QUICK START: When was the last time the Wild and Wolves both were in the second round of their league playoffs? It’s never happened. Add the Frost to the mix as they go for a third PWHL title in the league’s third season and we have an unprecedented week coming up in Minnesota sports. Throw in the lack of a Minnesota men’s professional team winning a championship in 35 years and there’s reason to defer whatever else you’re doing to follow along. I don’t like to preach, but if you haven’t taken notice, you’re missing sports at a level of intensity that doesn’t come around very often. — Howard Sinker
QUICK BITS: Wild — Does Sunday’s 9-6 loss to Colorado in Game 1 mean we’ll see Filip Gustavsson (d/b/a “The Gus Bus”) parked in front of the Minnesota net for Game 2? Wolves — Anthony Edwards is back, but does that mean he’ll be back in action for tonight’s opener in San Antonio? Frost — Can they avoid playing on back-to-back nights this week — owing to scheduling issues at Grand Casino Arena — by sweeping their semifinal series from first-place Montreal?
QUICK QUESTION (AND ANSWER): A Sports Take reader posed this question to Google on Friday morning. “What was the betting line on the Twins, Wolves and Wild all winning last night?” As the night started, I don’t think many people imagined both the Wild and Wolves wrapping up their playoffs — in addition to the Twins beating Toronto. “Based on odds . . . a parlay for the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild all to win on Thursday night was listed at approximately +1062 odds. A $10 wager on this specific three-team parlay would have paid out roughly $116.” In other words, the odds by people who make them were about 11.5 to 1.
SEVEN DAYS IN MAY: Daily playoff schedule through the weekend.
MONDAY: Wolves at San Antonio, Game 1, 8:30 p.m. Peacock, NBC Sports Network.
TUESDAY: Frost at Montreal, Game 2, 6 p.m. Fox9+, Prime; Wild at Colorado, Game 2, 7 p.m., ESPN.
WEDNESDAY: Wolves at San Antonio, Game 2, 8: 30 p.m., ESPN.
THURSDAY: Frost vs. Montreal, Game 3, Grand Casino Arena, 6 p.m., FOX9+, Prime.
FRIDAY: Wolves vs. San Antonio, Game 3 Target Center, 8:30 p.m., Prime. Frost vs Montreal, Game 4 (if needed), 7:30 p.m., FOX9+, Prime.
SATURDAY: Wild vs. Colorado, Game 3, GCA, 8 p.m. TNT, TruTV.
SUNDAY: Wolves vs. San Antonio, Game 4, Target Center, 6:30 p.m., NBC, Peacock.
TICKETS: WOLVES | WILD | FROST
BETTING LINES: WOLVES | WILD | FROST
WILD
SHOULDN’T BE SURPRISED, EH: The Wild battled gamely Sunday night in their second-round opener against the NHL’s best team this season. But in the end, the team that had a week to rest and rejuvenate after a four-game sweep outlasted a team that had to recover and recalibrate on the fly after an emotional six-game series. And did I mention that Colorado, in addition to leading the NHL with 121 points, also lost fewer home games than any team in the league? The Wild’s rollicking 9-6 loss probably wasn’t a sign of things to come in this series, if only because the Avalanche allowed the fewest goals of any team in the league and the Wild tied for the fourth-fewest allowed. Fifteen goals? It was the game of game that makes you want to return for the next to see how the teams adjust.
