Sports

Vikings lose to Rams, lose control of wild-card playoff berth
Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams doesn't knock the Minnesota Vikings out of playoff contention. But they no longer control the final NFC wild-card berth, and now have to hope other teams lose.
NHL shuts down Wednesday through Saturday; 5 games postponed
The NHL is putting all teams on pause from Wednesday through Saturday. The move postpones five additional games scheduled for Thursday to make it a total of 49 this season. 
NHL stops cross-border games, shuts down two more teams due to COVID
The NHL has shut down operations of two more teams — Detroit and Toronto — in hopes of salvaging the season as COVID-19 outbreaks spread across the league. The Red Wings’ scheduled game at Minnesota on Thursday is postponed.
It’s Thursday, and on Minnesota Now, that means it’s time to talk sports with Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. The duo brought host Cathy Wurzer the latest on the Vikings, Gopher men’s basketball and COVID-19 concerns in the NHL as the Beijing Winter Olympics draw nearer.
USA Gymnastics, USOPC reach $380M settlement with victims
The vast majority of the 500-plus victims voted in favor of the settlement. Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to detail sexual abuse at the hands of former USA team doctor Larry Nassar, says the lawsuit wasn't about the money but the hope of effecting change within the organization.
Mobile bike fleet in Duluth, accessible playground in Rochester among projects in line for state grants
A mobile fleet of mountain bikes in Duluth, an accessible nature-based playground in Rochester, and a new park in Sherburne County east of St. Cloud are among 20 parks and trails projects around Minnesota to be recommended for state Legacy Fund grants.
Report: NHL is promoting hockey rink refrigerant with 'super-greenhouse gas'
A report from the nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency says the National Hockey League and chemical company Chemours are teaming up to expand the use of Opteon, a refrigerant that is “1,700 to 3,100 times more potent than carbon dioxide.”