MINNESOTA SPORTS FAN DAILY: Sunday, December 17, 2017

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Dec 17, 2017

MSF Daily: 12/17/17

How’d We Do/Top Stories?

? Hear from Koivu, Coyle, Stalock and Dumba following #mnwild’s game against Edmonton. pic.twitter.com/Hjk1iuAhU0

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 16, 2017

NEWS: #mnwild has reassigned defenseman Ryan Murphy to @IAWild → https://t.co/nY0xIwG7hd

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 16, 2017

Oilers end Wild's various success streaks https://t.co/jTQ1V7Z1QO pic.twitter.com/MJWfCTCASg

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) December 16, 2017

2 goals from @matt_dumba not enough — #mnWild fall 3-2 to Oilers https://t.co/OBevdR9fe9 pic.twitter.com/byTCNpNQS3

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 16, 2017

Boudreau trying to spark ice-cold Koivu from longest pointless streak of career; Spurgeon expected to return Sunday https://t.co/bPZIomcbnH

— The Athletic (@TheAthleticMIN) December 17, 2017

#MNWild’s Mikko Koivu tries to stay positive amid offensive struggles https://t.co/NpTgBv5Saz pic.twitter.com/te8AHj7OEz

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 17, 2017

Des Moines, Minnesota's minor league city with Wolves and Wild affiliates, takes major steps to grow its sports scene. https://t.co/Cvex7hzm9k pic.twitter.com/3QxUzVT6J6

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) December 16, 2017

Wolves fall to lowly Suns once again https://t.co/JBCsvzRyEp pic.twitter.com/fXY4ucijYl

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) December 17, 2017

Timberwolves take another bad loss, falling at home to Phoenix https://t.co/F89dI6VNpS pic.twitter.com/5ZZwGAsZko

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 17, 2017

Jamal Crawford has been challenged by lighter workload with #Twolves https://t.co/yG53OEMFw5 pic.twitter.com/KIOagdtrAU

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 17, 2017

Well, this one is a head-scratcher.

Here's @JonKrawczynski on whatever just happened to the Wolves.https://t.co/8LIoWGIzsD

— The Athletic (@TheAthleticMIN) December 17, 2017

#Wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns' shot-blocking is on the rise as of late. https://t.co/SjzzJy9p21 pic.twitter.com/DAUtjpNvDl

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) December 16, 2017

Something internal going on among the starters. Can't tell what–rotations, touches, communication. But not smooth nor happy

— brittrobson (@brittrobson) December 17, 2017

One of the credentialed reporters should really ask about team chemistry and how the minutes could affect it https://t.co/3cPjJ2ZkeM

— MGH Stan (@freetyus) December 17, 2017

Yeah because we never do that. Asshole. It is guys like you that will get me off twitter.

— brittrobson (@brittrobson) December 17, 2017

Why don't you get a fucking credential and see if you can get a player to throw a coach or a teammate under the bus?

— brittrobson (@brittrobson) December 17, 2017

Then get off Twitter, Britt. Her’s only one asshole in this conversation.

Well, two now. But, I wasn’t in here when it started. https://t.co/qozcawqHVw

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 17, 2017

Britt, you need a nap.

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 17, 2017

Suns 108, Wolves 106: A Statement Loss: https://t.co/mV5dFLLjW4 @AWAWBlog

— Punch-Drunk Wolves (@PDWolves) December 17, 2017

Who Plays Today?

We're not scared of Lions and Tigers and Bears. #Skol pic.twitter.com/Ph7BkIqecw

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 17, 2017

Time to start a new streak! #Skol pic.twitter.com/EDXYyX3L1J

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 17, 2017

The #Vikings return home for the first time in almost a month with their sights set on clinching the division.

?: https://t.co/zkfL8ed5a3 pic.twitter.com/mscneuMNZp

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 16, 2017

.@athielen19 looks to continue his strong 2017 season with a big day Sunday. pic.twitter.com/NdNi8NBNeR

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 16, 2017

Mike Zimmer's fingerprints remain all over the Bengals' defense he left behind https://t.co/pW8X5SQ8eE pic.twitter.com/bDRGZGh2uU

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) December 17, 2017

Vikings linebacker Emmanuel Lamur is still served well by time with the Bengals. https://t.co/S1Zx8Tmm8Y pic.twitter.com/zPMf2u9KUr

— Sid Hartman (@SidHartman) December 16, 2017

Souhan: With 13 wins possible, Vikings' success shouldn't be taken lightly. https://t.co/6Evvj44t3p pic.twitter.com/5kMZygmglS

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) December 16, 2017

Depleted Bengals put center T.J. Johnson on injury list vs. #Vikings https://t.co/m1cbXAzB21

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 17, 2017

Pioneer Press picks: #Vikings vs. #Bengals https://t.co/JzmlFME1HX #CinvsMin https://t.co/diOpfBOSPP pic.twitter.com/iu0TIqcDX0