SIX SENTENCES ON 15 GOALS: Via Tracey Myers at NHL.com. If you need a quick catch-up, this is a good start. VERBATIM: “Who can explain it? Fifteen goals total. Fourteen different goal-scorers between the two teams. Five goals from Avalanche defensemen. The nine goals the Avalanche had equaled the number of shots on goals the Montreal Canadiens had in their 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series earlier on Sunday. Pick your scoring poison, this game had it: Pretty goals (Wild forward Vladimir Tarasenko’s backhand at 6:45 of the second period), weird bounce goals (Wild forward Mats Zuccarello at 16:01 of the third period), first-career playoff goals (Avalanche defensemen Sam Malinski and Nick Blankenburg), and didn’t-see-that-coming goals (Wild forward Marcus Foligno’s 2-on-0 short-handed at 16:55 of the second period).” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/goals0504
WAIT, THERE’S MORE. Via Michael Russo at The Athletic: VERBATIM: “In the grand wisdom of the NHL, along with television rights holders that don’t care one iota about the ability for one team to prepare for another, the Wild were told Friday to order and book their charter to Denver on Saturday for a Sunday night start against the Avs. So on Saturday, with several players banged up, coach John Hynes and his staff held a video session to show players what to be on the lookout for against the high-flying Avs compared to what the Stars were doing. But the Wild made a full practice optional. Add in the fact that two of their best defensive players — center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin — were left behind because of injuries, and maybe it wasn’t a shock that the Wild looked so utterly unprepared on Sunday for the style change between series, and couldn’t figure out how to slow down one of the league’s fastest, most potent offensive teams.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/wild0504
WANT TO SEE EVERY GOAL? Of course you do!
GOALIE CHANGE? That’ll be a hot topic leading up to Game 2. Jesper Wallstedt didn’t get much help from his defense, but TV commentators pointed out several times when he drifted out of position on Avalanche goals, in part to compensate for what his teammates weren’t doing in front of him. That the Wild have a capable backup in Filip Gustavsson, who started more games during the season than Wallstedt (49 to 33), would keep the change from sparking any controversy. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/goalie0504
SIMPLY PUT: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. VERBATIM: “Wallstedt lacked the same sharpness he displayed in the Dallas series, but the defense in front of him also provided little help. Even if Hynes pivots to veteran Gustavsson to start Game 2, the Wild must tighten the screws in the defensive zone to give their goalie a chance.”
WILD STATISTICS | AVALANCHE STATISTICS
WOLVES
ANT’S BACK! BUT WHEN? Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. Sunday’s unexpected news was that star forward Anthony Edwards has been cleared to play against San Antonio after his left knee hyperextension and bruise that kept him out of the final two games of the Nuggets series. He’s listed as questionable for tonight’s Game 1. Ayo Dosunmu, who missed Game 6 with calf problems after a heroic 43-point performance off the bench in Game 4, is also listed as questionable. KEEP IN MIND: Being cleared to play and playing are two very separate things. What the Wolves are doing, if nothing else, is giving the Spurs one more thing to plan against. The difference between game-planning the Wolves with Edwards and the lineup without him is substantial. FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/ant0504
ALL ABOUT THE INJURY: Via Lorenzo Reyes at USA Today. If you need to get up to speed on Edwards’ knee, including how his timeline compares to a similar injury from another top NBA star, go here. VERBATIM: “Even if Edwards can’t go Monday night, this is a massively good sign for his eventual availability in the series.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/injury0504
BIG VS. BIGGER: Via Chris Hine at Star Tribune. The Wolves-Spurs series should be less ornery than the first-round series against the Nuggets — if only because the centers on both teams — Rudy Gobert and 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama — are friends and have been teammates on the French national team. They first met nine years ago, when Wemby was 13. VERBATIM: “I’m very, very proud and very excited to watch him grow every day, to see his work paying off,” Gobert said. “Outside of the talent, he’s someone that is a very unique soul, very unique mind. Nothing is an accident. It’s not an accident he’s having the success he’s having. He’s preparing his mind, preparing his body like I’ve rarely seen someone do.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/centers0504
HOW UNIQUE? Gobert was asked about their relationship by Wolves podcaster Dane Moore. VERBATIM: “A few weeks ago he asked me what kind of filter I had in my house for water. It just tells you how his mind is. I try to talk to the young guys here about the food they eat and stuff like that. But I don't get those type of questions." Then, Gobert went into a riff in which he playfully tweaked Anthony Edwards. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/rudy0504
WEMBY ON RUDY: Via Maxine Aubin on X. VERBATIM: “It's great. We're already lucky to face him regularly during the regular season, and it's tough to play against him, it's demanding. He's played a huge role in my journey, has been a role model, has inspired me in so many ways that should actually inspire more people, especially when it comes to the care given to the body, which is an example for all big men.”
