Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 11.22.24

Nov 22

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The Loons try to advance to the MLS’ final four when they take on the Galaxy in L.A. just a touch after 5 p.m. central Sunday. Either LAFC or Seattle awaits in the Western Conference Final.

The Vikings are 3.5-point favorites heading to Chicago. The Bears have lost four straight. Another game Minnesota simply must win to keep pace with Detroit. The Vikings have a pair of first-place teams - Arizona and Atlanta - the next two weeks.

The Gophers are 12-point underdogs at home against Penn State on Senior Day. I think it’ll be a much closer game than that, although the No. 4 Nittany Lions will prevail.

Minnetonka and Maple Grove for the Class 6A Prep Bowl tonight at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Wild Survives Early Fleury Gaffe, Beats Oilers 5-3

There were many times during Marc-Andre Fleury’s tenure with the Wild (and before he got here if we’re being honest) that the team could not have rebounded from the type of goal he gave up 27 seconds into last night’s game in Edmonton.

This team is different. The Wild got two goals and an assist from Freddie Gaudreau in a 5-3 win over last year’s Western Conference champions.

Fleury made 29 saves in his 1,000th career start. Fleury took a swing at a bouncing puck to clear it - something he does regularly - but it skidded under his legs and into the net for a 1-0 Edmonton lead just 27 ticks in.

A scary moment for Kirill Kaprizov, who took a hit to the knee but he returned to the game almost immediately.

Minnesota takes its league-high nine road wins to Calgary tomorrow. The Wild is just three points behind Winnipeg for No. 1 in the NHL.

Wolves Slow to Start, Finish

The Wolves struggle in the first quarter and final quarter of most games, so it’s no shock that they’re just a game above the .500 mark at 8-7. Minnesota allowed Toronto 65 points total in the opening and final 12 minutes in last night’s 110-105 loss in Toronto.

While there’s plenty of time to correct this, let’s be frank, it’s a disappointing start for a team that went to the Conference Finals last year.

Chris Finch hasn’t yet found the right rotation, and Rudy Gobert has been an atrocity since signing his contract extension on the day the season opened. Last night, he was so upset he didn’t get passed the ball, he complained long enough to get a three-second violation. Rudy then was whistled for a frustration foul after a hip check on the ensuing possession.

Seventeen more turnovers for Minnesota, which missed 23 of the 35 3-pointers they took.

And don’t look now, they’re at the high flying Celtics, winners of three in a row and 12-3 overall, Sunday at 2:30.

Gopher Hockey

The Gopher men put their unblemished 4-0-0 Big 10 mark on the line at Notre Dame this weekend. Minnesota did lose its last game, in Bemidji State, on Saturday.

The No. 3 Gopher women have won six straight heading into a home-and-home with St. Cloud State, which is also ranked in the top 10. The Huskies have just won regulation win in their last eight games, though.

Gopher Hoops

It remains to be seen how they’ll do when they play anyone of consequence, but the Gopher women are 6-0 after whipping Eastern Illinois 81-52 at Williams Arena on Wednesday. Minnesota put the game away with a 29-6 second quarter.

The Gophers host Montana on Sunday. The men are off until Monday.

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