Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 3.20.24
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You know my thoughts of fighting’s place in today’s NHL. RIP former Wild enforcer Chris Simon. Still no connection between fighting and CTE, Gary Bettman?
A-Rod and Marc Lore lost financial backing with one payment left to take over majority control of the Wolves.
Twins pitching staff takes another hit. Stud relievers Jhoan Duran and Caleb Thielbar will start the season on injured list, while newly acquired starter Anthony DeSclafani is likely to miss the entire season.
Huge night of sports last night, most happening after many of you went to bed.
Wild Blanks Ducks 4-0; Three Back
Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves for the Wild’s second shutout of the Ducks in a week, 4-0 in Anaheim. The Wild is 6-0-2 in its last eight and moved within three points of Vegas for the final wild card spot with 13 games to play. The Golden Knights have a game in hand. The Wild visits L.A. - which is two points up on Vegas - tonight in a nationally televised game on TNT.
Ryan Hartman broke the scoreless game 35 seconds into the middle period, soon followed by Jon Merrill. Kirill Kaprizov and Jacob Lucchini also scored, and Matt Boldy had two assists.
The Wild is 15-2-0 in its last 17 against the Ducks. Kaprizov scored his 150th career goal in his 265th game; only Matthews, Ovechkin and Stamkos have done it as quickly among active players.
Wolves Fall Just Short Against Nuggets
I’m not big into moral losses, but the Wolves had no business being in last night’s game against Denver, much less with a chance to win.
Down 18, shorthanded without KAT, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid, and a night after Anthony Edwards was feared lost after a dunk your great grandchildren will have posters of on their walls, the Wolves grinded away before eventually falling 115-12 at Target Center. ANT had 30 points but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have forced overtime.
Everyone’s going to get back-to-backs in the NBA, but it’s unfortunate the timing of this one against the Nuggets. The Wolves had played in Utah the night prior, and back-to-backs with a time change are always more difficult. The Nuggets and Thunder wake up tied this morning for first in the West, with the Wolves a game back after 69 games.
Reid suffered a head injury Monday against the Jazz. Neither he nor Rudy can miss much time if the Wolves expect to finish in the top two.
You’ve all seen the ANT dunk by now, but maybe not this angle. The speed and the violence he comes in with, my goodness.
Gophers Upset Butler in NIT
With no fewer than seven power conference teams giving up an NIT spot essentially for recruiting purposes, it was refreshing to see such a good game between Minnesota and Butler last night. The Gophers wound up on the winning end, nudging Butler 73-72 behind a pair of late free throws from Elijah Hawkins.
The Gophers play either NCAA snub Indiana State or SMU in round two.
Dawson Garcia led Minnesota with 25 points despite being in foul trouble. Parker Fox did Parker Fox things off the bench and scored 10 points two go along with two blocks and two steals.
No team has ever gotten better by not playing games. Good luck in the portal, Rick Pitino and others.
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