ANT VS. WEMBY: Via Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic. VERBATIM: “(Edwards’) return at any point in the series would be a huge boost to the Timberwolves. . . . Minnesota went 2-1 against San Antonio in the regular season. Edwards’ 3-point shooting is a crucial element in the matchup, helping the Wolves spread the floor and put more pressure on Wembanyama and the Spurs’ defense. The two superstars went at it in a thrilling Spurs victory in January. Edwards scored 55 points and hit nine 3s in the game. Wembanyama countered with 39 points and nine rebounds in the 126-123 win. Edwards got the better of Wembanyama in November, when he scored 32 points and got the game-sealing bucket after bursting by Wemby.”
SPURS STATISTICS | WOLVES STATISTICS
SOMETHING TO WATCH: The Wolves were an eight-man team in their Game 6 clincher over to Nuggets, with an improvised playing rotation that Denver couldn’t prepare to counter. in addition, Wolves coach Chris Finch absolutely schooled Denver’s second-year coach David Adelman. It was PlayStation 5 vs. Atari 2600 stuff. The Spurs will benefit from scouting that game.
HEY, NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS: If you’re looking for a place to watch Minnesota’s playoff games, Lake Street Bar in Brooklyn comes well recommended. Not much to look at, but it scores high on the Dive Bar and sports viewing scales.
FROST
FROST FIND NEW HERO: Via Heather Rule at Written Rule of Sports. The game-winning overtime goal in the Frost’s 5-4 Game 1 win at Montreal was scored by Jincy Roese (JIN-see ROHZ), who had played only six regular-season games for Minnesota after a late-season trade from New York. She hadn’t scored for new York in her 22 games there, either. The Frost gave up forward Denisa Krizova to get the defender, who played for Ohio State. VERBATIM: “Joining the Frost, it’s really been an honor. This is a great group of girls, and it’s a privilege to be on this team and to get to compete with them. I mean, the mindsets on this team, the talent, the skills . . .to get to be part of that, it’s really a privilege of my career.” The Frost got the win with five different goal scorers and nine players recording points. Spreading the scoring around isn’t unusual for the Frost this season. But there’s a lot more to the story, too, in a playoff game filled with physicality, penalties, special teams factoring into scoring, an historic hat trick and a game that was tied three different times.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/frost0504
SCHEDULE UPDATE: Via Cassidy Hettesheimer at Star Tribune. Scheduling back-to-back nights for Games 3 and 4 (if needed) is necessary because of other events booked into Grand Casino Arena. In addition to Game 3 and 4 of the Wild-Avalanche series, the “Stars on Ice” tour by U.S. Olympic figure skaters is set for Saturday. VERBATIM: “The PWHL awaited updates on NHL playoff scheduling to set dates for Games 4 and 5 of the series. Grand Casino Arena was booked May 9-11, so the options were either to play back-to-back nights or to wait five days for Game 4. In choosing the former, it would be the first time the league has scheduled two games in a playoff series on consecutive nights.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/schedule0504
NOTE THIS AND THAT: In going for their third straight PWHL title, this was the first time the Frost had won the opening game of a playoff series. Also, it was their first victory over the Victoire in five tries this season — following two losses in regulation play and two more in overtime.
