Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 10.20.23
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Vikings, Gophers, Wolves — Oh My!
The Vikings play host to the 49ers on Monday night. I’m doing stats for 49ers radio.
Gopher men’s hockey, ranked No. 1 in both polls, is at No. 5 North Dakota tonight/tomorrow. Don’t tell me you miss the WCHA.
The Wolves ended the pre-season perfect with a 114-105 win over the Bulls behind 19 points from Anthony Edwards. The Wolves open the regular season Wednesday in Toronto.
Kings Light Up Fleury Early, Often
The Cam Talbot Revenge Game wasn’t pretty. Talbot got the better of his former teammate Marc-Andre Fleury, thanks to four first period goals including two in 12 seconds from Pierre-Luc Dubois in the Kings’ 7-3 win at The X last night.
The Wild actually got to Talbot, who was traded to Ottawa two off-seasons ago after he was upset Fleury signed a contract extension, for a 2-1 lead eight minutes in behind goals from Connor Dewar and Kirill Kaprizov.
But LA erupted for three goals in a span of 3:28, including two from Dubois in the final minute of the first period. Fleury gave up five goals total - the Kings scored two empty net goals.
The Wild’s 5-on-5 play has left a lot to be desired. It scored all five goals Tuesday in Montreal on the power play. Minnesota’s fourth line, with Dewar, Brandon Duhaime and Pat Maroon, has been the team’s best statistically. Not ideal.
The Wild gets two more games on this homestand, beginning Saturday night at 7 against Columbus.
Gopher Football at Iowa on Saturday
The Gophers have lost the last eight meetings with Iowa, as the Floyd of Rosedale pig has spent the last 2,898 days in Iowa City. Yet the 6-1 Hawkeyes are only 3.5 point favorites over P.J. Fleck’s crew. This game has a ridiculously low 31.5 over/under - don’t expect much offense.
Loons Hit Decision Day with Playoff Chance
Saturday is Decision Day in the MLS, where every Eastern Conference team plays simultaneously, and every Western Conference team plays simultaneously three hours later. The Loons will begin play 11th with 41 points - they could finish as high as seventh. Seventh place is guaranteed a three-game series in the first round of the playoffs; eighth and ninth play a one-game playoff.
To advance to the post-season, the Loons will have to do something they’ve never done in the regular season - win in Kansas City - plus get some help. Minnesota’s lone win in 10 attempts in KC came in the 2020 playoffs.
Two of the five teams ahead of the Loons play a team already eliminated from the post-season.
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