Minnesota
Match Recap | LA’s Score At The Death Extends Loons’ Pain | Minnesota United FC
Regardless of who would be featured in the Minnesota United starting XI tonight, Coach Eric Ramsey and company certainly understood the assignment on Sunday evening in Carson, California:
The Loons would step onto the pitch at Dignity Health Sports Park in an announced 4-4-2 that played more like a 5-2-3, with Robin Lod, Bongi Hlongwane, and Sang Bin Jeong spearheading a Loons’ attack hoping to find space to hit the jets with their killer speed—a task certainly easier said than done against an LA Galaxy side that’s put in some of its best performances of the season as of late, the exception being their 2-1 loss to LAFC at the Rose Bowl on the Fourth of July.
While lineup structure isn’t a new look for the Loons this season, tonight’s plan was to keep it especially compact in hopes of cutting off any midfield channels for LA’s Riqui Puig to operate and distribute the ball. That approach was effective until the 25th minute, when, Puig, a player that’s always dangerous with the ball at his feet, would hit Miki Yamane streaking down the right flank, to set up Gabriel Pec for a tap-in. 1-0, LA.
The Loons would attempt to bring the score even in short order, playing through a quick counter-attack just a few minutes later. The push up the middle would open opportunities for the Loons and looked to materialize in leveling the scoreline. It would be some fancy footwork from Sang Bin Jeong near the 18-yard line who was able to catch the Galaxy’s backs off-balance for the quick pass to Hlongwane, with the beauty of a cross to mid Alejandro Bran for the score…or so we thought. Ultimately, VAR would reveal Bongi just a hair offside on the Sang Bin pass, thwarting the Loons’ hopes of finding the first-half equalizer. Adding insult to literal injury, defender D.J. Taylor’s night would end early due to an apparent leg injury, which meant Caden Clark would be called to duty earlier than expected.
The Loons would up their aggression in the early minutes of the second half, as the attack would try to pounce on the Galaxy’s defense early on, with Boxy and the boys on the backline even pressing up field to, hopefully, force the issue.
It would be a healthy Teemu Pukki in his return to the pitch Sunday in Carson that would make his presence felt for the Black and Blue after missing several weeks due to a knee injury. The most impactful moment of the fine Finn’s return would come in the 73rd minute, when he struck a beauty from distance to finally notch the equalizer the Loons had worked for with their second-half surge.
In the closing minutes, Carlos Harvey would return to the lineup and look strong in his short time on the pitch, as he would key on the ever-dangerous Puig and limit his chances of breaking the draw. Franco Fragapane would also enter into the match, subbing for Bongi along with Harvey in the 77th minute. And, Fragapane would nearly put the boys ahead in the 85th minute with his strong, line-drive shot that LA keeper John McCarthy was able to get a finger on and redirect out of play.
But, at the death, MNUFC’s hope of putting a stop to their incredibly tough 6-game stretch would be put to bed thanks to more mastery from Puig and Pec, as Puig’s beautiful ball set up Mauricio Cuevas, who sliced through the box before handing it off to Gabriel Pec for the easy tap-in for the brace. The Loons missed a golden opportunity in the 92nd minute right at the doorstep of the Galaxy’s box, as a back-and-forth between Lod and Fragapane would prove to be a tap too many, and LA would clear the ball safely out of bounds.
This match wouldn’t come without some positives, with Bongi continuing to rise to the occasion, using his speed and physicality to pose a scoring threat to the opposition tonight and over the past few weeks. In only his second-ever MLS start, Loons’ keeper Alec Smir would flash his potential throughout the match, highlighted by a beautiful diving save in the 70th minute. The scores surrendered were tough to stop, with the LA attack being more of the reason for deciding goals than any lapse by Smir. And, of course, seeing Teemu Pukki find the net after his early-season frustrations was a welcome sight to see.
But, in the end, it would be a great effort spoiled for a Minnesota United team that keeps hoping that great efforts like tonight don’t go unrewarded any longer. They will do their best to hit the brakes on their skid next Saturday against the Dynamo down in Houston.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The draft pick becomes a fifth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft if Minnesota wins two playoff rounds and Petry plays in 50 percent or more of the Wild’s playoff games during those first two rounds.
