WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Shawn Szydlowski said the Komets’ best players have to step up when they’re needed the most.

"That’s got to be the thing," he said. "Your best players have got to be your best players."

Szydlowski, who was selected MVP by his teammates each of the last two seasons, stepped up in a big way Wednesday night with a pretty goal that propelled the Komets to a 3-1 victory in front of 2,763 fans over the Utah Grizzlies.

The Komets now have a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals, which continue Friday at the Maverik Center.

Szydlowski got his goal by dragging the puck around sliding Utah forward Jon Puskar, then sending a shot above the left shoulder of goaltender Mark Owuya. The Komets then tacked on goals from Mike Embach, off a rebound during a power play, and Garrett Thompson, on a slapshot from the right circle.

"It all started with (Cody Sol). He had a strong pinch and kept the puck in the offensive zone," Szydlowski said of his goal. "I battled the guy and beat him and luckily I was able to take it from there. I just had a little patience and luckily found the upstairs."

Szydlowski, who assisted on Thompson’s goal, has six goals and 12 points in 10 playoff games for the Komets, who have won 7 of 8 since dropping the first two at home against the Cincinnati Cyclones.

"Szyd’s goal was a momentum changer," said Komets goaltender Pat Nagle, who stopped 19 shots but allowed Puskar to score from the bottom of the right circle on Utah’s first shot of the game. "It was a really pretty individual play. It was a nice way to score. Then there was a nice power-play goal for us after that, Embach getting a greasy goal. And then it was great for Thompson to finish them off."

It was the first game for the Komets in Utah since 1999 in the International Hockey League and they weren’t pleased with the start, giving up the Puskar goal 2:48 into the first period.

But the Komets, champions of the Midwest Division and the second-seeded team in the conference, managed to make sure they kept it close until the third period against the sixth-seeded Grizzlies.

"It wasn’t a good game for us the first couple of periods," Komets coach Gary Graham said. "We had a couple chances but (the Grizzlies) got the better of the play the first two periods, for sure. We just had to collect our thoughts and just understand that … we had to come together. We just knew if we could go out there and get our first goal, then we could get our momentum going. That’s all we needed to do."

Nagle had big saves to keep Fort Wayne’s deficit at one goal, stopping Mike Ratchuk twice during power plays, foiling an Erik Higby shot from point-blank range and sprawling to stop Ryan Hayes, who was so alone he had time to shift from his backhand to his forehand and try to go high with his shot.

Shortly before Thompson’s goal for a 3-1 lead, Fort Wayne’s Gabriel Beaupre slid to break up a 2-on-1 rush, a key defensive play for the Komets, who outshot the Grizzlies 31-20.

Fort Wayne was 1 for 4 on power plays. Utah was 0 for 4.

"By getting that first goal, the confidence was lifted and we were able to ride it," Graham said.

The winner of this series will play either top-seeded Missouri or defending-champion Allen, which has a 2-1 lead after a 5-1 victory at home Wednesday night.

"I thought we got better and better as the game went on," Nagle said. "It was kind of a goofy one (that Utah scored on). Everyone was kind of whacking at it. Their guy gets a whack at it and that goal is on me. Especially early in the game, you want to make that stop. But we did a great job of staying with it, finding a way to keep it close. We were able to find a way to find our legs as the game went on."

Notes: The Komets made one alteration to the lineup, inserting rookie forward David Friedmann, who hadn’t played in the first nine postseason games. He replaced Paul Crowder, a former Utah player, who has one goal and three points in eight playoff games. … The Grizzlies added goalie Justin Masterman to back up Owuya. Ryan Faragher was called up to San Diego of the American Hockey League after giving up three goals on six shots and getting pulled from the Komets’ 6-4 victory in Game 1. Fort Wayne’s Alex Zion was Utah’s backup in Game 2, a 5-3 Komets victory. … The referees were Jeremy Tufts and Andy Thackaberry.

jcohn@jg.net