Game of the week: Wild at Colorado Game 5, 8:30pm, FSN. The advanced statistics say that the Wild controlled the puck in Game 3 and Game 4 for around 70% of the time; if you take into account only 5-on-5 time, that number jumps up to around 75%. In the two games, Colorado combined to loose 50 shots that weren’t blocked; the Wild, meanwhile, took 111.

It’s been two games of domination, in other words, so much so that the Wild are now topping all of the advanced metrics for the playoffs so far. The one caveat, though, is that in Games 1 and 2, the Wild’s numbers were much, much worse; it’s not too much to say that the Avs were the utterly dominant ones in the first two games.

After two games, it appeared that Mike Yeo was being completely outcoached by Patrick Roy, but in the next two, it was Roy that appeared to be taking a beating. As much as the people using the hashtag #lastchange on Twitter were joking, being allowed to match a checking line with standout Avs forward Nathan MacKinnon appeared to make a great deal of difference. Plus, the Wild were inarguably more physical in the second two games, in a series that’s rapidly making it clear that NHL officials have gone old-school and forgotten what an interference penalty looks like.

So, Game 5. Can the Wild still be physical? Can they somehow avoid having MacKinnon and company play against their worst lines? Will the refereeing crew be as exceptionally bad as every prior crew in this series? Tune in and find out.

What else to watch

7:00 tonight: United vs. Edmonton, Channel 45. Minnesota’s local pro soccer team is televising every home match this year, as David La Vaque so ably covers in this morning’s paper. Perhaps more importantly, though: can United continue its perfect start to the season, and add a third consecutive win to begin the year?

8:30 tonight: Oklahoma City at Memphis, ESPN. OKC is down two games to one and reeling against the Grizzlies, who may be the seventh seed, but whose slow-em-down regular-season strategy led them to 50 wins. A three games-to-one series lead might be insurmountable for the Thunder.

8am tomorrow: Liverpool vs. Chelsea, NBC Sports. Liverpool, once far and away the most dominant team in England, haven’t won a championship for 24 years. A win tomorrow over second-place Chelsea, and they’ll be just one step away. Chelsea, meanwhile, are concentrating on their chance to win the European Cup, and are fielding an under-strength team – but Chelsea’s second team is better than most squads’ first teams.

Noon tomorrow: PGA Zurich Classic, Golf Channel. So far in this tournament, Ben Martin has broken the course record with a 62, then put up a 67 in which he closed his first nine bogey-double bogey. I’m just excited to see what he does next.

NOTE: This appeared at RandBall.

Minnesota teenager Mukwelle Akale is getting ready for a big jump – all the way across the pond. TopDrawerSoccer.com reported on Friday that the 17-year-old, who has been a fixture with the USA Under-18 team this year, will sign a pre-contract with Spanish giants Villareal on Monday. Akale is not allowed to officially sign until his 18th birthday, next January, but this agreement is effectively a pre-agreement to join the club at that time.

According to the report, Akale’s impressive showing at February’s Copa del Atlantico was what clinched the signing. The youngster was named player of the tournament, despite the Americans losing each of their three games. Akale also featured heavily for the USA in friendlies against Canada and Mexico earlier this month, starting both matches and playing around 60 minutes.

Akale is no doubt hoping to have a better experience than Jozy Altidore, the last American to spend significant time at Villareal. The USA national team striker was part of the Villareal setup for three seasons, but spent virtually the entire time on loan. Eventually, he left for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, and then Sunderland in the Premier League, having made just nine appearances for Villareal and with one goal to his name.

The midfielder has been with Minnesota Thunder Academy in Woodbury for several seasons, but missed much of this year’s season thanks to his trips with the national team. In seven games this year with MTA, he has eight goals.

NOTE: This appeared at SoccerCentric.

When the NASL schedule was released, Minnesota soccer fans were greeted with a familiar list of early-season road games. With the exception of Metrodome home games, United (and its predecessor teams) have generally always opened on the road, owing to the usual terrible April weather in the state.

