Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 3.30.26

Minnesota WildGophersVikingsMinnesota Timberwolves

Mar 30

I will not be taking questions about the Duke men’s basketball team, sorry.

Only a Michigan win over UMD yesterday saved us from insufferable people living in the past and ranting about the four former WCHA teams in the Frozen Four.

UCLA’s women may not be as good as UConn, but they’re not far off. The Bruins just stifled the Gophers in the second half in the Sweet 16, and they’re off to the Final Four.

Wild Returns Home After Loss in Boston

In Boston Saturday early evening, the Wild played like a team on the end of a road trip with four days off before its next game.

The Bruins beat the Wild 6-3, ruining Minnesota’s chance to clinch a playoff spot. The Wild hasn’t won back-to-back games in almost a month.

Outside of the Kaprizov/Hartman/Zuccarello line, no one created much up front. Quinn Hughes was a minus-3, and is -7 in his last eight games. He’s the one guy who really needs a break. He’s a workhorse for sure, but does he need to play more than 31 minutes in that game against the Bruins. You’re down 4-1 early in the third; yes, the Wild made it a 4-3 game with 6:16 left, but the Wild has to be careful of not overusing Hughes any more than they already have.

The Wild hosts Vancouver - the worst team in the NHL by 17 points - Thursday after its mini break. The Canucks have lost five straight.

Pistons Overpower Wolves

I’m a Donte DiVincenzo fan, but the Wolves aren’t going to win a game when he’s their leading scorer. DD had 22 points but missed nine 3-pointers in the Wolves’ 109-87 blowout loss at home on Saturday to the East-leading Pistons. The Wolves shot a woeful 9-for-43 from 3-point range. Naz Reid 0-for-7. Bones Hyland 2-for-9.

Minnesota hosts Dallas tonight - Anthony Edwards has been upgraded to questionable. But the Wolves need Ant, they need Jaden McDaniels back, they need Ayo Dosunmo back, and they need Juius Randle (2-for-13 field goals) to be their best player once in awhile.

With eight games left, the Wolves and Rockets are tied for fifth and sixth in the West, and two games behind Denver (which has played two more games).

O’s Take Two of Three from Twins

A day after earning their first win of the year, the Twins dropped the rubber game of their season-opening, three-game homestand in Baltimore.

Minnesota lost 8-6 in a game they led 4-0. Bailey Ober, who was not good the second half of last season, allowed three runs in the fourth before yielding to Mick Abel. The reliever was touched for five runs in 3 ⅓ innings.

Koby Clemens was fine last year, but why’s he batting leadoff? Byron Buxton has played all three games - a good sign. He’s also hitting the ball, as is Trevor Larnach.

The Orioles are a good team, but they lost one game when Joe Ryan was brilliant, and another when their No. 3 starter had a 4-0 lead.

The Twins get their second road Opening Day today, taking on Kansas City at 3 p.m. Simeon Woods Richardson is on the mound for Minnesota.

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