Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 10.30.24
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With Christian Darrisaw out for the year, the Vikings trade for Jags’ left tackle Cam Robinson, who is in the final year of his contract.
Loons Win Game 1 in PK’s
The Loons are a game away from the Western Conference semifinals, after a dramatic six-round penalty kick shootout victory on the road over Real Salt Lake in Game 1.
Game 2 is Saturday in Saint Paul at 8 p.m. In 2023, all eight Game 1 winners in the conference quarterfinals went on to win the series.
The teams spent about 60 minutes looking like they’d just be satisfied taking their chances on penalties, but the final 30 saw some amazing action.
Somehow the Loons didn’t score on this sequence with three chances that easily could have been goals, including two saves by Zac MacMath.
In round six of penalties, the Loons’ Jefferson Diaz scored and Real Salt Lake’s Braian Ojeda struck one off the crossbar.
Wild Wins Fleury’s Last Game in Pittsburgh
The Penguins threatened to ruin Marc-Andre Fleury’s last game in Pittsburgh, but the Wild scored four straight goals after an early two-goal deficit en route to a 5-3 win. Flower, who spent the better part of two days kissing babies and shaking hands in western Pennsylvania, gave up two early goals to the struggling Penguins. The remaining crowd chanted “FLEURY, FLEURY, FLEURY” as the final seconds ticked off the clock, and his current and former teammates made him stay on the ice to soak it all in.
Minnesota finished its seven-game road trip 5-1-1 and heads home with a 6-1-2 mark to face Tampa Bay on Friday. They’ve been on the road 16 of the last 18 nights.
It was the Wild’s role players who led the comeback. Jakub Lauko got them on the board, and then Frederick Gaudreau scored his first two goals of the season. Kirill Kaprizov had an empty net goal and two assists. Dolla Bill Kirill has a hand in more than half the Wild’s goals this season.
Jared Spurgeon returned from his lower body injury that is related to last year’s season-ending surgery. The Wild hopes to get Ryan Hartman back Friday.
Wolves Waste Ant’s Hot Start, Lose to Mavs
Anthony Edwards scored 24 points in the game’s first 12 minutes as the Wolves built an eight-point lead, but Dallas took advantage of 19 Minnesota turnovers to beat the Wolves 120-114 in a playoff rematch at Target Center.
Edwards hit six 3-pointers in the opening quarter. But in the final 36 minutes, he managed just 13 points and no 3-pointers. Ant committed six turnovers. Their two main ball handlers - Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo - went 3-for-12.
The Wolves had another miserable night taking care of the basketball, getting outscored 25-5 off turnovers.. Defensively, just like in the post-season they had no answer for Kyrie Irving (35 points). Luca Doncic (24 points) missed his first seven 3-pointers, but he hit a 35-footer to seal the game with 64 seconds left. That came after two of the Mavericks’ 12 offensive rebounds. Minnesota also missed nine free throws.
The 2-2 Wolves get another playoff rematch, this one with Denver on Friday at Target Center.
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