WARRENDALE - It wasn't exactly a playoff atmosphere, but Mars hockey coach Eric Glover will certainly take it.

"Hey, it's ice time," he quipped.

The Planets used a methodical approach in Tuesday's first-round PIHL Class A Penguin Cup playoff game against Steel Valley, outmuscling the Ironmen 5-0 at BladeRunners in Warrendale.

Next up, Mars (14-7-2) will face Bishop McCort at a site and date to be determined.

"We worked the puck well. I was pretty pleased but it wasn't as normal as we would play," said Glover. "We only play up to the level of the other team.

"Steel Valley only had one or two good scoring chances," he added.

The only thing keeping the Ironmen (5-16-1) in contention Tuesday was the play of goaltender Jim Besterci, who registered 34 saves.

"They didn't have (Tom) Scheetz on the ice, and when their goalie is on, he's good, " said Glover. "They just don't have enough in front of him."

Mars needed only 4 minutes, 12 seconds to jump out to the early lead on a Carroll Smith tally.

Smith outmaneuvered a pair of Ironmen on his way to the net and slipped the puck through Besterci's legs.

"Carroll skated end to end and got us off to a good start," said Glover. "If we get that first goal, it gets us in a better mind set.

"If we give up the first goal against a team like Serra or Quaker Valley, it gets us down," he added.

Mike Randolph doubled the Planets' lead with 5:52 left in the period, taking a pass from Jim Kelly from behind the net.

Sam Mashuda almost added another goal with 2:13 left when he stole the puck near center ice and, with a player in tow, fired the puck towards the net but hit the post.

In the second period, Kelly cleaned up a deflected save off Besterci in front of the net for a 3-0 Planets advantage.

With 8:15 left in the second, Besterci kept the Planets from increasing their lead when he stopped Randolph on a breakaway.

Steel Valley had a chance to pull to within two goals with 13:20 left in regulation, but Ryan Perhac's slap shot hit the post.

Mars, however, put the game away when it added two more goals in the third period.

Bryan Reel's shot deflected off Besterci and flipped into the net with 12:11 remaining and Shaun Becker added the final goal with 7:30 left.

Notes:

The Planets defeated Steel Valley twice earlier this season, a 3-1 win Nov, 22 and a 5-2 decision on Jan. 4. … The Ironmen were 0-for-2 on power-play chances while Mars was 0-for-1. … Mike Kenitz, Kelly and Randolph each had two assists. … Planets goalie Bryan Ross made nine saves in recording the shutout.