KC Comets update: Road struggles continue in Baltimore as rivalry is rekindled
The Kansas City Comets suffered through another loss on the road last Friday, losing to the Baltimore Blast by a final score of 9-2. The seven-goal defeat was worse than any other loss they’ve had this season.
After surrendering two first-quarter goals, the Comets made it 2-1 midway through the second quarter when John Sosa found Nacho Flores off a restart. Sosa’s assist was his 300th career point and 200th career assist for the Comets in the regular season.
Baltimore scored three more in a two-minute span to go up 5-1 before halftime. After conceding another pair of goals in the third period, the Comets finally ended Baltimore’s five-goal streak when Ramone Palmer found Rian Marques for his seventh goal this season to make it 7-2.
The Blast added two more goals in the fourth quarter, including one by goalkeeper William Vanzela, who launched the ball from inside his own box. Vanzela finished the night with a season-high 31 saves for Baltimore, while Tony Donatelli was another star, tallying five points from four assists and a goal.
Now with just one win in 10 games away from home, it will be critical for the Comets to continue their success at home and figure out a way to get results on the road.
“It’s hard,” said Comets assistant coach Stefan Stokic about playing away from home. “Everywhere you go it’s hard because you’re playing away from home in a different environment. We have to find a way to win these kinds of games and that starts with our preparation. If we want to win a championship, we have to learn how to win games on the road.”
The Comets were held to three or fewer goals for the fourth time away from home this season, scoring just twice on 43 shots.
Friday’s game also renewed one of the league’s great rivalries as the Comets and Blast met for the first time since 2019.
“It brings back good memories and bad memories,” Stokic said on his return to Baltimore. “I’ve been in the league a long time so I remember both winning and losing championships against them. It’s good for us to build up this rivalry again and bring out the competitiveness.”
Those two championships kickstarted the rivalry in 2013 and 2014, with the Comets winning the 2014 championship in Baltimore.
Both sides still have two more meetings with each other — including one on Saturday, March 11, at Cable Dahmer Arena before returning to Baltimore later this month. Tickets for Saturday’s special Mascot Night matchup, with the annual mascot game at halftime, are available at www.kccomets.com/tickets.
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 10:59 AM with the headline "KC Comets update: Road struggles continue in Baltimore as rivalry is rekindled."