>>Wild Clip Kings In Shootout
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild almost imploded but salvaged both points in a 4-3 shootout win over the Kings. Jared Spurgeon, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy all scored first period power play goals to build up a 3-0 lead that lasted through two periods. But the Kings scored three straight in the third to erase the deficit including scoring the tying goal with under :45 seconds to play in regulation. But in the shootout, Marco Rossi scored the only goal and rookie Jesper Wallstedt stopped all four Kings shooters to help lift the Wild to victory. The win pushes Minnesota’s record to 2-1-0. They’re back on the ice tonight in Dallas for an 8:30 puck drop.
>>Wolves In Exhibition Game By 60 Points
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves destroyed the Guangzhou Loong-Lions 134-74 in an exhibition game at the Target Center last night. Rob Dillingham poured in 27 points in the victory, while Johnny Juzang (JOO-zang) added 17 off the bench. Minnesota did not play many of their tradition starters, including Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert (go-BARE), Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Naz Reid. The Wolves continue preseason play with a game against the Bulls on Thursday.
>>Vikings Have Both QBs Practicing
(Eagan, MN) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J-J McCarthy was a full participant in practice yesterday, marking his first workout since an ankle injury sidelined him on September 14th. Carson Wentz has been starting in McCarthy’s place and also was a full participant in practice yesterday despite having a sore left shoulder. Head coach Kevin O’Connell would not specify which Q-B would start in Sunday’s game at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. In other team news, the Vikings could be getting one of their top defensive players back soon. The team opened up the 21-day practice window for linebacker Blake Cashman yesterday. Cashman has been on injured reserve since injuring his hamstring against the Bears in Week One. The 29-year-old had 112 tackles and four-and-a-half sacks for the Purple last season. Sunday’s game kicks off at noon at U-S Bank Stadium.
>>Eagles’ Za’Darius Smith Abruptly Retires
(Philadelphia, PA) — The Philadelphia Eagles are losing a key member of their pass rush to retirement. Philadelphia edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, a former Viking, abruptly announced his retirement on social media on Monday. The veteran informed the team Monday morning about his decision following their Week Six loss to the New York Giants. The 33-year-old signed a one-year, 4.25-million-dollar deal with the team following Week One. He totaled 10 total tackles and one-and-a-half sacks through five games. Smith wraps up his career with 70-and-a-half sacks in 145 games split between the Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Lions and Eagles.
>>N-F-C North: Bears Beat Commanders On Last-Second FG
(Landover, MD) — New Chicago kicker Jake Moody kicked a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bears to a 25-24 win over the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. Moody converted 4-of-5 field goal attempts in his Bears debut to help the team notch its third straight victory. Caleb Williams completed 17-of-29 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown. D’Andre Swift rushed for 108 yards to go along with two catches for 67 yards and a score. The Bears is tied for third in the N-F-C North at 3-2. Washington Q-B Jayden Daniels went 19-of-26 for 211 yards, three TDs and an interception. Zach Ertz, Luke McCaffrey and Chris Moore each had a receiving touchdown in a game where the offense committed three turnovers. The Commanders sit second in the N-F-C East at 3-3.
>>N-F-L: Falcons Throttle Bills On MNF
(Atlanta, GA) — The Atlanta Falcons handled the Buffalo Bills 24-14 on Monday Night Football from Atlanta. Bijan Robinson exploded for a career-high 238 yards from scrimmage to go with a rushing touchdown. Atlanta has won back-to-back games and improved to 3-2. Josh Allen tossed two T-Ds and two picks for Buffalo, which has dropped two straight after winning its first four games of the year.
>>N-F-C North: Lions’ Branch Suspended For One Game Following MNF Fight
(Undated) — The N-F-L is handing down a punishment to Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch following a fight he instigated following the team’s Monday Night Football matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. The league is suspending Branch for one game without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct after he punched Kansas City wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and caused a brief fight after the game concluded. N-F-L vice president of football operations Jon Runyan said in a letter to Branch that his conduct “reflected poorly on the N-F-L and has no place” in the game. The N-F-L Network reports that the 23-year-old plans to appeal the suspension.
