Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 9.12.25
9:30 kickoff for the Gophers at Cal on Saturday night…Minnesota is a 2.5-point favorite.
Vikings Host Falcons Looking for 2-0 Start
The Vikings will be without injured Blake Cashman and Ty Chandler until at least week 6, and could still be without Harrison Smith and Christian Darrisaw for Sunday night’s game against Atlanta at U.S. Bank Stadium.
It’ll be new daddy J.J. McCarthy against Michael Penix in a national championship rematch - of course it’s only McCarthy’s second contest that counts since that game.
Kaprizov Rejects Richest Deal in NHL History
They say never accept the first offer. But, what if the offer is the richest in NHL history?
Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild star who has one year left on his current contract, turned down an eight-year, $128 million contract that would have made him the highest paid player per year in NHL history.
Is it over? Of course not.
But Wild fans, Bill Guerin and Craig Leipold have to be getting nervous.
Part of this is actually a good sign. Dolla Bill Kirill wants to win. He’s probably prefer a four- or five-year contract, enabling him to go chase a Cup somewhere if the Wild’s first-round miseries continue. And nothing against my beloved Moscow on the Hill, but there are plenty more Russians and Russian establishments in a place, say, like New York.
But he’s also not young - he’s already 28 - and he may not get the huge money he wants at age 33.
I see three scenarios. In order of likelihood…the Wild and Kaprizov agree to a five-year contract sometime before the trade deadline…the Wild trades Kaprizov (he does have a no trade) before the season opens…and the Wild trades Kaprizov at the trade deadline if it becomes obvious he won’t re-sign.
Lynx Beat Golden State in Regular Season Finale, Setting Up Playoff Series with Valkyries
Golden State had a chance to avoid a first-round matchup with the regular-season champion Lynx, but an eight-point first quarter was too much to overcome.
Red-hot Natisha Hiedeman scored 21 points off the bench and Napheesa Collier added 19, as Minnesota completed a four-game regular season sweep of expansion Golden State, 72-53, at Target Center, setting up a best-of-three series with the eighth-seeded Valkyries. The series starts Sunday at Target Center.
Minnesota went 20-2 in the regular season at home and 34-10 overall in the regular season. It’s hard to envision them losing this first-round matchup.
The Lynx could very well face the New York Liberty in a Finals rematch in round two.
Loons in San Diego for Huge Late Regular Season Game
Minnesota visits San Diego FC late Saturday in what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest regular season games in franchise history. The Loons trail San Diego by five points with four games left after Saturday. A win, and first place in the West is still possible.
The MLS then breaks for two weeks - U.S. Open Cup semis - with a month left in the regular season.
Sixteen Games Left for Twins
After winning back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month, the Twins dropped the final two of a three-game set in Anaheim. Home tonight for three each against Arizona and my Yankees.
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