Minnesota
MSU hockey falls to Minnesota 5-1: Analysis and reaction
Lansing State Journals sports reporter Nathaniel Bott breaks down No. 8 Michigan State’s 5-1 defeat in Saturday’s series final with No. 9 Minnesota.
What happened
MSU (17-5-3, 11-2-2 BIG) came into Saturday’s tilt with Minnesota (14-7-4, 7-5-3 BIG) fresh off a thrilling third period on Friday night, where the Spartans scored three in the final frame – the game-winner coming with four seconds remaining – in a come-from-behind win over the Gophers, snapping a 16-game regulation losing streak.
It was a similar game Saturday, with the Gophers leading by two heading into the third period. This time, however, MSU wasn’t able to solve Minnesota’s defense and goaltender Justen Close, as the Gophers added two more in the third to earn a series split with a 5-1 win.
Minnesota, who scored early in Friday’s contest, followed suit tonight with a power play goal from forward Bryce Brodzinski less than five minutes into the first period. Later in the period, Minnesota forward Connor Kurth tipped a shot that hit off the post and laid on the goal line before forward Aaron Huglen was able to poke it across to make it 2-0 Gophers.
Freshman forward Oliver Moore forced a turnover in the second period at the MSU blue line, walked in, and beat MSU goaltender Trey Augustine to give the Gophers a 3-0 lead.
MSU’s lone goal came on a second-period power play when sophomore forward Karsen Dorwart fed sophomore defenseman Matt Basgall, and Basgall’s shot got through traffic and beat Close, giving him his first goal of the season.
After MSU began the third period pressing, Moore scored the pivotal goal to quell MSU’s comeback in the third period, making it 4-1 with nine minutes remaining. Senior forward Mason Nevers added an empty-netter to make it a 5-1 final.
Augustine had 31 saves for MSU, while Close stopped 24 of MSU’s 25 shots.
What it means
MSU got Minnesota’s best effort on Saturday night. MSU took its punches in Friday’s game too, but was able to showcase the conditioning and skill and earn back the momentum of the crowd in the third period to help ride to a late victory.
That is going to be the case for the Spartans for the rest of the season. This team isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. With a split against Minnesota and eight games to play, the Spartans are still in first place in the conference and have been ranked in the top 10 in the country for most of the season.
In those eight remaining games, MSU is going to have to deal with being the hunted – something that most of this roster hasn’t experienced. Checks are going to be harder. Lanes will close faster. Opposing crowds will be more engaged. That is MSU’s new reality – one that it wanted to be in, but now let’s see how it gets handled.
Minnesota’s young defensive core – paired with a veteran like captain Mike Koster – is very similar to MSU’s, but the Gophers look to be slightly ahead of schedule. MSU’s blue line was much improved this weekend compared to last weekend’s series against Michigan, but the Gophers youth was locked in, especially in the third period when MSU tried to push to get within one.
What they said
MSU coach Adam Nightingale, on the game overall: “Tough end of the weekend for us, and again, wasn’t a ton of easy ice and we got ourselves down. I liked what we did, I thought it was a pretty even game against a team we have a ton of respect for and who was in the National Championship last year. We had some looks but they made it hard on us and were committed to defending.”
Nightingale, on Minnesota’s defensive improvement: “It takes time, and you can tell they are on the same page and they all skate well and that can make it hard to forecheck and extend plays in the offensive zone. They play within themselves, and I think you saw it in the third period when they made it hard for us to gain the zone. There’s a lot of talent back there and they’re improving.”
Dorwart, on playing with a target on their back: “Where we are, we aren’t really surprising anyone. We are going to get their best every night, and that’s what you want. We prepare the same every week and it depends on what we decide to do and how we play.”
Basgall, on getting his first goal of the season: “It was a great play on the power play, we hounded their guys on the forecheck when they had a chance to clear, and then Karsen made a nice pass. I looked up at the net and there was a ton of net, (O’Connell) did a great job screening in front and I just had to put it on the right spot.”
What’s next
MSU will hit the road next weekend, traveling to South Bend for a two-game series with Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Nathaniel_Bott
Minnesota
Boldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota
ICE agent assault charge marks a ‘milestone’ for Minnesota prosecutors
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Minnesota
Reds Brandon Williamson beats Twins in first Minnesota homecoming
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
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