This season, though, a two-game road trip to open the season seemed especially onerous. With just nine games in the spring season, a two-game slide would be enough to knock a team out of contention for the playoff spot awarded to the first-half winner; United couldn’t afford to start slow, even though they were the only NASL team to play on the road in both of the first two weeks.

In the event, though, no one need have worried. After a 2-0 win at San Antonio, and a 2-1 last-gasp victory in Ottawa, United sits tied atop the NASL standings with New York. The odd number of games in the first half means that this has hardly provided Minnesota with an advantage – they still have three road games remaining, against four home games – but things could have been so much worse.

A look north of the border

Edmonton, Saturday night’s opponent, began 2014 in their usual style – by which I mean they drew 1-1 with Tampa Bay. (11 of Edmonton’s 26 matches last year finished 1-1, including five in a row at one point.) They changed things up with a 1-0 home loss to New York last week, though, and are ahead of just the league’s two zero-point teams, Atlanta and Ottawa.

The ‘Montons (as the local du Nord Futbol Show calls them) also are coming off a midweek match; they played Ottawa on Wednesday in the first leg of a Canadian Championship match. (For the un-informed: the five Canadian MLS and NASL teams play a tournament to not only determine the championship of Canada, but to determine the nation’s entrant into the CONCACAF Champions League.) This was – perhaps expectedly – a draw; at least it was 0-0 instead of 1-1.

Edmonton divested itself of talented malcontent Shaun Saiko in the offseason, and lost midfielder Chris Nurse as well. Their problem, however, has always been in scoring goals, and they’ve made several moves to try to combat that; they’ve brought in the 6’3″ Frank Jonke as a target forward, and English League 2 veteran Ritchie Jones to play behind him as an attacking midfielder. Former Atlanta striker Horace James has also joined to play on the right wing, with Daryl Fordyce returning this year in a role on the left side. Former Minnesota midfielder Neil Hlavaty returns in a defensive-midfield role, and **Albert Watson **is also back to lead the Edmonton back line.

The Eddies, from Edmonton, also signed a player named Eddie Edward. I’m pretty sure this was a “Kids in the Hall” sketch.

Field looking good for Saturday night

Despite earlier assurances, I still had some concern about the National Sports Center field. Grass has yet to begin growing in earnest in most places in Minnesota, and it was legitimate to wonder if the Blaine field would be mostly green-painted dirt.

NSC spokesman Barclay Kruse reports, however, that the field is in excellent condition, and is already noticeably greener. He sent along the below pictures, which were taken before the midweek rains and today’s sun; no doubt things will be looking even better by game time tomorrow night.

Slight changes at NSC for 2014

Apart from the field, the stadium is in similar shape to last year. One change, though, is that the bleachers on the north end of the field – the Building End – have been removed, and moved to the south “Airport End” of the field. (NOTE: These End names are works in progress. Feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments.)

The beer garden on the north end will be expanded, with the removal of the bleachers; in fact, the team’s cheapest season ticket allows you to stand in the beer garden all year for $100, if you so desire. The beer garden itself will again be sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, and I’m told the beers available will be Bud, Bud Light, Shock Top Lemon, and Goose Island (possibly the 312 Pale Ale offering from the now-A/B-owned brewery.)

Match details

Gates open at 5:30 tomorrow night, with the game at 7pm. The first 5,000 fans will get a Star Tribune schedule poster. For those who can’t make it to Blaine, the game, along with all of the team’s home games this year, is on KSTC Channel 45.

No one from United dares speculate on the size of tomorrow night’s crowd, possibly because they are afraid of jinxing things. Here’s a few numbers for you, and you may judge them as you will:

• Last season, United drew 6,754 to their home opener against San Antonio.
• United’s biggest crowd at the National Sports Center last year was for their July 4 game against Atlanta, in front of 6,507.
• Last year’s home game against Edmonton – also in late April – drew 4,135 to the Metrodome.
• Indy leads the league in attendance, averaging 10,910 fans through two home dates.
• New York (7,906), San Antonio (7,381) and Tampa Bay (7,003) also drew more than seven thousand fans to their home openers.
• On the flip side, Carolina drew just 4,007, and Fort Lauderdale brought up the rear at 3,105.

