The Komets' penalty kill wasn’t like it was in the first round, giving up two power-play goals to the Utah Grizzlies. But it came up with a crucial short-handed goal from Trevor Cheek in the third period that gave Fort Wayne some needed breathing room in a 6-4 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight at Memorial Coliseum.

Anyone in support of Fort Wayne was breathing sighs of relief after the Komets almost coughed up what looked to be a sure victory in front of 5,071 fans.

The Komets got off to a thrilling start, mounting leads of 3-0 and 4-1 in the first period. But it was a new hockey game in the second period, when the Grizzlies equalized it at 4 in the first meeting between the teams since 1999 in the original International Hockey League.

The Grizzlies were 2 for 9 on power plays against the Komets, who came into the night with 34 successful kills on 35 opposing power plays in the playoffs. The Komets’ power play was 1 for 6.

Game 2 between the teams will be Saturday night at the Coliseum.

The Komets scored three times on their first six shots within the first 3:23. Defenseman Cody Sol began the onslaught with a blast from just inside the blue line for his first goal of the playoffs. Forward Mike Embach, who came into the night with no goals and seven assists, polished off a 2-on-1 rush with a shot from the left circle. And Troy Bourke fought his way through a crowd to poke a rebound into the net.

Utah’s starting goalie, Ryan Faragher, was pulled from the game by coach Tim Branham with only three saves on six shots and replaced by Mark Owuya, who had played twice in the six-game, first-round victory over Colorado.

But the Grizzlies tallied 15 of the next 22 shots, got six of the first seven power plays and scored four of the next five goals to tie it at 4.

The Grizzlies didn’t tally their first shot until 6:12 and nabbed their first goal at 9:03 on a 20-foot wrist shot by Ryan Hayes.

Fort Wayne defenseman Will Weber intercepted the puck along the boards in the Utah zone and a Schaafsma pass set up Shawn Szydlowski for a 25-foot shot and a 4-1 lead at 18:47.

The Grizzlies got within two goals on their fourth power play of the night; T.J. Syner scored off a rebound at 2:02 of the second period. Teammate Matt Berry scored at the end of a 2-on-2 rush at 7:59 and forward Barry Almeida tied it with another power-play goal off a rebound at 9:24.

The Komets regained their lead on a Kyle Thomas backhand shot, during a power play at 15:21, set up by a 100-foot pass from defenseman Jordon Southorn sailed through a crowd of defenders.

Fort Wayne got a 4-minute power play early in the third period because Alex Krushelnyski high-sticked Justin Hamonic. Owuya came up with four saves and Szydlowski hit the post. Thomas was stopped on a blast from 30 feet at 8:41.

Cheek’s goal came at 16:27 of the third period with Gabriel Beaupre in the penalty box for holding.

Notes: The referees were Andy Howard and Mike Sheehan. … The Komets played without Garrett Meurs, Taylor Crunk, David Friedmann, Cody Corbett and Randy Cure. … Utah played without Tim Daly, Cody Ferriero, Jason Binkley, Brent Gwidt, Alex Gallant and Kenton Helgesen.

jcohn@jg.net