STATE OF HEISE: Via Written Rule of Sports. Former Gophers star Taylor Heise is having her best season with the Frost, including two assists as part of a balanced offense in Game 1. VERBATIM: “She put up career-best numbers in all three offensive statistical categories with 13 goals, 17 assists and 30 points in 30 games. She also finished the regular season with a plus-18 rating and a career-high three power-play goals. . . . ‘Kind of brings me back to college where I kind of just had to score,’ said Heise, who finished her time with the University of Minnesota ranking sixth all-time in scoring with 97 goals and 227 points. ‘As much as I want to make a play, I really just have to rely on myself to put the puck in the back of the net sometimes. I think this year, just seeing it go in a little bit more gave me more confidence.’ “ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/heise0504
UGLY CURL: Via Tyler Kuehl at Daily Faceoff. Controversial Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme may be disciplined beyond the major and game misconduct she received for a check to the head of Montreal’s Kaitlin Willoughby. Curl-Salemme was suspended three times last season by the PWHL for dirty play, including once in the playoffs. She was also fined for an illegal cross-check during a game in March of this season. VERBATIM: “If the PWHL Player Safety Committee holds to its recent standard, Curl-Salemme won’t be in the lineup for the second game of the semifinals between Minnesota and Montreal. . . Curl-Salemme’s style of play, along with her past social media interactions, have made her one of the more despised players amongst fans, with many showing their displeasure whenever she gets near the puck.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/curl0504
FROST STATISTICS | VICTOIRE STATISTICS
OTHER THINGS TO START YOUR SPORTS WEEK:
RYAN’S INJURY: Via Bobby Nightengale at Star Tribune. Joe Ryan threw nine pitches Sunday afternoon before leaving his start against Toronto with elbow soreness. He wasn’t available after the game and Manager Derek Shelton’s postgame terseness on the subject didn’t inspire confidence that it was a minor setback — like the back soreness that sidelined Ryan from a spring training start. The Twins’ bullpen managed to be good enough for a 4-3 victory, although the lead shrunk from 4-1 to 4-3 in the top of the ninth and a nicely executed double play was needed to close out the Blue Jays. VERBATIM: “We got [medical] imaging,” Shelton said. “It was something in the elbow. We’ll evaluate from there.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ryan0504
OUCH, OUCH AND MORE OUCH: Via Matthew Leach at MLB.com. Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins left Sunday’s St. Paul Saints game against Iowa after he ran into the outfield wall while making a catch in the sixth inning. The injury appeared to be to his left shoulder. Another top outfield prospect, Emmanuel Rodriguez, was sidelined Friday after straining a muscle in his left thumb. In Saturday, pitcher David Festa reported more shoulder soreness after throwing batting practice during his rehab in Florida. It was his third throwing session and the Twins had hoped he was close to a return. STORY AND VIDEO OF JENKINS: https://fluence-media.co/jenkins0504
WOLVES GETTING RAIDED? Via Joe Cowley at Chicago Sun-Times. Timberwolves General Manager Matt Lloyd is said to be the front-runner among four candidates to become executive vice president for basketball of the Chicago Bulls. Lloyd was named Wolves GM in 2024 after joining the franchise in a player personnel role two years earlier. He has previous experience working for the Bulls. His hiring would likely mean the loss of the Wolves top assistant coach. VERBATIM: “According to a source with the Timberwolves, if he gets the Bulls job, he undoubtedly would make Micah Nori the new head coach, replacing Billy Donovan, who resigned April 21 after six seasons. Nori has been the Timberwolves’ lead assistant since 2021, was voted top assistant coach by NBA general managers the last two seasons and is considered a top defensive strategist in the league.” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/bulls0504
U SOFTBALL GRABS FINAL SPOT: By finishing 12th among the Big Ten’s 17 softball team, Minnesota grabbed the final spot on the conference tournament, which opens Wednesday in Maryland. The Gophers nosed out Iowa and will open against No. 5 seed Washington (10 a.m. Wednesday, BIG) despite losing two of three at Northwestern this weekend, including a 6-0 loss Sunday night. Minnesota and Iowa tied for 12th, but the Gophers took two of three games from the Hawkeyes earlier this season. Both teams finished 7-17, and the Gophers have a 16-35 overall record. Washington swept their three-game series last month in Seattle. BRACKET: https://fluence-media.co/softball0504
VARLAND RETURNS: Via Dan Hayes at The Athletic. Louis Varland returning to Target Field for four games vs. the Twins was like a poke in the eye considering the sorry state of the Twins bullpen. The Jays have helped make Varland more effective by having him throw his change-up more often. Varland has a 0.53 ERA and has struck out 28 batters in 17 innings. VERBATIM: "'I think that’s been a pretty big difference maker,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “When you’re gearing up for 100 and you can throw a 92 mph changeup with pretty good depth and location, that’s a pretty good combo. He’s really taken to it.”