Petry, 38 (12/9/1987), owns eight assists, 22 penalty minutes and 45 shots on goal in 58 games for Florida this season. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound native of Ann Arbor, Mich., has recorded 393 points (96-297=393), 103 power-play points (24-79=103), 1,745 shots on goal and 1,616 blocked shots in 1,039 games across 16 NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers (2010-15), Montreal Canadiens (2015-22), Pittsburgh Penguins (2022-23), Detroit Red Wings (2023-25) and Florida (2025-26). He has also amassed 13 points (5-8=13) and 90 shots on goal in 48 postseason games across four Stanley Cup Playoff appearances (2015, 2017, 2020, 2021), all with Montreal.
Petry skated in the 1,000th game of his NHL career with Florida on Nov. 17 vs. Vancouver after signing with the Panthers as a free agent on July 1, 2025. He served as an alternate captain for Montreal for three seasons (2019-22) and set career-high marks in goals (13), assists (33) and points (46) with the Canadiens during the 2018-19 season. Petry totaled 28 points (7-21=28) in 51 career American Hockey League (AHL) games in parts of three seasons (2009-12) with the Springfield Falcons (2009-10) and Oklahoma City Barons (2010-12), and represented the United States at the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2024 IIHF World Championships, earning a bronze medal with Team USA in 2013. He was originally selected by Edmonton in the second round (No. 45 overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft. He will wear sweater No. 2 with Minnesota.
Minnesota travels to play the Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow, March 6, at 9 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network and KFAN FM 100.3.
Minnesota Wild single-game tickets are on sale now at wild.com/tickets, ticketmaster.com and at the Grand Casino Arena Box Office. Flex, 11-Game, half and full season memberships are also available for purchase. Please visittickets.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative by calling or texting (651) 222-WILD (9453) for more information. Group reservations of eight or more tickets can contact [email protected] for more information. Single game suite rentals are also available, contact [email protected] for more information or book instantly at wildsuites.com.
Follow @mnwildPR on X and visit www.wild.com/pressbox and for the latest news and information from the team including press releases, game notes, player interviews and daily statistics.
One of the oldest operating theaters in the Midwest is in danger of closing its doors for good.
If you’re heading south on Highway 15, Fairmont, Minnesota, is your last gasp before you hit Iowa. It officially became a city in the late 1800s — and not long after, the Opera House was born.
“We are the oldest, operating, continuously operating theater in the state of Minnesota,” said Jane Reiman, a lifelong resident of Fairmont.
When the doors opened in 1901, operas, musicals, plays, and concerts—drew people from across southern Minnesota, and even from Iowa and South Dakota.
“We have done a lot of entertainment over the years.”
The rock band America once performed at the opera house, as did folk legend Arlo Guthrie. In the 1990’s, the opera house even got a visit from Paul McCartney. His family bought seats.
“They came here and sat in the chairs, and now we have plaques on the chairs to memorialize them.”
In 3rd grade Blake Potthoff went to his first performance at the theater, and later, he acted on stage.
“You’ve grown up with this opera house?” asked WCCO’s John Lauritsen.
“Yeah. Absolutely, it’s a part of me even before I became executive director,” said Potthoff.
But like everything else, the theater has aged over time, to the point that it’s going to cost more than $4 million just to keep it running. If they can’t raise the money, the Opera House may have already seen its final curtain call.
“The building is on life support, and we are doing everything we can to make sure we get back to surviving and thriving,” said Potthoff.
Scaffolding is there, just to reinforce the roof; that’s the biggest expense. But the Fairmont community is starting to respond. Grants and donations have raised $1.5 million so far—still short, but a start.
When renovations are complete, they’d also like to maintain the old character of this theater. That includes this hand-cast plaster, which is also 125-years-old.
The chandeliers were installed a decade before the Titanic sank, and they’re hoping to keep those too. For Blake and others, the show has to go on. For the people in the seats, the actors on stage, and for the livelihood of a small town.
“There’s reason to save this building. That $4 million isn’t impossible. Only improbable. And I truly believe it too. I have a history of performing here. And I have two young kids. I want them to perform on stage like I had the opportunity,” said Potthoff.
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