Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING TAKEOUT NEWS: 2-10-23.
Tell a friend to sign up for The Takeout today: https://cutt.ly/5jc87CG.
Pulltab’s Wild on 7th - also available on Bally Sports North - checks in with Wild GM Bill Guerin.
Freefalling Wild Drops 5-1 Decision at Home to Vegas
Former Wild forward and NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said earlier this season the Wild “aren’t too good, and aren’t too bad.” Well they certainly haven’t been too good lately, losing three straight after heading to Cabo for the All-Star Break, including a bad 5-1 blowout loss at home to Las Vegas last night.
The Wild is suffering in all areas, and with Jonas Brodin out after blocking a shot in Arizona earlier this week, Alex Goligoski and Matt Dumba played starring roles in a pair of defensive breakdowns on consecutive shifts that led to the puck entering the back of the net. It got so bad that Marc-Andre Fleury (game not his fault) got a Bronx cheer for making a simple save, and after the fifth goal he broke his stick on the net and threw it to center ice.
What’s wrong? Just about everything.
The Wild desperately needs a No. 1 center (written by everyone who’s covered this team since 2000), but aren’t close enough to being a Cup contender to justify mortaging the future (and who’s to mortgage, anyways). Come to think of it, they need a No. 2 center, too…
The GREEF is an absolute mess, at least on the wings. Marcus Foligno was a 23-goal scorer last year and four this. Jordan Greenway has looked like an AHL’er. They’re not scoring, but also not keeping the other team from scoring.
They’re slow and can’t score 5-on-5, yet Marco Rossi and Sammy Walker sit in Iowa.
And while the loss can’t be pinned on Fleury, a Hall-of-Fame goaltender is allowed to make a save he’s not supposed to make with his team reeling.
The good news? The Wild is miraculously holding onto a playoff spot, still. There are only two teams behind them that are serious threats. They’ve got six more home games in a row to pull out of this, but playing at home when you’re in a rut like that can put a lot of pressure, what with the fans tense from the minute they walk in the building.
The Wild hosts the Devils, 9-1-1 in their last 11, Saturday. This homestand is full of playoff teams, by the way.
Wolves Ditch D-Lo, Get Conley Jr. from Jazz
A frantic scene Wednesday evening not too long before tipoff in Utah, as D-Lo and Mike Conley Jr. were pulled off the court, part of a three-team trade that lands Conley in Minnesota and D-Lo with the Lakers.
The shorthanded Wolves responded, following up an embarrasing 34-point loss the night before in Denver with a 143-118 win in Salt Lake City.
A playoff rematch is set for tonight in Memphis, which is in second in the West but just five games (!) ahead of the Wolves.
It’s risky to move D-Lo just because he was your only sort of consistent threat from long range. But Conley is more of a true point guard, although ANT will still see plenty of the ball obviously. He’s also a good floor leader, “locker room guy” and has chemistry with Rudy Gobert, something D-Lo could just never quite get.
Listen, fourth through 13th in the West are separated by 4.5 games, and 13th is the Lakers. There’s no sense even scoreboard watching for another month. But the Wolves are entertaining, except on nights that they’re not. But I have a feeling Conley won’t stand for much of the “not”. The West however got a lot tougher this week, the Wolves not that much better.
Now we turn our eyes to KAT, time is ticking. He’s allegedly going to return after the All-Star Break but he’s still wearing a boot.
Gopher Hockey
Both teams play Wisconsin this weekend.
The No. 1 ranked Gopher men return from their bye and head to Madtown. It’s first and last in the Big 10 but that doesn’t always matter in a Border Battle. Believe it with two weekends left of the regular season after Saturday, Minnesota could clinch the Big 10 regular season title with two wins against the Badgers. The Gophers outscored Wisconsin 13-5 in two December wins.
On the women’s side, the Gophers host Wisconsin tonight at 6 and Saturday with a rare 7:30 p.m. start time because it’s on Big Ten Network. Tonight’s game is on Bally Sports North Extra. Both games are near sellouts, with only standing room tickets left. Minnesota can’t clinch this weekend, but with the Gophers and Ohio State both having St. Thomas left on the calendar, two wins would make it virtually impossible for the Buckeyes to catch them. Finishing first avoids Ohio State or Wisconsin in the WCHA Semis - not that UMD or St. Cloud State are pushovers either.
Gopher BB
The Gopher men should be significant underdogs in each remaining game, including Sunday’s home tilt against Iowa.
The women lost their fifth straight, 93-63 at Ohio State on Wednesday. They’ve lost three of those five by 23 points or more. They host Wisconsin Saturday at 3. The Badgers beat the Gophers by four in Madison earlier this season.
Super Bowl Sunday
It’s been the quietest Super Bowl hype I can remember. Sure seems like the Eagles will complete their coronation. They’d be significant favorites if not for a guy named Patrick Mahomes. Eagles 31-23.
Sponsor The Takeout
Sponsorship packages are available! The Takeout is a great spot to advertise your small business. Get thousands of eyeballs on your product every month. E-mail ryanstanzel@gmail.com
