VALENCIA — Butler held a two-goal lead with eight minutes to play on Thursday night.

It turned out to be plenty of time for a Seneca Valley comeback.

The Raiders wiped away a 4-2 deficit with three goals in a span of less than four minutes and held on for a 5-4 win over the Tornado in a hockey doubleheader at the Ice Connection. In the preceding contest, Mars earned a 5-2 victory over Deer Lakes.

Butler's Tanner Gilliland completed a hat trick on Nicholas Whann's fourth assist of the game to give the Tornado (5-5) a two-goal cushion with 11:36 to go.

However, Seneca Valley's Jacob Sarachine found the back of the net and sparked the Raiders (7-2-1) with 7:36 remaining.

Spencer Schutte knotted the game on an assist from Luke Reed at the 5:09 mark, before Andrew Gagnon stole the puck in Butler's zone and fired home the game-winning goal with 3:45 left.

Seneca Valley captain Chris Marziotto was proud of the team's resilience.

“There was no doubt,” Marziotto explained. “We might have been a little shaken up, but our coach (Anthony Raco) got us all pumped up and we came back for the win.

“Overall, I don't think we played our best game,” Marziotto added, “but it shows a lot of character coming back.”

Butler coach Mike Guentner pointed at himself for the defeat.

“As a coaching staff, we're going to take the blame for this one,” he said. “We didn't do enough to make sure our team didn't come out of the holiday break fat and happy.

Guentner admitted Seneca Valley also seemed affected by the lack of recent ice time, but it was the Raiders who jumped out to an early lead.

Peter Kipin converted a breakaway to give SV a 1-0 lead on its first shot of the game less than two minutes in.

However, Gilliland evened the score with his first goal on assists from Whann and Tanner Chuba at the 4:42 mark.

Seneca Valley reclaimed the advantage on a power-play tally from Casey Kramer off assists from Gagnon and Reed, but it didn't last long.

Butler immediately bounced back, as Gilliland answered just eight seconds later.

Just 49 seconds into the second period, Chuba blasted one in from the slot to provide the Tornado with their first lead of the game.

“All four of our goals came from the same line. That line really had some great chemistry,” said Guentner. “The good thing coming out of this one, we know that those three are definitely going to be together during the next few games.”

Tanner Pfeffer stopped 24 shots in goal for the Raiders, while Logan Rothbauer made 26 saves for the Tornado.

Butler squares off with North Allegheny at the Penguins Pond in Pittsburgh on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

“It's one of the biggest games we'll play all season. It's an outdoor game, it's a fun environment and it's really exciting for these boys,” said Guentner. “We'd really appreciate it if anybody that's a big hockey fan in Butler come out, support us and watch us battle a big rival.”

Seneca Valley will look to keep the momentum going when the Raiders host State College at Warrendale Bladerunners at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Mars 5, Deer Lakes 2— Nick Makozy had two goals and two assists, Christian Knapp tallied 25 saves and the Planets scored the final three goals to secure the victory.

Makozy's second score of the game came short-handed and proved to be the game-winning goal with 7:07 to go in the second frame. Previously in the period, Makozy picked off a pass between Deer Lakes defenders and deposited a shot into the back of the net.

“He's a very steady forward,” said Mars coach Steve Meyers of Makozy. “You know what you're going to get out of Nicky every game — hard work, works the corners well and he has a nice shot.”

Deer Lakes coach Todd Luniewski was disappointed to see his team's miscues turn into goals for the Planets.

“We played with them, we played competitively, we actually out-shot them by a shot, but they capitalized on our mistakes,” Luniewski explained. “Couple of turnovers and a couple of missed coverages, they're a good team and they capitalized on them.”

Ed Schwadron opened the scoring for Mars (8-2-1), before Thomas Liskowski provided an equalizer for the Lancers (4-6-1).

Vincent Casale tied it up again following Makozy's first goal, but Deer Lakes couldn't slip any more past Knapp.

“He's been great since he came back. He missed the first half of the season with a concussion,” said Meyers of Knapp. “He's just getting his feet under him. He's had a trying season so far, but he's played great while he's been in there.”

Noah Master beat Lucas Gapsky — who recorded 21 saves for the Lancers — off an assist from Beau Heakins to cap the scoring.

Trevor Tisdale distributed two assists for the Planets, who return to the ice at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday against Greensburg Central Catholic at Warrendale Bladerunners.