Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 10.16.23

Sports That Aren't HockeyTwinsVikingsGophersWildLynxTimberwolvesPWHLLoons

Oct 16

Written By Ryan Stanzel

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Vikings Survive - Barely - in Chicago

Even the most positive of Vikings fans (there are some, I hear) would admit they were very lucky to sneak by the Bears 19-13 in Chicago yesterday. With the Bears driving for a potential game winning score late in regulation, rookie former Division II quarterback Tyson Bagent badly underthrew a receiver and was intercepted by Byron Murphy Jr.

The Vikings improved to 2-4 in another one score game, ahead of next week’s Monday night matchup with the 49ers, who lost their first game and best player yesterday.

This game was ugly, there’s no understating it. Kirk Cousins threw for only 181 yards - more if the highest paid tight end in the game T.J. Hockenson would catch a pass that wasn’t thrown right at his numbers. The Vikings couldn’t get anything going on the ground - 44 yards for Alexander Mattison. But the defense picked them up. They sacked Justin Fields four times, bringing on Bagent for his NFL debut, and Jordan Hicks returned a fumble 46 yards for a TD. All told, Minnesota forced three turnovers.

But the Vikings will take a win without Justin Jefferson. They’re three back of Detroit, which may clinch the division before their Thanksgiving game.

Wild Whipped in Toronto

I told you the Wild would miss Matt Dumba. Yes, he made some mistakes, but he’s still better than four defensemen the Wild is running out there each night in the absence of Jared Spurgeon. The Wild’s bottom four blueliners were on display in a 7-4 loss at Toronto on Saturday. The Wild plays at Montreal on Tuesday.

Brock Faber has been brilliant, and wasn’t on the ice for any of the Leafs’ seven goals Saturday. But the bottom four have been just that, and Alex Goligoski also took a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty out of frustration with the Wild buzzing and down just a goal early in the third period.

The problem in salary cap hell of course is there isn’t much the Wild could do, save for insert minor leaguer Dakota Mermis in for Goligoski. Spurgeson is still listed week-to-week.

The Wild has never had much luck in Toronto. I remember one Father’s Trip, a completely silent suite and then bus ride and then plane ride en route to Philly (where we also got beaten badly).

Gopher Men, Women Sweep Tommies

The Gopher men swept St. Thomas, but the Tommies made quite an impression, taking the Gophers to OT Friday at The X in one of the best college hockey games you’ll ever see. Minnesota rallied from two goals down in the third period for a 6-5 OT win, as Jimmy Snuggerud’s second goal of the game ended it. Snuggerud, whose 2022-23 linemates are now in the NHL, also scored twice in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Mariucci. St. Thomas is going to win some games this year. The Gophers visit rival North Dakota for what should be an entertaining atmosphere Friday and Saturday.

Things weren’t quite as interesting on the women’s side, as the Gophers earned a 8-0 win over St. Thomas at The X and then a 4-0 decision on the road. Abbey Murphy had three goals Friday and one Saturday. The 4-0 Gophers have outscored their opponents 20-1 but will get a stiffer test in a rare Tuesday home game against 5-1 St. Cloud State.

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