REALLY? Twins GM Jeremy Zoll offered up thoughts on the Varland trade last summer — in which the Twins received lefty reliever Kendry Rojas (at Class AAA St. Paul) and outfielder Alan Roden (St. Paul), who is expected to be out for another month because of a shoulder injury. VERBATIM: “It’s hard to part with someone like Louis Varland. . . . Unfortunately, you have to make some hard calls along the way, and that was undoubtedly one of the tougher ones from last July.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/varland0504
FOR THE 10,000TH FREAKIN’ TIME: It’s fine to make trades as you long as you do follow-up work to make the roster whole. That didn’t happen and, as a result, the Twins and their fans are suffering accordingly.
MYSTERY SETBACK FOR LOONS STAR: Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. James Rodriguez, the highly regarded Colombia midfielder, missed Saturday’s 3-2 win over Columbus due to what MNFC leadership described as “a previously scheduled routine medical procedure — not related to any injury. He will rejoin the team in training next week.” Rodriguez has played in only four of 11 Loons matches for a total of 103 minutes, and his issues have been concerning to Colombian National Team leadership, which made a trip to St. Paul to see him play the previous weekend against Los Angeles FC. That was his only start of the season and he played 63 minutes. Their worry is that Rodriguez will not be in good form when the World Cup opens next month. MNUFC has four more games before the MLS break for the World Cup. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/james0504
LEGEND CRITICIZES MOVE: Via Santiago Tovar at Bolavip. Colombia soccer legend Wellington Ortiz said it was a bad idea for Rodriguez to come to Minnesota. In his mind, MNUFC coach Cameron Knowles didn’t want Rodriguez. VERBATIM: “I think the mistake is when a coach doesn’t want you and you still go to that team. You’re not part of his group or the players he trusts, so he’s not going to play you because you’re not his choice. That’s the mistake.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/loons0504
50-YEAR REUNION: Via Frederick Melo at Pioneer Press. Mechanic Arts High School closed in 1976. Among other things, it meant that athletes from the freshman, sophomore and junior classes dispersed to high school around St. Paul and were never recognized for their time at Mechanic Arts. That will change tonight. VERBATIM: “With those athletic diversions and stolen glory years in mind, the Mechanic Arts reunion dinner that takes place Monday at Mancini’s Char House on West Seventh Street will feature a special program, as well as 50-year commemorative letters and certificates for all the varsity letter-holders who were freshmen, sophomores and juniors when the doors shut on them in ’76. Located at the edge of Frogtown and Old Rondo, Mechanic Arts opened in 1896 and shut its doors forever 80 years later. The structure was demolished in 1987, making room for what is now the Minnesota Supreme Court building.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/mechanicarts0504
FAMOUS ALUMNI: Civil rights leader Roy Wilkins graduated from Mechanic Arts in 1919 and U.S. Supreme Court justice Harry Blackmun was in the Class of 1925. Elmer Bailey starred in football and graduated in 1975. He played wide receiver at Macalester and the University of Minnesota before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1980 and playing in the NFL for three seasons.
WORLD SERIES IN TOWN: The World Series of Bowling, to be precise. Qualifying rounds are currently taking place at Bowlero in Brooklyn Park with the finals scheduled from Friday through Tuesday at Lucky Strike in Lakeville. The finals will be telecast by CBS Sports Network. About 120 bowlers are competing for a $100,000 first prize. TICKETS | MORE INFO
That’s all for now. Back on Thursday with our regularly scheduled Sports Take.
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