This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Fort Wayne Komets scored three goals in the third period Saturday, breaking open a close game and defeating the visiting Utah Grizzlies 5-3 in front of 6,217 at Memorial Coliseum.

The victory gives Fort Wayne a 2-0 lead in the ECHL Western Conference semifinal series. The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday and, if necessary, Game 5 next Saturday.

The score was tied 1-1 after the first period and 2-2 after the second before Fort Wayne took control in the third.

The Komets, who won Friday's opener 6-4, jumped in front when Brett Perlini scored the first of his two goals just 22 seconds into Saturday's game.

Utah's Barry Almeida scored the first of his two goals with one second remaining in the first period for a 1-1 tie.

Almeida scored a power-play goal at 4:10 of the second period to give Utah a short-lived 2-1 lead.

Fort Wayne's Alex Belzile scored the first of his two goals at 5:31 of the second period to tie it at 2-2.

Belzile put the Komets back in front at 5:57 of the third period, and Perlini scored his second goal at 13:50 for a 4-2 Fort Wayne lead.

A short-handed goal by Utah's Charles Sarault at 15:10 of the third period got the Grizzlies back to within one, but that was as close as they could get.

Fort Wayne's Shawn Szydlowski scored an empty-net goal at 19:49 for the final margin.

Utah goaltender Mark Owuya stopped 34 of the 38 shots he faced. Fort Wayne's Pat Nagle had 28 saves.

Utah forwards Ryan Hayes and T.J. Syner each finished with two assists and Eric Knodel had one. —

Grizzlies vs. Komets

Best-of-seven, times MDT

Game 1 • Fort Wayne 6-4

Game 2 • Fort Wayne 5-3

Wednesday • Fort Wayne at Utah, 7 p.m.

Thursday • Fort Wayne at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

x-Saturday • Fort Wayne at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

x-May 10 • Utah at Fort Wayne, 5:30 p.m.

x-May 11 • Utah at Fort Wayne, 5:30 p.m.

x-if necessary