Bob Hoehn knows the game-plan for his Butler varsity hockey team tonight.

Don't fall behind and keep the opponent bottled up.

Executing that plan is the question as the Golden Tornado (17-8) travel to defending state champion Meadville (22-2-1) for a second-round PIHL Class AAA playoff game at 7:30 p.m. at the Meadville Recreation Center.

"Scoring the first goal would be huge for us," the first-year Butler head coach said. "It'll help us maintain our confidence and give us an extra boost."

Butler dropped 6-1 and 7-0 decisions to Meadville during the regular season, but was in both games. The Tornado trailed 2-0 after two periods at Belmont Arena and 1-0 late in the second period at Meadville.

"At our place, we started taking chances offensively too early and gave up odd-man breaks the other way," Hoehn said. "Up there, we were short-handed too much and gave up three power play goals late in the second period.

"If you get behind this team by a few goals, they know how to finish."

Including tournament play, Meadville is 46-6-5 this season. The Bulldogs have won nine state championships since 1985.

Butler won its first PIHL playoff game ever last week, a 2-1 overtime victory over Franklin Regional.

Jamie Plunkett is in his 18th season at Meadville and has 649 career wins. He's lost less than 200.

"A lot of people were surprised by the early success Butler had this season," Plunkett said. "And they've been able to maintain that. Nobody figured Butler would still be playing at this time of year.

"In the playoffs, teams concentrate a lot more on defense and goaltending takes center stage. Butler has an outstanding goaltender. He was the difference in their playoff win."

Senior Bucky Holt stopped 49 of 50 shots against the Panthers. He has played all but one of Butler's games this season and has a 2.81 goals-against average.

Meadville senior goalie Danny O'Shurak is 30-6-4 with a 1.64 goals-against and 92.6 save percentage. He hopes to play junior hockey next year.

"In hockey, a great performance by a goalie can decide a game," Plunkett said. "We've won playoff games that way. We've lost playoff games that way."

Holt will have to be on top of his game if Butler is to win tonight. The Bulldogs average 4.6 goals per game.

Right wing Christian Nickerson - who has applied to Colgate, Cornell and Harvard - has 42 goals and 74 assists for 116 points this year. Left wing Phil Siverd has 47 goals and 37 assists, center Anthony Scarpino 34 goals and 39 assists, center Rick Thomas 31 goals and 33 assists.

"We play three lines on a regular basis," Plunkett said. "We've had some injuries, so we've had to mix and match people."

Nickerson is among the top five all-time scorers in Meadville history. Defenseman David Moyer has 17 goals and 58 assists and is the highest-scoring defenseman in the program's history.

Spencer Crouse set Butler scoring records this season with 30 goals and 53 points.

"Our kids know we can play with them, we just have to execute and really pressure them in their own end," Hoehn said. "That team makes excellent break-out passes and they're very dangerous if you let them skate it out of their end.

"Pressure them and they have a tendency to make mistakes in their own end. We need to create shots that way and take advantage of rebound opportunities in their zone."

The Tornado has scoring versatility of their own. Andy Turner, B.J. Tipton, Greg Rogerson, Jared White and Tyler Druschel have all scored 10 goals or more on the year.

Mike Guentner is one of the top defenseman in the PIHL.

"I'm impressed with Guentner," Plunkett said. "Butler is a very solid team. It will take a solid effort to beat them."