KITTANNING — Erie McDowell hockey coach Paul Mancini knows when his team is on its game.

"When we are physical and we separate from the puck, we're a good hockey team," said Mancini.

Against Butler on Wednesday, it showed again why it's a very strong program.

The Trojans received goals from five different players, including a pair from Brandon Oathout, to defeat the Tornado 6-0 in a PIHL Class AAA game at the Belmont Complex.

"We have two really solid lines, and, at this level, that's usually more than enough," Mancini said.

Butler trailed 1-0 after one period on a goal from Ed Maras, but tacked on two more in the second period.

Marc Mancini fired a shot from the blue line, which Oathout deflected halfway to the goal before it skipped past Butler goalie Justin O'Donnell.

When Chris Hilling nonchalantly smacked a backhanded shot 15 from the net with 1:23 left, it slid past a surprised O'Donnell to give Erie McDowell (3-2) the 3-0 lead.

Despite the deficit, the Golden Tornado (0-5) played with much more physicality than they had earlier in the season.

"If we played like that all season, we'd have three wins," said Tornado coach Leo Cancilla. "We're starting to gel now, and we have 18 games to go."

The Trojans, however, put the game out of reach, adding three more goals in the final period.

Andrew Kohler scored just 1:05 into the period off a Dan Gott shot, then Matt Stahon and Oathout each scored in a 46-second span, the latter with 4:30 remaining to close out the scoring.

The Trojans handed Penn-Trafford its first loss of the season last week 5-2 before defeating Butler.

"We have very high expectations," said Mancini. "We started slow. We figured everyone would have a letdown, but everyone got up for us.

"We're headed in the right direction," he added.

Butler was shut out for the second consecutive game, but Cancilla is keeping his team's focus on winning a few games and reaching the postseason.

"There are only 19 teams in the league and only five wins will get you into the playoffs," said Cancilla. "I told the kids we only need more than the other three.

"It's a rebuilding year, but these kids are showing a lot of heart and a lot of hard work. We only lose three guys next year," Cancilla added.

Notes:

O'Donnell, only a sophomore, made 45 saves in net. Erie McDowell goalie John Cleary made four saves.