ALBANY — Jim O’Brien scored twice in a four-goal second period Saturday for the Albany Devils, who took a commanding lead in the American Hockey League playoff series against the Utica Devils with a 5-1 victory in front of 5,104 at Times Union Center.

The Devils lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and can clinch a spot in the Calder Cup quarterfinals with a victory Tuesday night at Utica.

Albany scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded to open up a game that was tight heading into the second period.

Former RPI forward Steve Zalewski, a second-year pro for Utica, gave the Devils their first man-advantage opportunity of the game. He was miffed when Albany defenseman Seth Helgeson knocked the stick from his hands and retaliated against Vojtech Mozik, who drew a cross-check against Zalewski.

O’Brien took Matt Lorito’s pass in the left face-off circle — which has been a productive area for his Devils teammate, Mike Sislo — and put the Devils ahead to stay.

Reid Boucher scored shorthanded, his second goal of the series, less than three minutes later, and this came with controversy. O’Brien clipped the left pad of Comets goaltender Richard Bachman as he skated through the crease. No call was made, and second later O’Brien got the puck to Boucher to make it 3-1.

Moments later the Comets skated down to the Devils end, where Travis Ehrhardt snowplowed Albany goalie Scott Wedgewood. That drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the needed just 15 seconds to cash in on that. Severson took a shot from the high slot, and Pavel Zacha grabbed the rebound, settled the puck with his skate, and pushed it past Bachman.

That prompted Utica coach Travis Green to replace Bachman with Joe Cannata.

O’Brien shot his second of the game against Cannata before the second period ended. Boucher had the initial shot. O’Brien grabbed the rebound and passed to O’Neill, who also was stopped, before O’Brien put home that rebound.

Utica, which lost Game 1 3-2 Friday night, got its first lead of the series at 9:04 of the first. Cole Cassels shot through a screen, and Wedgewood never saw the puck as the Comets led 1-0.

Ben Thomson tied the game 7:23 later. As linemate Nick Lappin was falling behind the net, Severson found Thomson open in the slot for his second goal of the playoffs.

Albany outshot Utica, 28-23.