Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 10.27.23
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Minnesota Superior — Cookin’?
The PWHL has managed to do the impossible: make both the Twin Cities and Duluth upset. Welcome the “Minnesota Superior” this winter. Silly name for a team that plays at Xcel Energy Center.
Here’s my shocked face to see Dalvin Cook is unhappy in New York and plans on asking the Jets for a trade.
Wild a No Show in Philly
Just an unfathomably poor start and overall performance last night by the Wild, which began a three-game Eastern road trip with a 6-2 loss in Philly. Thankfully since it was ESPN+, not many people watched it, and those who did, did with a 60 second delay…
The Wild has played seven games - and has yet to start well. It was still only 1-0 after one, but by the time Minnesotan Bobby Brink scored his first NHL goal midway through the second, it was a 3-0 game with the listless Wild not threatening Carter Hart. The Wild made it 3-2 in the third, but the Flyers quickly put three more up on the board against this struggling defense and Filip Gustavsson.
Jujhar Khaira made his Wild debut and will be hitting Iowa again soon. He had two turnovers you wouldn’t believe in the same shift.
The good news is the Wild gets back at it tonight in Washington against a Capitals team that’s struggling big time to begin the season.
Here’s the thing - we know the Wild’s defense is down Jared Spurgeon, and not that strong to start. While you can’t pin any of this on Gustavsson particularly, it’s not against NHL rules for him to make a save or two that he shouldn’t. And the Wild forwards have got to do a better job supporting the D. Kirill Kaprizov doesn’t spend nearly enough time in the offensive zone because he hasn’t been good enough in the defensive zone.
Wolves Misfire in Season Opener in Atlanta
The Wolves will try to avoid an 0-2 start when they host Miami Saturday at Target Center in their home opener. They lost their season opener 97-94 in Atlanta on Wednesday.
I thought I read the boxscore wrong for Wednesday’s game when seeing that Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns combined to launch 52 shots. They hit only eight apiece, including 2-for-10 from 3 from KAT.
Vikings in Green Bay Sunday
It’s not ideal to play a road rivalry game at noon coming off an emotional Monday Night Football win - although the Niners had to fly back to California before their game this Sunday against Cincy.
It’s the Vikings and Packers, and for once they’re not playing with division title hopes on the line. However, the winner of this game has a decent shot of making the playoffs still, especially if it’s Minnesota.
The letdown could be real for Minnesota. They’re going to have to run the ball more/better than they did against San Francisco. And they can against this Packers swiss cheese defense. Expect to see more of Cam Akers coming out of the backfield.
Gopher FB Hosts Spartans
The Gophers aren’t just favored over a lowly Michigan State team - they’re eight-point favorites as the Spartans come into Huntington Bank Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. game Saturday.
Minnesota plays close games, so it’s telling that the spread here is eight. It’d be easy for the Gophers to have a let down after winning in Iowa last week, but Minnesota just has more talent than the Spartans (can’t always say that, although you’ll probably say it for a while).
Gopher Hockey Blown Out by Wisconsin
The Vikings and Packers aren’t the only Border Battle this weekend. The top-ranked Gopher men’s hockey team kicked off a Thursday-Friday series with a 5-2 loss last night against No. 14 Wisconsin at Mariucci. The Badgers broke open a 2-2 game in the second period with a pair of goals. Same two teams tonight.
The Gopher women are ranked No. 4 and visit No. 2 Ohio State tonight/tomorrow in a rematch of last year’s WCHA Tournament title game.
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