For the Reporter

The Tacoma Stars used a hat trick and power play goal in overtime from Raphael Cox to defeat the Kansas City Comets 7-6 final in front of 3,320 fans on Friday, Fan Appreciation Night, at the accesso ShoWare Center.

It was Tacoma’s third win in a row, heading into Thursday night’s playoff game with the San Diego Sockers.

Kansas City (6-15) built a 3-1 lead after two quarters on Andre Braithwaite’s goal and a pair of markers from Bryan Perez. Nick Perera put the Stars on the scoreboard just 56 seconds into the second quarter.

Robert Palmer and Philip Lund netted back-to-back goals for Tacoma (11-11) to tie the game at 3-3 with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter.

Braithwaite notched his second goal of the game less than a minute later to put the Comets back in front 4-3.

The Stars picked up two goals from Cox and one from Vince McCluskey in the fourth quarter, and the Comets used goals from Mirko Sandivari and Ignacio Flores to knot the game at 6-6 at the end of regulation.

The Stars began the overtime period on the power play, and it took 1:07 for Cox to nail home the game winner.

Next up for the Stars are the Sockers in the first round of the Ron Newman Cup playoffs. The first leg of the home -and-home series will be at the ShoWare Center on Thursday. Kickoff is 7:35 p.m.

For tickets call 1-800-STARS-84 or go to tacomastars.com.