Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 11.27.23
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I was going to make the Wild win a game before The Takeout returned, but I need a creativeoutlet once in awhile...Happy first week of winter dance competition to those who celebrate. Monday and Wednesdayonly Takeouts this week before I head to Branson for four nights. Did you know the restaurants(there are no bars) close by 8 in Branson?
Vikings Host Bears on MNF
Eight days after losing a primetime game they shouldn’t have, the Vikings host a 3-8 Bearsteam they should not lose to on Monday Night Football. Still, it’s just a three-point spread(Vikings favored), and Minnesota will again play without Justin Jefferson. The Vikings will give JJ the bye for an extra week before a five-week sprint to hopefully the post-season.
The plot thickened considerably for the Vikings on Thanksgiving, when the Lions faltered to the Packers. The Vikings are only two games back of the Lions for first in the NFC North. They playtwice over the final five games of the season, so the Vikings control their own destiny here. Ahome playoff game would appear to be the only way Minnesota could win a playoff game.
Running Out of Headlines to Describe the Wild
The Wild’s winless streak hit seven games in a 4-1 matinee loss in Detroit yesterday. If a game could be the symbol for the Wild’s season...lethargic power play right off the bat, leading to a penalty of its own and an almost immediate 1-0 deficit. Tie the game late in the first...give up a goal early in the second and just never recover.
Listen, there’s plenty of blame to go around with this team. Maybe I’ve unfairly given a lot of flack to Dean Evason. GM Bill Guerin secured three aging veterans-Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman-to long term extensions at the beginning of this campaign. It made you think Guerin wasn’t too psyched about what’s in the immediate pipeline. But it’s also severely hampered Guerin’s ability todo anything at the trade deadline (or before) to get some assets.
And on the ice, Evason is stuck. He can’t sit anyone, as there’s no one to insert in the guy’s place. Matt Boldy, in the first year of a mega contract, took three penalties on six shifts covering two games and has one goal this season. Yelling isn’t working. Being a therapist isn’t working.
Vet Pat Maroon, a multiple Cup winner, went on a profanity laced tirade after yesterday’s game, in which he also took a bad penalty.
Just three teams have fewer points than the Wild. They’re going to have the worst 20-game start since their inaugural 2000-01 campaign.
I feel the need to remind everyone that this team, almost in its entirety (Matt Dumba gone, and Maroon for Ryan Reaves), made the playoffs last year and was in the division title race until two weeks remained in the season. Certainly, they overachieved, and are regressing to the mean somewhat. But this team isn’t a bottom of the NHL team.
It’ll be a tense crowd at The X Tuesday when St. Louis comes calling. And Ryan Hartman is facing a suspension for slew footing.
Wolves 12-4 After Whipping Grizzlies
A couple nights after a humbling home loss to Sacramento that made you think maybe the Wolves don’t have it all figured out, they easily dispatched of an undermanned Grizzlies team in Memphis, 119-97. Anthony Edwards, who wasn’t sure to play due to back spasms, scored 24 points.
For a few fleeting hours over the weekend, the Wolves had the best record in the NBA. They still lead the entire Western Conference.
Not that it matters, but the Wolves need some help in point differential to advance to the next round of the in season tournament. To even have a chance, they need to beat Oklahoma City (by a lot) Tuesday at home.
Gopher FB 5-7 But Going Bowling
This is why you recruit smart kids. Despite a 5-7 mark, below the six-win minimum to qualify for bowl games, a higher athletic ranking than other five-win teams sent P.J. Fleck’s team to a still unknown bowl game despite a 28-14 loss to Wisconsin. The Gophers have lost four in a row but will play in a mid December bowl game. Don’t let that online report fool you, they’re not going to face Jerry Kill in a bowl game.
I’m fine with P.J. accepting a bowl game. I may even watch it.
Gopher Hockey
A couple thrillers at Mariucci this weekend, where the Gophers tied Michigan State 3-3 on Friday (Spartans took the extra shootout point), and before winning 6-5 Sunday (love Sunday college hockey games) in overtime. Wild draft pick Jimmy Clark scored with 1:02 left in the extra session. The Spartans lead every other Big 10 team by at least seven points. They’re nine up on the fourth-place Gophers. Series at Penn State and Ohio State the next two weekends end the 2023 portion of the campaign for the Gophers.
The Gopher women have won six straight and are 11-2 after beating Harvard 3-1 and Cornell 5-1 in Arlington, Va. They return to WCHA action, hosting Bemidji State this weekend.
Gopher Hoops
The Gopher men dropped to 4-2 last night with a loss at San Francisco. They return home to take on New Orleans on Thursday before Big 10 play opens this weekend. Don’t look now, but the Gopher women are 5-1 after stopping Stony Brook 67-54 yesterday at The Barn. They’ll host Norfolk State on Wednesday.
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