Paul Douglas’s Star Tribune forecast calls for a high temperature of 58 on Saturday, with clouds and a chance of some post-game rain.

NOTE: This also appeared at SoccerCentric.

Our old friend Holly Manthei was on the podcast this week. We talked a lot about beer and a little about sports, and if you can sit through the foofaraw long enough, you’ll get the great story of what happened to her third-place medal from the 1995 World Cup, too.

Minnesota United is going with virtually the same squad for tomorrow’s trip to Ottawa, with only one change. Tyler Polak will travel for Michael Reed, with the former providing a few more options off the bench than Reed. Otherwise, the other 17 players remain the same.

It’s worth noting that Miguel Ibarra came off the bench for the final half-hour in Week 1 against San Antonio. I thought Ibarra was a lock to start as a playmaker in central midfield or on the right wing, but those positions were filled by Floyd Franks and Omar Daley, respectively. It was Franks that was replaced by Ibarra, though, and in his weekly analysis of the game, head coach Manny Lagos praised Ibarra’s play. The United fans who logged onto the team’s subreddit also rated Franks as the worst member of the starting eleven. Perhaps Ibarra, not Franks, will get the start in Ottawa?

It’s also Ottawa’s first-ever home match, and a 2pm kickoff. Excitement should be high by the time the game gets underway. As always, the team’s Dark Clouds fan group will be watching the game at the Nomad Pub in Minneapolis, while the team will host an official watch party at Brit’s Pub.

The squad, in full: Van Oekel, Hildebrandt; Venegas, Calvano, Dias, Davis, Brian Kallman; Vicentini, Pitchkolan, Daley, Watson, Ibarra, Bracalello, Franks, Mendes, T. Polak, Jordan; Ramirez.

Scorpions defender accuses Calvano

San Antonio defender Julius James was not at all happy about his sending-off against United, and he’s gone so far as to accuse Minnesota defender Tiago Calvano of intentionally kicking him in the area of his neck and head. Speaking to mysanantonio.com, James said, “Right as it happened, this is not to be dramatic, but I felt like that was a direct act on my career and my life.”

James, whose red card means that he will be suspended this week, reacted wrathfully, shoving a prone Calvano to the ground. Calvano was given a yellow card for the high kick, but James was immediately sent off.

It’s the second violent incident between San Antonio and Minnesota in two years. Last season, Scorpions defender Kevin Harmse **was suspended for six games for a postgame outburst that involved punching United striker **Pablo Campos in the crotch and clocking Minnesota athletic trainer Tom Smith in the face.

Keeping tabs on Kassey Kallman

Local product Kassey Kallman is now in the pro ranks, in the National Women’s Soccer League – and she’s already making a success of herself. The defender, who was picked fifth out of Florida State in the 2014 NWSL draft by Kansas City, was in the Opening Day lineup for KC, against the New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC.

Kallman played all 90 minutes, and assisted on KC’s first goal of the season, late in the first half. Sky Blue equalized three minutes after halftime, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Akale, Yueill start for the USA again

Minnesota natives Mukwelle Akale and Jackson Yueill both saw plenty of game action in the two friendlies that were part of the USA U-18 team’s camp, earlier this month in California. The two, both midfielers, were on similar schedules, starting both of the team’s friendlies and playing about an hour in each.

The USA came through in fine style against Canada, winning 2-1, but blew three separate one-goal leads, including allowing two goals in second-half stoppage time, and lost to Mexico 4-3. Neither Minnesotan recorded a point in either game.

The U-18 team now returns to their respective local clubs; their next action is at a tournament in Portugal, near the end of May.

