Sports

NHL realignment: New divisions drawn to ease time zone conflicts
The NHL will shuffle its teams before next season, moving from three divisions in each conference to a total of four divisions in the Eastern and Western Conferences. The league's owners approved the plan Thursday; the players' association gave its OK last week.
Follow the money: an interactive map of Minnesota’s electronic pulltab gaming
They’re the Minnesota Vikings, and the law that funds the public contribution to their new stadium covers the whole state. But the actual landscape of the new games is another story: the money is concentrated, at least according to the most recent data available, mostly around the Interstate 94 corridor. Below, you’ll find a map…
Neighbors getting nervous about Vikings move to U and TCF Bank Stadium in 2014
The Twin Cities Daily Planet’s Bill Huntzicker has an interesting round up on the neighbors nervously eyeing the prospect of Vikings games at TCF Bank Stadium — likely starting in August of 2014. The Marcy Homes Neighborhood Association, the folks living in Prospect Park and the U of M area business community are all wondering…
Unbeaten Gophers are 3 games from another title
The NCAA women's hockey tournament is about to start, and there's no wonder about who the favorite is: Minnesota. The way the Gophers have been playing, dominating this sport like never before, the real mystery surrounding the event might actually be whether they'll give up a goal.
Vikings sign QB Cassel, host WR Jennings
The Vikings agreed to terms with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel on Thursday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been officially announced. It's been a busy day for the Vikings, who also were hosting Green Bay Packers free agent receiver Greg Jennings for a visit.
Brandon Paul scored 25 points and hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to lead Illinois to a 51-49 victory over Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten tournament on Thursday.
Gambling board hears e-pulltab complaints
Drew Naseth, a Faribault paper pulltab supplier,  is accusing the state of fumbling the rollout of electronic pulltabs in a report offered to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board and other state officials. The board’s executive committee, Chair William Goede, Norm Pint and Bill Gillespie, heard a summary of the report from Executive Director Tom Barrett this morning.…