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 17, 2017

#Vikings' @AnthonyBarr since Aaron Rodgers hit: Hate messages still coming https://t.co/eA81bx2nmq pic.twitter.com/Mdr0jSij1C

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 16, 2017

#Vikings upgrade @KyleRudolph82 from doubtful to questionable for Sunday vs. Bengals https://t.co/v7soWRoO8h pic.twitter.com/7WApcOqZNU

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 16, 2017

Minnesota Sports Fan News, Articles, Tweets, Stuff:

AP goes down early again…

?: @TheJohnnyMN https://t.co/7rKvus0KdO

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 16, 2017

?? https://t.co/aZAXmYXSpI

— Kyle Ratke (@Kyle_Ratke) December 16, 2017

Health Alert:

If you plan on watching the Timberwolves tonight, be sure you buy approved sunglasses or don’t look directly at your screen. https://t.co/uPm5cMdmTo

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 16, 2017

Others in Minnesota:

Top seeds set in U.S. Olympic trials for mixed doubles curling in Blaine https://t.co/D6bESr7dV2 pic.twitter.com/mytiKx85cK

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) December 17, 2017

Former Vikings quarterback Brooks Bollinger makes a new career as financial planner for fellow athletes. https://t.co/qJ23YTehjL pic.twitter.com/XcgZXMnCiN

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) December 16, 2017

Lakeville North: A focal point in #Gophers football recruiting https://t.co/PUMXQ1wn7R pic.twitter.com/argx8Pi35F

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 17, 2017

Ex-wife of #NBA player Lorenzen Wright charged with murder in his 2010 death https://t.co/ddorwfdv96 pic.twitter.com/XjacHu2fea

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) December 16, 2017

We know the @Twins are interested in Mike Napoli, but is he a fit? @palmern2Twins takes a look…https://t.co/5M5OlCe7nr pic.twitter.com/A77Xu01ZZF

— Puckett's Pond (@PuckettsPond) December 17, 2017

National Stories to Watch:

Can the Patriots slow down Le'Veon Bell out of the backfield today? pic.twitter.com/jyriNaj4Wy

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) December 17, 2017

Three. More. Weeks.

Current playoff picture ⤵️ Who's getting in?

?: @NFLGameDay Morning pic.twitter.com/4Xrv3ynEdj

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 17, 2017

Can the Eagles go without Wentz? https://t.co/gkB12Y1zX1 pic.twitter.com/8aF2493GFY

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) December 17, 2017

START: Cam Newton
SIT: Matt Ryan

Start 'Em/Sit 'Em (QBs) in Week 15: https://t.co/CZukboNUyd (via @Michael_Fabiano) pic.twitter.com/hsRD5P9bru

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2017

Russell Westbrook punishes the rim to lead Saturday's TOP 10 PLAYS! pic.twitter.com/d8Frz7NQaz

— NBA (@NBA) December 17, 2017

Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette Ruled Out For Week 15 https://t.co/05AMdHjCOY #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/9YTF5eHDdS

— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) December 17, 2017

ICYMI: @Huskervball won its fifth national title last night. pic.twitter.com/kvIBKY3BO6

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 17, 2017

Number of teams that have defeated the Rockets when Chris Paul starts: zero. #PhotoOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/ulrtYfXjXH

— ESPN (@espn) December 17, 2017

Social Media:

Stay classy Packer Fans. https://t.co/rGoaqgy8xy

— Paul Lambert (@MeatSauce1) December 17, 2017

Even if Kyle Rudolph (ankle) is active, I wouldn't start him this week. I worry about reinjury, and the prospect that he'll mostly be asked to block.

— Paul Charchian (@PaulCharchian) December 17, 2017

IT’S GAMEDAY BABY…

All the studying done… now it’s time to execute.#VikingsGameDayLive #Vikings #Bengals #Fox9 #NFL #PlayoffRace

— Ron Johnson (@3RonJohnson) December 17, 2017

#Jets fans… Keep an eye on pending free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater: https://t.co/8rss7GlEUm pic.twitter.com/bYXcC01qkU

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) December 17, 2017

? https://t.co/jpteWqzbqj

— Andy (@AndyCarlsonShow) December 17, 2017

#SKOL aren't letting Teddy hit FA. Sorry. Better talk to your MN sources.

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 17, 2017

When you realize tomorrow is Monday. pic.twitter.com/w1HQEY9MR0

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 17, 2017

When you have a football game at 8 and an ugly sweater party at 9. pic.twitter.com/CboTgSUb5w

— ESPN (@espn) December 17, 2017

My head hurts trying to process the ignorance it takes to send a football player a letter like this. https://t.co/FR8F3QYKi4

— Austin Belisle (@austincbelisle) December 17, 2017

Wolves' point differential per 100 possessions, by quarter:

1Q: +1.5 (#13)
2Q: +9.1 (#4)
3Q: +5.7 (#6)
4Q: -11.6 (#30)

They're the worst fourth-quarter team in the entire NBA, by far.

Also of note: Their starters play the most minutes in the entire NBA, by far.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) December 17, 2017