Amos Magee appears in the East

Former Minnesota Thunder striker and coachAmos Magee has a new gig. After several seasons in Portland, coaching the Timbers reservs, Magee has moved across the country to Washington, where he is in charge of the D.C. United U-23 team. For those unaware of his place in Minnesota soccer lore, Magee – a St. Paul native – played a dozen seasons for the Thunder and holds the team record for goals with 64. After two years as coach, he left for greener pastures, and Lagos, his former Thunder teammate, took over the squad.

NOTE: This post appeared at SoccerCentric.

Our friend Hans Van Slooten joined us for another hockey-centric episode, as we previewed the Wild-Avalanche first-round series. We also, as usual, got stupid.

Minnesota United opened their season on Saturday with an impressive 2-0 win at San Antonio. Christian Ramirez scored his first goal of the season in the first half, an excellent spinning effort from the penalty spot, and defender Kevin Venegas added the second from a second-half free kick.

You can watch the two goals, along with a clip of San Antonio defender Julius James getting himself sent off for shoving United’s Tiago Calvano, from the team’s 90-second-long highlights package:

If 90 seconds is too long for you: here’s a GIF of Ramirez’s goal.

The win gave United an unambiguously positive start to the season, something that’s in demand in the nine-game first-half sprint in the NASL. Only New York, who destroyed Atlanta 4-0 on Sunday, had a better beginning to the year.

Fort Lauderdale beat Ottawa 2-0 as well, leaving United tied for second in the table after one week of play. In the other two games, Indy and Carolina tied 1-1 in front of more than 11,000 Indianapolis fans, and Tampa Bay was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Edmonton, the reigning champions of the 1-1 draw.

NOTE: This also appeared at SoccerCentric.

Minnesota United FC opens the NASL season tomorrow, with a game in San Antonio. Their home opener is April 26, against Edmonton. Here now, a look at the team, as they attempt to improve from a disappointing 2013.

THREE STORYLINES

1. Veterans and Brazilians
United moved for experience and age in the off-season. Central defender Tiago Calvano, midfielder Juliano Vicentini, and attacking midfielder** Daniel Mendes** will all be 33 this season – and all are Brazilians, thanks in part to the scouting and acquisition work of the team’s incumbent Brazilian connection, Pablo Campos and Cristiano Dias. The team also brought in winger Jamie Watson, who is 28 but entering his tenth year in American pro soccer, as yet another veteran to support the team’s title chase.

It’s a calculated move on Minnesota’s part, designed to reduce the time it will take for the team to gel. The NASL season is split into two absurdly unequal “halves” this year, and the spring season is just nine games long. If United can come together quickly and open the season with a good run, they could clinch a playoff berth early.

2. Win now
Last season was a whirlwind for the team’s ownership and front-office staff. Dr. Bill McGuire purchased the team early in the spring, and the remainder of the year was a blitz of new names, new management, and new players. Given the change, it’s perhaps less than surprising that the result on the field was inconsistent – and ultimately, a failure.

This season, the group in the management suite has a year under its belt, and is expecting much better things. Head coach Manny Lagos is no doubt feeling the pressure; he’s one of just four NASL coaches still in place from Opening Day 2013. Another year of mid-table mediocrity will likely lead to changes.

3. Stadiums and MLS
United would prefer to focus on the product that’s on the field in Blaine, but hanging over everything is the ongoing discussion of the team’s future. No one sees the National Sports Center as the team’s long-term home, but any new stadium developments will be difficult in a Twin Cities market that is suffering from serious stadium fatigue. Tied up in the stadium question, though, are the rumors of a future in Major League Soccer; while Minnesota is considered the frontrunner for a franchise, will it be McGuire and United who make the leap, or will it be a Vikings-led group?

While the rumors are exciting for local soccer fans, they place United in the challenging situation of marketing to a fanbase that may be waiting for the big leagues to come to town. A stadium announcement, or an MLS franchise announcement, would clear up the uncertainty – but neither is anywhere near forthcoming.

