The Komets are 81 games into their season, nine games into the playoffs, and yet they feel they are still getting better. They have a 2-0 lead over the Utah Grizzlies in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals after a 5-3 victory Saturday night at Memorial Coliseum.

"You want to keep trying to trend in the right direction, and I think, you know, it could have been easy for us not to trend in the right direction after that lengthy seven-game series with Cincinnati. A lot of emotion went into that," coach Gary Graham said. "There was definitely some concern on my end about how we would come out (in this series). But we came out with energy and scored early in both games. The guys’ energy levels have been impressive to me."

After losing the first two games of the playoffs to the Cincinnati Cyclones at the Coliseum, the Komets have won 6 of 7 games. Their series with the Grizzlies continues Wednesday at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, where the Komets haven’t played since 1999 while in the Inter­national Hockey League.

The first couple of games of the postseason were highlighted by glaring mistakes – turnovers in the defensive zone, failed chances to score at the other end and a lack of cohesiveness – and much of that has been cleaned up.

The Komets are still battling their penchant for taking penalties and squandering leads, but they’re coming up with big plays to get victories. In Game 1 of this series, the Komets squandered an early three-goal lead yet won 6-4 on a Kyle Thomas power-play goal and a Trevor Cheek short-handed goal Friday.

"If we have a big mistake, maybe we’re getting the save or getting a bounce this time around. There are several different things, but I think our game is improving slowly but surely," Graham said.

The Komets’ roster greatly changed just before the playoffs when they got all their players back from San Antonio of the American Hockey League.

And 11 of the Komets had never been in a professional postseason before, so it’s not surprising it took time for them to build chemistry and adjust to the rigors of the playoffs.

The Komets have been led in scoring by Alex Belzile (six goals, 10 points), Troy Bourke (five goals, 10 points) and Shawn Szydlowski (five goals, 10 points). Goaltender Pat Nagle has played a league-high 607 minutes – no goalie with his team still playing is within 178 minutes – and Nagle has stopped 91.6 percent of the shots he’s faced.

"It’s fun to score goals right now. But it’s a team effort," Belzile said. "With our depth, everyone is scoring, even our (defensemen). If one day, you’re not scoring goals, then you know it’s going to be another line that does it. I think it’s fun to watch because we have a great team right now. We’re playing 10 forwards and even the guys in the stands – they can help us. We have depth and if we stay together, if we play the right way together, then it’s going to look good."

Graham said fatigue was starting to catch up with the Komets on Saturday when they played for the seventh time in 11 days, but he said he felt his team would be refreshed by Wednesday and the lineup would probably be unchanged.

"Right now, if everybody’s healthy, this group is getting the job done," he said.

If changes need to be made, the Komets have their Black Aces – the players who have been healthy scratches – and it includes Garrett Meurs, Cody Corbett, David Friedmann, Taylor Crunk and Randy Cure.

"We’re very confident in our Black Aces. They’re working hard," Graham said. "They’re all ready and eager to get in. I’d be disappointed if they weren’t upset about not playing. It’s a great group of guys. It’s a good locker room."

Notes: Utah goalie Mark Owuya is known not only for his hockey talent but also for his rapping talent. He was on the Swedish version of "American Idol" as "Mark In Da Park." … The other conference series, between top-seeded Missouri and defending-champion Allen is tied at 1. … Fort Wayne’s Blake Siebenaler, a prospect of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is playing in the Ontario Hockey League’s finals with the Niagara IceDogs. On his team is Brendan Perlini, younger brother of the Komets’ Brett Perlini.

jcohn@jg.net