>>Gophers Gearing Up For Friday Football
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Golden Gopher football team is working on a short week with a Friday night game approaching against the 25th-rated Nebraska Cornhuskers. Minnesota is 4-2 on the season overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten after last Saturday’s 27-20 win over Purdue. The visiting Cornhuskers are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the league after beating Maryland last week 34-31. The Gophers have won the past six meetings against Nebraska, including the 13-10 win in Minneapolis in 2023, which was the last matchup between the two programs. Minnesota leads the all-time series 37-25-2. Gopher head coach P-J Fleck says the current winning streak against the Huskers doesn’t matter. He says he considers the series to be 0-0 heading into Friday’s game, which kicks off at 7:05 P-M.
>>College Football Players Honored
(Undated) — Minnesota State-Mankato sophomore Connor Fournier of Maple Grove is the N-S-I-C Football Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting a pair of field goals in the Mavericks win over Winona State last Saturday. Sioux Falls freshman quarterback Tate Schafer of Sioux Falls is the N-S-I-C Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Northern State junior linebacker Jake Adams of Pulaski, Wisconsin is the league’s defensive honoree. Saint John’s senior tight end Joey Gendreau of Shorewood is the MIAC (MY-ack) Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Gustavus Adolphus sophomore defensive back Chance Swansson of Inver Grove Heights is the MIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week. St. Olaf sophomore kicker Ethan Hess of Marshall is the MIAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week.
>>Southwest Minnesota State Tabbed N-S-I-C Favs
(Burnsville, MN) — The Southwest Minnesota State men’s basketball team has been tabbed the preseason favorite to win the N-S-I-C championship. The Mustangs received 11 of a possible 16 first-place votes in a survey of league coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own team. St. Cloud State was chosen second with two first-place tallies. Minnesota State-Mankato was picked third, followed by Concordia-St. Paul and Augustana, with each of those three getting a single first-place vote. Minnesota-Duluth was slotted in a tie for fifth, followed by Minnesota State-Moorhead, Sioux Falls, Winona State, Wayne State, and Minot State. Bemidji State was picked 12th, followed by Northern State, Jamestown, Minnesota-Crookston, and U-Mary. Southwest Minnesota State senior guard Jakob Braaten of Byron is the N-S-I-C Men’s Basketball South Division Preseason Player of the Year, while Minnesota-Duluth junior guard Caleb Siwek of Rosemount is the N-S-I-C Men’s Basketball North Division Preseason Player of the Year.
>>Minnesota State-Mankato Chosen First In N-S-I-C Women’s Hoops Preseason Poll
(Burnsville, MN) — The Minnesota State-Mankato women’s basketball team was picked to finish first in the N-S-I-C in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches. The Mavericks received eight of the possible 16 first-place votes. Concordia-St. Paul and Sioux Falls were chosen tied second and with the Golden Bears garnering four first-place markers and the Cougars nabbing three. Southwest Minnesota State was picked fourth, followed by St. Cloud State, which registered the final first-place vote. U-Mary was slotted sixth, followed by Minnesota State-Moorhead, Minnesota-Duluth, Minot State, and Northern State. Minnesota-Crookston was tabbed 11th, followed by Winona State, Wayne State, Bemidji State, Jamestown, and Augustana. Minnesota State-Mankato senior guard Natalie Bremer of Lake City is the N-S-I-C Women’s Basketball South Division Preseason Player of the Year, while Minnesota-Crookston senior guard Emma Miller of Albertville is the N-S-I-C Women’s Basketball North Division Preseason Player of the Year.
>>Mariners Go Up 2-0 In A-L-C-S, Dodgers Draw First Blood In N-L-C-S
(Undated) — The Major League Baseball postseason is heating up with the Championship Series. The Mariners blew out the Blue Jays 10-3 and are heading back home with a commanding, 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven A-L-C-S. Game Three takes place on Wednesday. The defending champion Dodgers drew first blood against the league-best Brewers 2-1 from Milwaukee. The N-L-C-S continues up North with Game Two on Tuesday.
