Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 2.26.24
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You can’t step in The Barn on Wednesday and see Caitlin Clark for less than $100 currently. Lower level going for $200 plus. You’ll need Peacock to watch. Next month’s B10 Tournament (at Target Center) is sold out for the first time in the event’s history.
A Class A “upset” as Warroad takes its third straight state title. Edina wins 2A. I know people who were rooting for Edina over Minnetonka in the semis and asked them if they felt dirty.
Taylor Heise is on long term injury reserve, not good for a PWHL Minnesota team that struggles to score goals. They were blanked 2-0 by Boston at The X on Sunday and play host to Toronto at Ridder on Tuesday.
An off-season of turmoil didn’t matter to the Loons, who dispatched of Austin 2-1 on the road in their regular season opener on Saturday. Just like you expected, temps near 70 for the Loons’ home opener Sunday versus Columbus.
Wild Stays Hot but Still Four Back
Huge back-to-back wins on the west coast for the Wild, which dispatched of Edmonton 4-2 and Seattle 5-2 Friday and Saturday. The Wild’s top line accumulated 13 goals and 28 points in just four games last week.
But with how bad the season started, the Wild’s 7-1-1 run this month STILL leaves them four points out of a playoff spot after Nashville won its fifth straight last night.
The Wild hosts Carolina on Tuesday before a monumental road game in Nashville on Thursday.
Wolves Split Pair After All-Star Break
It’s unfortunate the NBA schedule saw a marquee matchup such as the Wolves and Bucks in the first game out of the All-Star Break. The Wolves lost a game they frankly shouldn’t have, 112-107, before beating Brooklyn 101-86 on Saturday.
Against the Bucks, the Wolves were outscored 36-13 in a miserable third quarter and even a strong fourth couldn’t make a difference. Minnesota was no match for Giannis, who had 33 points and 13 rebounds.
The Wolves’ win over Brooklyn on Saturday righted the ship sort of, although it was not a game the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame will be asking for tape of. Anthony Edwards had 29 points, leading the Wolves in scoring for the seventh time in eight games.
The 40-17 Wolves host an awful San Antonio team on Tuesday and Memphis on Wednesday as this five-game homestand continues. The Spurs did beat Minnesota 113-112 on Jan. 27.
Gopher Hoops
A win in Nebraska last night would have strengthened the Gopher men’s NCAA bubble stance, but instead they were never in a 73-55 loss to the Cornhuskers. They’ve got four games left to make their pitch, starting Wednesday in Illinois.
But real talk here. It’s been a nice bounceback season for the Gophers, but their RPI is in the triple digits. It’s RIP their Big Dance chances without sweeping the rest of the regular season and mixing in a couple wins in the BIg 10 Tournament.
Gopher Hockey
The most valuable player in college hockey closed out her team’s 4-2 win over UMD on Saturday with a giant slapshot from close range on an empty net goal, making the Bulldogs furious. Abbey Murphy is nothing if not controversial.
The teams had tied the night prior in a series that didn’t matter to either team in the standings. But Murphy plays like every minute matters every night. She’s got 31 goals - three more than any other Division I player. Only nine others have 20 or more goals.
Minnesota finished third in the WCHA and hosts Minnesota State for a best-of-three this weekend in the first round. A semifinal match-up against Wisconsin most likely awaits. The Badgers upset top-ranked Ohio State this weekend.
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