KENNEWICK – The Everett Silvertips continue to struggle closing out games.

The Tri-City Americans tied the score with 1 minute, 21 seconds remaining, then scored the winner in overtime, defeating the Silvertips 3-2 Friday night in a Western Hockey League game.

Clayton Stoner, playing his first game of the season because of injuries, scored the game-winner at 3:17 of overtime, giving the Americans the full two points.

Everett (6-4-2-2) still came away with a point with the overtime loss. However, the loss was just the most recent example of the Silvertips’ inability to hold on to third-period leads.

Tri-City improved to 4-6-2.

In overtime, Shawn Belle dug the puck out in the corner and spied Stoner pinching in from the point. Belle made the pass and Stoner fired home his first goal of the season for the game winner.

Karel Hromas and Tyler Dietrich scored the goals for Everett and Michael Wall made 33 saves in goal for the Silvertips.

Andy Thompson and Dylan Stanley added goals for Tri-City and Carey Price made 16 saves.

Tri-City took an early lead, scoring just 3:37 into the game. Thompson pinched in from the point to make a steal, then fired a shot through Wall to give the Americans a 1-0 lead with his first goal of the season.

The Silvertips tied it up in the second period with a hard-working goal. Barry Horman’s shot caught Price by surprise, creating a rebound. Horman, Hromas and Torrie Wheat all banged away at the rebound before Hromas forced it in at 10:08. The goal was Hromas’ fifth of the season.

Everett then took the lead at 12:04 of the third period. Dietrich and Zach Hamill broke away on a two-on-one and although Dietrich’s attempted pass was blocked, he got the puck back and backhanded it in to make it 2-1. It was his sixth goal of the season.

But the Americans took advantage of a timeout to tie it up. With 1:28 remaining, Tri-City called timeout to pull Price. Seven seconds later the Americans scored as Belle’s pass across the crease allowed Stanley to tip it in to make it 2-2. It was Stanley’s fourth goal of the season.

Everett played without winger Marc Desloges, who did not make the trip to Tri-City after falling ill.

Americans 3, Silvertips 2 (OT)

Everett0110-2

Tri-City1011-3

First Period-1, Tri-City, Thompson 1, 3:37.

Second Period-2, Everett, Hromas 5 (Horman, Wheat), 10:08.

Third Period-3, Everett, Dietrich 6 (Hamill, Kress), 12:04. 4, Tri-City, Stanley 4 (Belle, Stoner), 18:39.

Overtime-5, Tri-City, Stoner 1 (Belle, Schneider), 3:17.

Shots on goal-Everett 4-7-6-1-18. Tri-City 11-11-12-2-36. Power-play opportunities-Everett 0 of 4. Tri-City 0 of 3.

Goalies-Everett, Wall 4-4-2 (36 shots, 33 saves). Tri-City, Price 4-5-2 (18 shots, 16 saves).