Wild Get Biggest, Grittiest Win in Franchise History

* Minnesota defeated the Dallas Stars in double-overtime

* Game-winning goal scored by a hobbled Ryan Hartman after a Dallas giveaway

* Stars flinched, Wild never did

* Wild won hardly any statistical category except…blocked shots, 30-23

* Lost 56.5 percent of faceoffs, had five fewer shots, had two more giveaways, and hardly possessed the puck in the third period and overtime periods

* The Wild won the first two periods despite allowing two power play goals in nine seconds

* Anthony’s analysis was spot-on

* Be the more physical team

* The Wild had fewer hits than Dallas (50-42), but delivered the bigger hits, which is more important

* Massive hit by Matt Dumba on Joe Pavelski with eight minutes remaining in the second period

* Given Pavelski’s concussion history, he’s likely out for the series, which is a huge loss for the Stars

* Dumba is likely playing his final games in a Wild sweater and is still willing to take every retaliation shot from the Stars for what will be a long series

* Puck possession is the best defense

* And results in penalties for

* Be volume shooters

* Led in shots on goal until late in the game

* Stay out of the penalty box

* The Dallas power play is fierce

* Were the better team at even strength until the third period

* Noticibly exhausted in the third period, overtime, and second overtime

* Filip Gustavsson is a rock

* Made 51 saves in his playoff debut, a franchise record

* Made outstanding stops to save the game late

* So cool and calm, it rubs off on the team

* Rookie Brock Faber stepped up big

* Saved the game with a blocked shot in overtime

* Showed the grit for which this team is known despite playing in his third NHL game

* Took on multiple Stars against the boards and managed to retain possession of the puck

* Skated almost 18 minutes

* Three blocks, two hits, +1, no giveaways

* Ryan Hartman continues to prove he’s a top-line center

* And a hoss

Timberwolves to be Swept, and Not in a Gentlemanly Fashion

* Minnesota lost Game 1 by 29 and was never close after the first quarter

* Couldn’t hit shots (37 percent from the floor, 30 percent from three-point range, and 56.3 percent from the charity stripe)

* Even if Denver decides to take a night off, the Nuggets should still beat Minnesota, regardless of location

* Only hope is injury bug

Twins Extend Pablo Lopez

* El Caballo, 27, gets four years and $73.5 million

* A bargain considering prices for Game 1 playoff starterts, which we think he is

* Can he win that game? Maybe? Kept the Twins in it against Gerrit Cole and the Yankees

* Lost 2-0 as Cole pitched a 10-strikeout, complete game shutout

* Twins lineup consisted of rookie Eduoard Julien, AL strikeout leader Byron Buxton, youngsters Trevor Larnach, Jose Miranda, and Max Kepler returning from injury

* This team needs a bat

Twins, TicketRev to Allow Fans to Name Their Price

Twins invested $1.1 million in the startup and is investigating a partnership to sell unsold tickets via online auction

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