WARRENDALE — The Mars hockey team has depth this season, and it certainly drove home that point on Friday.

The Planets received goals from six different players en route to a 7-2 victory over Conemaugh Valley at Warrendale BladeRunners.

Goals by Jake Takach and Mike Kenitz in a 38-second span late in the second period broke open a close game and gave Mars a three-goal advantage.

"That's the thing, to have depth," said Mars coach Eric Glover. "If you have only one or two scorers and someone doesn't show up, then you can't play.

"We run three lines and five defensemen, and I'll put anyone on this team out there at any time. It makes my job easy. You're only as good as your two worst players, and, at some point, you have to put them in,"Glover added.

Sam Mashuda got Mars (4-0-1) on the board first with a goal 27 seconds into the game on a backhanded flip past Blue Jays goalie Brian Gates.

Jake Robash doubled the Planets' lead with 9:57 left in the period off a Mashuda assist.

Conemaugh Valley (3-2) quickly evened the game with a pair of goals in a 33-second spurt.

Brandon Curtis got a shot past Mars goalie Greg Lewis in a mad scramble in front of the net with 8:45 left, then teammate Zack Podrasky scored with 8:12 left in the period.

"Both of those goals trickled in," said Glover. "It was just that two-odd man break and one bad rebound, and the other, we just weren't in good position."

Mike Heltman's goal with 5:15 left in that period gave the Planets the lead for good.

"Last year, if we would be down a goal or two, we'd be done," said Glover. "Guys know they can score. We have more depth than any team in Class Triple A, Double A or Single A."

Lewis made two big saves early in the second period to preserve the lead, then Takach and Kenitz scored, the latter with 3:25 left in the third period to give the Planets some breathing room.

"That really picked (Mars) up," said Blue Jays coach Matt Yingling. "I thought we were in it for awhile, but Mars has a great team.

"We have a real young defense. We have three freshmen playing varsity hockey, but that's a great team," he added.

Andrew Santa and Takach tallied early third-period goals to close out the scoring for the Planets.

Notes: Mars will return to action Tuesday against Quaker Valley at the Airport Ice Arena. The Blue Jays will host Freeport Tuesday. ... Gates made 27 saves for the Blue Jays while Lewis made 13 saves and backup Martin Lamneck made one.