PLAYER TO WATCH – MIGUEL IBARRA

Last season was the first NASL split season, a split which helped throw Ibarra’s Jekyll-and-Hyde year into sharp relief. Awful in the first half, Ibarra recovered enough in the second to be named to the NASL Best XI for the entire year.

His development could be the key to a United attack that, on paper, is less than potent. A likely-season-ending knee injury for Campos means that Minnesota goes into the season without any idea where the offense will come from; first-choice striker** Christian Ramirez** is untested at this level, and Mendes has yet to prove that he can be the attacking spark that the team needs.

Always quick, Ibarra has yet to find the touch to be either a consistent goal-scorer or a consistent provider. His move back to the wing in the second half of 2013 helped; now he has to prove that he can consistently create opportunities, as well as finishing his own.

POSITION-BY-POSITION

Goalkeeper
Matt Van Oekel returns as the incumbent between the pipes. The 27-year-old lost his starting job for the first six games of 2013, but came back strong and started the remainder of the season, except for the final two games, when he was injured.** Mitch Hildebrandt** has moved up to the #2 role, and may even push for the starting job; the two split time in the preseason, and either could conceivably start on Saturday.

Center back
Aaron Pitchkolan made last year’s league Best XI at center back, but for the moment, it looks like the Brazilian duo of Dias and Calvano will start in the middle of defense, with Pitchkolan moving to a role as a defensive midfielder. Dias played several games out of position at fullback last year, but is more at home in the center, while Calvano has slotted in there from the beginning of preseason. Pitchkolan probably remains the first backup in the center, with Brent Kallman returning as a reserve as well.

Fullback
On the left, Justin Davis appears set to resume being one of the first names into the starting lineup for every game. Davis struggled early last year, but came back strong, and has been an automatic choice throughout. On the right, Kevin Venegas started every game of the preseason, completing his transformation from wide midfielder to right back. Venegas played most of the second half of last year, supplanting veteran Brian Kallman, who doesn’t have the speed that Venegas has. Kallman will back up on the right, while new signing Tyler Polak – younger brother of striker Nate Polak – provides depth on the left.

Defensive midfield
If he isn’t playing center back, Pitchkolan is a virtual lock to play defensively in midfield. The rest of the options are up in the air; Juliano Vicentini may start there, simply to see what he can do as a new signing, but Kentaro Takada and Michael Reed both saw significant minutes in a defensive-minded role last year as well. The wonderfully-named Mozzi Gyorio could also see time.

Attacking midfield
Watson and Ibarra are likely to begin the season on the wing, though Simone Bracelello – who scored seven goals last year from out wide – and Omar Daley are also likely to push for places.

The real question may come from the center of the midfield, where United is still without someone who can take over as a playmaking midfielder. Floyd Franks is a possibility, though he was out of favor during the preseason; Takada, whose best skill is the ability to sprint for 90 straight minutes, may be tried there as well. Mendes is being promoted as a striker by the team, but was listed as a midfielder everywhere else he played; he may end up playing more as an attacking midfielder. The team could also move Watson or Ibarra to the center, and stick with Daley or Bracalello on the wing.

Forward
The weight of Campos’s injury falls squarely on Ramirez, who is thrust into a role as the team’s #1 striker. Ramirez showed flashes of talent during the preseason, but he’s yet to prove himself at this high of a level during his career. Backing up is Polak, who joined the team late in 2012 but missed most of 2013 with an injury. Should neither prove effective, United will be reduced to playing various midfielders as strikers, probably starting with Mendes and going down the list from there.

LEAGUE STORYLINES

1. Big Four and Little Six?
In the old days of the Big Ten, wags used to refer to the conference as the Big Two and Little Eight, with Michigan and Ohio State dominating the conference. The NASL seems to be splitting along similar lines, with four big-spending teams – New York, Tampa Bay, San Antonio, and Minnesota – distancing themselves from the other six in terms of dollars spent. That said, with the exception of the league-favorite-son Cosmos, money can’t always buy titles. Minnesota spent plenty last year, and it didn’t help them at all.

