Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 9.19.25
Wild forward Mats Zuccarello, slotted to play alongside Kirill Kaprizov, didn’t skate in day one of training camp and will be out “weeks”.
Gophers have the weekend off before B10 play kicks off against former teammate Athan Kaliakmanis and Rutgers next weekend.
Your last chance to see the Twins till March the next 3 days at Target Field. Could tonight be the last we see of Pablo Lopez? Wouldn’t put any type of cost cutting move past them.
Battle of Backups Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium
There’s no sense rehashing Wednesday’s injury report. No fewer than 12 players are on the Vikings’ injury report this week, albeit we could see Harrison Smith for the first time this season.
We’ll get to see what Carson Wentz can do under Kevin O’Connell’s QB rehab program, opposite the Bengals’ Jake Browning.
The Vikings opened as 1.5 point favorites and that’s moved to three points as of yesterday.
Important game for Minnesota, which heads to Europe for its next two games.
Lynx Record Historic Comeback to Earn Round Two Trip
At some point, especially in this playoff run, the Lynx will find a deficit they can’t overcome.
Minnesota earned its second straight double-digit comeback against Golden State, this one coming back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter for a **-** win and a two-game sweep over the expansion Valkyries in round one of the WNBA Playoffs. Each of the other three series is going three games. Minnesota will play either New York in a Finals rematch, or Phoenix, in a best-of-five semifinal series.
Napheesa Collier scored 24 points and Kayla McBride added 18 for the Lynx. Natisha Hiedeman, a key to many recent wins off the bench, scored just two points but had seven assists.
WNBA teams had been 1-90 in the WNBA playoffs when trailing by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter (the WNBA went to quarters in 2006).
Loons Falter as Late as You Can in U.S. Open Cup
A local publication this week wondered in print why Loons fans don’t get behind the U.S. Open Cup in-season tournament. I give you Wednesday night as a major indication why.
With four games left in the MLS regular season and the Loons two points behind the Western Conference lead and three points off the best record in the league, Minnesota took to the home pitch in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Austin. The U.S. Open Cup winner gets an automatic berth into the CONCACAF Gold Cup - but so does the Supporter’s Shield as the best regular season record.
The Loons gave up a goal in the 120th minute - at the end of two overtimes, just seconds away from penalty kicks, and suddenly must pick up the pieces to face Chicago in an MLS game that matters significantly 72 hours later.
The Loons had just one eligible striker - star Kelvin Yeboah, who was injured (hamstring injury) less than 30 minutes into the game. So that’s a problem for the weekend.
Austin, by the way, would be the Loons’ first round opponent if the playoffs started today.
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