Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 4-17-23.
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The Wolves and Wild each play Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with the Twin Cities hosting two playoff games on Friday and Sunday.
Nuggets Blow Out Wolves in Game 1
Most Wolves fans would have expected defense to be their downfall in the post-season. But not even the most cynical fans could see how dull the offense has been. The Wolves missed 25 3-pointers and hit just more than half their free throws in losing Game 1 in Denver, 109-80. Game 2 is Wednesday.
In the first play-in game, the Wolves went six minutes in the fourth quarter without scoring. Yes, they lit up a bad Oklahoma City team to claim the eighth seed. But Minnesota is clearly missing Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels. They scored four points in the first 4:45 of the second quarter last night, missing seven of their first eight shots as the Nuggets began to pull away.
The Wolves had scored fewer than 90 points just once this season. They shot just 37 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from 3-point range and hit only 9-of-16 free throws. Anthony Edwards had 18 points. KAT? Only 11. Rudy Gobert? The Wolves were outscored by 28 with him on the floor.
Now, the defense was abysmal too. Jamal Murray led the way with 24 points. The Nuggets had six players in double figures. Nikola Jokic seemed to be toying with Minnesota - he had 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists but played as if he could have scored 50 if needed.
For the record, my prediction pre-game was Nuggets in five. Very much in play.
Wild/Stars Series Begins Tonight in Dallas
The Wild open up the 2023 playoffs at Dallas tonight at 8:30 (ESPN2, more like 8:45) - the teams’ first playoff meeting since 2016. The Stars won in six games - holding off a furious rally in Game 6 in which the Wild came within a goal review from rallying from four goals down to force overtime.
The two biggest question marks in this series are - will Joel Eriksson Ek make a surprise appearance in Game 1, and who will start in net in Game 1?
Eriksson Ek hasn’t practiced since suffering an injury around his ankle/shin after blocking a shot a couple weeks ago. He’s skating on his own two days in a row, and reading between the lines after watching Dean Evason’s press conference Sunday, I’d be shocked if Ekky doesn’t play tonight. Generally a player has to at least practice with the team to play in a game, but Eriksson Ek clearly has a high tolerance for pain, and well the Wild is uber thin down the middle without him.
I’d start Filip Gustavsson in Game 1, and I’m almost certain Deano and his staff will as well. Not only has he been the best goalie this season - and potential Vezina finalist - but I expect to see both of these goalies play important roles in this series. Now, say the Wild gets rocked in Game 1 - certainly a possibility - I’d rather come back with a Cup winner like Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 2, rather than a guy playing his first playoff game.
John Klingberg got hurt in practice Saturday and may not be available tonight. Jon Merrill would draw in for him. Brock Faber, after just two NHL games, earned a spot on the blueline to start the post-season.
Game 2 is Wednesday, with the Wild hosting Game 3 Friday at 8:30 and Game 4 Sunday at 5:30. Get your coffee ready for Games 1 through 3. My prediction? Stars in 6. Sorry. The Wild’s regular roster has played once together in the last 2-3 weeks. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they come back to Minnesota down 2-0.
Twins and Yankees Split in the Bronx
The Twins and the Yankees split a four-game series at “The Stadium”, but it’s clear no one on this Twins roster cares anything about the post-season losing streak against the Bronx Bombers.
Whether they play in October remains to be seen of course.
Saturday’s game, a 6-1 Yankees win, featured Rocco getting tossed. Yankee starter Domingo Germain had resin (totally legal) on his hand, but the umpire thought it was too much and asked him to wash his hands. He reappeared for the next inning still having resin on his hand. Rocco thought he should get ejected. He didn’t, and instead Rocco was shown the gate, missing many of his team’s 11 strikeouts against Germain.
The Yankees’ win 2-0 yesterday, as the Twins scored just five runs in the final three games after tallying 11 in the series opener. Carlos Correa went 0-for-8 Saturday and Sunday. Byron Buxton is hitting .236. Max Kepler .091 after being injured. The offense has to heat up soon.
But the Twins would take their 10-6 mark in each of the season’s 16-game segments - they’d wind up with 100 wins. They’re a game up on Cleveland, with no one else in the AL Central having more than six wins.
The Twins play a three-game series starting Tuesday in Boston.
Gophers’ Murphy, Heise Play Key Roles in U.S. Gold Medal win over Canada
Hilary Knight will get the headlines for the hat trick, but the Gophers’ Abbey Murphy (remember, just a third team All WCHA selection) played an important role in the Americans’ 6-3 win over Canada at the World Championships yesterday. Canada had gotten the better of the U.S. in many international tournaments recently.
Murphy, just 21 years old, will spend the next 15 years as one of the faces of U.S.A. Hockey. Last night, she not only scored a goal but she drew a penalty - that’s her jam - that set up the winning goal.
Not to be lost is teammate Taylor Heise, who was somehow not a finalist for the Patty Kaz this year. Heise assisted on the game-winner, and was the third leading scorer at the World Championships. She had one goal and ELEVEN assists.
Loons’ Offensive Struggles Continue in Loss to Orlando City
The Loons are suddenly winless in their last two games, with scoring problems of recent seasons rearing its ugly head. Minnesota took a 1-0 lead early in the second half Saturday on a cold, rainy night at Allianz field, then watched Orlando City score twice, including the game-winner with two minutes left. The 3-2-2 Loons, who have scored just eight goals in seven games, play at Seattle Saturday.
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