We recap the Minnesota Wild’s win in Game 1 at Dallas, discuss Matt Dumba’s hit and the diabolical Ryan Suter, and the Twins’ two plans to sell tickets: Pablo Lopez and TicketRev.

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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, which Anthony said the Wild did well and should win
    • 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
      • No Joel Eriksson Ek; he should help a bit when he’s back on the faceoff dot
• 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
        • Top-line winger at even strength and on the power play
        • More will be needed from Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn
        • Gives Wild fourth line an even bigger advantage
      • 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