Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 12.6.23

Sports That Aren't HockeyVikingsGophersWild

Dec 6

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Biggest sports win out of the Twin Cities the last week was a Stanzel placing 10th in the Branson Holiday Spectacular out of 172 dancers.

Best-record-in-the-NBA Wolves take on the Spurs at home tonight in a national game on ESPN (6:30 tipoff). Anthony Edwards could return from injury after a few days off.

Vikings return Sunday from their bye at the Raiders. Kevin O’Connell will announce his starting QB today. Justin Jefferson returns Sunday.

Gopher men (5-3) open Big 10 play tonight against Nebraska to start a five-game homestand. Women (7-1) are at Kentucky.

Wild 4-0 Under Hynes

Dean Evason must be furious watching the Wild - if he’s watching at all. The same team that drove him into the coaching unemployment line is 4-0 and unchallenged under John Hynes, including a 5-2 win at Calgary last night. The Wild’s maligned PK has allowed just one goal since Evason and Bob Woods were dismissed.

Now, the Wild has played easy teams. But they weren’t playing any killers under Deano. Matt Boldy, who maybe needed the new voice more than anyone, is suddenly hot and scored two goals last night. Kirill Kaprizov, who looked injured and like a shell of his former self, had 16 shot attempts last night in Calgary. Mats Zuccarello has been pretty good all year but he’s been dynamite the last week, and has put this team on his back. He’s got points in 10 straight games and last night became the first Norweigan born NHL’er to reach 600 points.

The Wild still has a long way to go at 9-10-4, and they play a good Vancouver team on Thursday. But Minnesota is back to within five points of a playoff spot.

GWH Ties St. Cloud State, Prepares for No. 3 Wisconsin

This ain’t your mother’s St. Cloud State women’s hockey team. The Huskies, ranked eighth nationally, played the No. 2 Gophers to a 1-1 tie in St. Cloud last night, although the Gophers won the shootout to pick up the extra point. Peyton Hemp scored the Gophers’ lone goal, while Allie Franco netted the deciding tally in the shootout. Minnesota is 106-4-3 all-time against the Huskies.

No rest for the weary for the Gophers, who host No. 3 Wisconsin Friday and Saturday in their final games before winter break. Minnesota is outscoring its opponents 68-22, and Wisonsin is doing the same by a whopping 89-22 margin. The Gophers, Badgers and No. 1 Ohio State are separated by just three points atop the WCHA.

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