2. Still wobbly
Second-division soccer in the United States has always been a transient thing, and the NASL is no different. Ottawa and Indy join this year, bringing the league up to ten teams, and (for once) all eight teams from last season return this year – a modicum of stability for a league that’s seen very little.

Even so, worries remain. Virginia was supposed to begin play this year, but is pushed back at least until 2015, thanks to a combination of ownership and stadium concerns. Oklahoma City, too, was supposed to start next season, but at the moment seems to be bereft of ownership or direction.

The league office isn’t exactly rock-solid, either. The league changed its playoff format for the season barely six weeks before the opening kick, adding a layer of confusion to the playoff picture. The winners of each half of the season, plus the two teams with the best record throughout 2014, will make the playoffs – this despite the second “half” being twice as long as the first “half” of the season. Why have halves at all?

3. Three Predictions

Lock: The Cosmos will continue to be the darling of the league. The NASL clearly sees the Cosmos as the best way to promote itself, given the history associated with the Cosmos name – to the point that some have begun calling it the “North American Cosmos League.”

Guess: Indy Eleven, led by indefatigable fan-pleasing president/GM Peter Wilt, will lead the league in attendance this season. More than any other market, the expansion Indianapolis team seems to have embraced being in the second division, and that – combined with Wilt’s usual magic in selling soccer – have led to an enormous amoung of excitement among Indianapolis fans.

Wild Guess: Tampa Bay, led by the acquisition of 2013 Golden Boot winner Brian Shriver, will take the league championship.

WEBSITES

• nasl.com – The league’s official website
• mnunitedfc.com – Minnesota United’s official website
• The Du Nord Futbol Show – Local soccer podcast by SoccerCentric MLS columnist Wes Burdine (@MnNiceFC on Twitter) and local soccer godfather Bruce McGuire (@dunord)
• Minnesota United sub-reddit – The (very active) reddit discussion forum for United
• The Dark Clouds – Home of United’s supporters group (@MNDarkClouds)
• MLS 4 Minnesota – News on possible MLS expansion

OTHER TWITTER FOLLOWS

• @MNUnitedFC – team official account
• @NickRogers – United Team President Nick Rogers
• @mnunitedvox – United play-by-play voice Chris Lidholm
• @whistleandthumb – Brad Baker, head of video production for United.
• @IMSoccerNews – Local soccer expert Brian Quarstad.

*NOTE: This appeared at SoccerCentric. *

This week on the Sportive, we name our Bottom 5 Twins prospects, and do a 30-second-long Frozen Four preview. It’s fun.

According to a report by SI.com’s Brian Straus, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is on the verge of signing a deal to bring Major League Soccer to Atlanta. The report says that the deal will be signed and announced one week from today, bringing the number of MLS teams to 22 – not counting the David Beckham-led franchise in Miami that is still searching for a stadium deal.

Assuming Miami ever takes the field, there would be one spot left in the original “24 teams by 2020” plan that MLS has bandied about. According to a league source mentioned in Straus’s report, the frontrunner for the final spot is Minneapolis.

It is worth noting that the construction timeline for the new Falcons stadium is already behind the new Vikings stadium. Atlanta is scheduled to open their new football palace in 2017; Minnesota, meanwhile, is still slated for a fall 2016 opening.

As always, the same questions about a potential MLS franchise in the Upper Midwest remain: Who would own the team, the Vikings ownership group or Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire? If McGuire, where would the team play – and who would pay for what would likely be yet another new stadium in Minneapolis? No details of any kind have been forthcoming.

That said, an Atlanta announcement next week would be the culmination of years of rumors. Right now, Minneapolis is at the center of similar rumors; it seems like it may just be a matter of time for MLS in Minnesota.

*NOTE: This appeared at SoccerCentric. *