Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 3.27.26
Gopher women are an overwhelming underdog against UCLA in the Sweet 16 tonight in Sacramento. It’s a 6:30 p.m. tipoff on ESPN.
The thing about no Cinderellas, is you get an awesome Sweet 16.
It’s high time to get NCAA hockey regionals at school sites.
Eriksson Ek Rescues Wild with GWG with 4.4 Ticks Left
When it appeared the Wild would blow a two-goal lead for the second straight game, Joel Eriksson Ek scored the game-winner with 4.4 seconds left in a 3-2 decision at an undermanned Florida Panthers. Minnesota won in regulation for the first time in seven games.
Combined with the Stars loss to the Islanders, the Wild moved within three points of Dallas (nine games left for Minnesota, nine for the Stars). The winner gets home ice in a first-round series, unless Colorado collapses.
The Wild hadn’t lost a game in which they’d held a two-goal lead until their last game, in Tampa. They led 2-0 in this one and seemed to be on cruise control. Truth be told, it could have been 8-2 had it not been for an awesome performance by Panthers goalie Daniil Tarasov (46 saves).
Marcus Foligno broke a scoreless tie early in the second period, in his first game with his brother. Ryan Hartman scored what looked to be a back-breaking goal late in the second period, but the Panthers scored twice in the third. The tying goal, by Aaron Ekblad, came with the extra attacker and 63 seconds left on the clock.
It’s a startling fall from grace for the two-time defending champion Panthers, who have had a slew of injuries all season.
The Wild visits Boston on Saturday for a rare 4 p.m. start.
Wolves Win Wildest Game of Year
I said buckle up for the final 10 Wolves’ games, but the seat belt may be broken after Wednesday’s 110-108 overtime win over the Rockets. Minnesota led by double digits late, was outscored 24-2 the rest of regulation and into overtime, before scoring the final 15 points of the game to secure the victory.
What’s even more amazing is that already without Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu, the Wolves lost Jaden McDaniels to injury, Rudy Gobert to six personal fouls and a bizarre ejection to mild-mannered Naz Reid.
Julius Randle hit the game-winning jumper with 8.8 seconds left in the extra session, the Wolves’ 14th and 15th straight point to end the game. It marked the NBA’s biggest overtime comeback since play-by-play started being logged, so at least since 1997.
Randle had all 24 of his points after overtime, a game after struggling mightily. Well, he’s struggled for more than a month. All told, five of the Wolves’ top seven players were missing at the end of the game.
The NBA, by its own admission, missed five calls late in the game.
The Wolves host the East’s best, Detroit, on Saturday. They’ve got nine games left and are in fifth, two games back of the Lakers and a half game back of the Nuggets. Could it be yet another Minnesota/Denver playoff series?
Twins Won’t Go 162-0
The Twins are going to need to figure out how to win some 2-1 games, because there will be a bunch of them.
Baltimore beat Minnesota by that exact score in yesterday’s season opener in Maryland, as the Twins offense went silent and couldn’t support Joe Ryan.
The Twins went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and grounded into three double plays in a season opener for the first time in more than 60 years. Their lone run came on a sacrifice fly after a Byron Buxton triple.
Ryan allowed just a hit and two walks in 5 ⅓ innings, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the Orioles silent. If the Twins are even to be a .500 team, they can’t afford to lose games in which Ryan doesn’t allow a run.
Taj Bradley gets the ball in the second game of the year Saturday in Baltimore. Bradley started six games for the Twins last season, with an ERA approaching 7.00.
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