clear waivers before he can return to the lineup, the Pirates were a little short-staffed on the offensive end. It just meant the Pirates had to be a little stingier, and Portland tightened their chin straps for that cause.

The Pirates rode the play of their defense and goaltender once again to earn a point Saturday night in a 0-0 tie with Hershey in front of 3,916 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

It is just the second 0-0 tie in Pirates history.

“That was solid,” said Pirates coach Tim Army, whose team was also without forwards Owen Fussey and Ivan Ciernik with injuries and lost Chris Hajt to Washington. “We lost some people this week and Forbes couldn’t play. So we were obviously limited. Some key people were out of our lineup but again, we continue to play good team hockey.”

Portland extended its unbeaten streak to eight games (5-0-3) and held one of the top offensive teams in the league (seventh in scoring and fourth in shots) to 22 shots.

“I think we have a good identity,” said Army. “The defense gives you a chance to win games every night. Even when we’ve struggled I always said we’re playing good hockey because our defense was solid.”

Rastislav Stana continued his masterful play with his second straight shutout and fourth in the last six games. He came up big in the third period as Hershey picked up the pace and made a game-saving stop in overtime when he robbed Sheldon Keefe trying to one-time a pass from Steve Brule.

“It was a two-on-one,” said Stana. “First, I was paying attention to the shooter and then he passed it. I went across. I knew it hit me, but I wasn’t sure where it was. I think it was just sitting under me.”

With an offensively-challenge lineup, Portland stuck to its defensive game and played sound in its end. Players that often don’t see a ton of ice time played solid games.

“I think we only gave up eight shots and none of the shots were hard,” said Stana. “We really played great the first two periods.”

Portland tried to be patient on offense, but Hershey goaltender Tom Lawson was up to the task as well.

What seemed like a slow jog for two periods became a bit of a sprint in the third as both teams pushed for the game-winner. Hershey produced six shots in the first four minutes of the period, but that’s where Stana was his sharpest.

He stopped Brule on a turn-around shot. An Agris Saviels shot from the point was kicked out, and he made the denied Keefe on the rebound. Moments later, Keefe beat two defenders and went in on Stana with a backhander, only to have the Pirate netminder make the sprawling save.

Portland created its share of chances and even had a late power play when Graham Mink got hauled down at the blue line. The Pirates couldn’t cash in.

PIRATES NOTES: Defenseman Matt Libby was stealthfully assigned to Quad City in the UHL. Libby had apparently left the team last weekend after an altercation with teammate Darcy Verot in the last practice before Christmas. Libby had missed three months last year with a concussion after Verot, then with Saint John, elbowed him. He had been a healthy scratch for the last three games, but he had not practiced and had cleared out his locker. The Pirates had refused to explain his absence other than say he was a healthy scratch.

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