Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 3.28.25

Mar 28

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Gophers Blow Two-Goal Lead, Lose in OT in NCAA Tournament

A lot of Gopher hockey fans went to bed last night with a two-goal lead in the third period and are waking up shaking their heads this morning. There will be no teams from the State of Hockey in the Frozen Four - or the final eight for that matter - after UMass rallied for a 5-4 overtime win in Fargo late last night.

I’m no “officiating cost us” guy but just a brutal no call early in overtime that led immediately to the winning goal. Additionally, after UMass cut the lead to 3-2 in the third, goalie Liam Souliere had an equipment issue. The referees did not give him time to fix it - instead making a cold goalie come in, in the third period of an NCAA Tournament game.

Regardless, you can’t blow a two-goal, third-period lead. Minnesota was a top four team the entire season and won’t be one of the final eight playing. It’ll be UMass and Western Michigan in the regional final, after the Broncos beat Minnesota State in double OT. If you need a rooting interest, each of WMU’s two double OT goals in the last week have been scored by Minnesotans.

Wild Tops Caps 4-2 as Injured Stars Begin to Skate

The Wild got good news on the practice ice, and then got good news on the game ice. After seeing Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek begin skating on their own before practice, the Wild got two goals from Frederick Gaudreau in a 4-2 win over Alexander Ovechkin’s Capitals at The X last night.

It was a win the Wild desperately needed - they began the night with just a six-point cushion for the final playoff spot. Nine games remain after last night, starting with a Saturday home game against the Devils in the opener of a home-and-home versus New Jersey.

Neither Dolla Bill or JEEK are anywhere close to returning, but at least if the Wild can win another game or two here in the short term to solidify the playoff spot, they can take their time and be fully ready for the playoffs.

Matt Boldy added a goal and an assist, and Jon Merrill scored his second goal of the season.

Twins’ Fundamentals Lacking in Opening Loss

For as much time as major league players spend on fundamentals in spring training, there’s no reason for them not to perform like a Tom Emansky video early on. But the Twins looked like a team still shaking off the winter rust in their season opener, making some costly miscues early en route to a 5-3 loss at St. Louis in a game delayed 90 minutes by rain and an obnoxiously long pre-game ceremony.

Pablo Lopez had a balk in the first inning, and the next inning had an errant pickoff throw with a runner dead to rights. The result was an early 4-0 deficit after three innings.

And while the bats eventually came around, the top three in the Twins lineup of Matt Wallner, Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis went 0-for-12. Harrison Bader hit his first homer as a Twin. But Minnesota managed just one hit in eight at bats with a runner in scoring position. They left the bases loaded in the second.

It’s a long season of course, and at least no one got hurt. No game Friday; Joe Ryan toes the rubber on Saturday.

Wolves In Three-Way Tussle for Sixth

The Wolves’ eight-game win streak seemed like forever ago. They’ve now lost three of four after a rather non competitive 119-103 loss to the Pacers on Monday.

When the Wolves were winning, Golden State couldn’t lose. Now, Minnesota, Golden State and the Clippars all can’t seem to buy a win. L.A. has actually bypassed the other two into sixth. If the season ended today, it’d be the Wolves and Warriors in the play-in.

The Wolves aren’t strong enough inside to offset a shooting night like Monday - ANT and Donte DiVincenzo combined to go 2-for-18 from 3-point range. In fairness to ANT, he’s nursing a wrist injury (then maybe don’t take 11 3’s).

Eight games remain starting tonight against Phoenix at Target Center. The motivated Suns are just outside the top 10 in the West.

GWBB into WBIT Semifinals

It took a furious rally and 35 points from Amaya Battle, but the Gophers are into the semifinals of the WBIT after an 82-77 home win over Gonzaga at The Barn last night. Minnesota is the second seed but was playing its first home game out of three in the tournament. Minnesota will take on Florida in Indianapolis on Monday, with the winner taking on Belmont or Villanova. Battle not only scored 35 points, she had 10 assists, meaning she had a hand in about three quarters of Minnesota’s points.

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