Second Tie-Breaker

Suzanne Gaudet awaited the winner of the first tie-break, and was prepared. This was a well-curled game by both teams, but I thought that Alberta would carry through their momentum. There were some great shots, including a double by PEI early in the game and a cross-rings double by Alberta. But Gaudet stayed cool and when her last rock was required to win the game, she made no mistake, throwing a perfect hit and stick to score her point. Final result: 5-4. Could have gone either way.

Mind you, I didn't see the whole game, only snippets while at work and then I missed three ends on the busy drive home before arriving to see the final 5 rocks thrown.

Manitoba should demolish PEI but you never know in curling... they've been off since Thursday afternoon.

First Tie-Breaker

At first it looked like it would be a good game, but things quickly spiralled out of control for Ontario, and they lost 13-6. I love Cheryl's enthusiasm. But Krista will be back, I'm sure.

Draw 17

Heartbreak for Newfoundland and BC (still didn't play well), jubilation for PEI, Ontario, and Alberta who must square off in a tie-breaker Friday morning.

I was very impressed with Alberta, and even more so with Cheryl Bernard: she seems to have grown stronger and stronger and I don't doubt she'll roll right through Ontario in the first tie-breaker. And I like her and her team more and more. Same with Suzanne Gaudet, who I wouldn't have said was one of my favourites. But her strong third (Robyn McPhee) and quiet demeanour has been winning me over.

Canada won the third game, of course, although it was closer than normal over a battling Quebec.

Let the playoffs begin!

Draw 16

Finally! A well-played curling game! Canada versus Manitoba, the matchup I'd anticipated all week. And it did not disappoint. Clearly, the most memorable moment was when Jennifer Jones called--and made--the tap-tap-tap on the yellow stones to remove a Canada rock which was dead buried. She had to bail the team out a couple of times after fierce offense, but steady Canada applied pressure by making shot after shot, and forced the error out of Jennifer in the 8th. Canada stole 4, end of game.

Newfoundland and Alberta both lost their games, making a logjam of five teams with 5 losses. Alberta actually looked like winning their game against Saskatchewan, making Jan Betker throw her final rock. I did not like Cheryl Bernard's choice in her 1st rock, drawing around everything, because I felt that it made Jan Betker's runback easier. And indeed, Jan didn't miss, and at that point I knew the game was lost for Alberta.

Tonight we'll know the playoff picture. There will be at least one tiebreaker. I have no idea who will be involved.

Draw Fifteen

Saskatchewan vs BC. I really didn't think this would be a game, and it wasn't. Kelley Law was frustrated early and never recovered from that frustration. I think her concentration must really have been off. Saskatchewan didn't play perfectly, so there were opportunities for BC. But 10-3 after 6 ends... oh dear.

NS bounced Ontario down to 5 losses with a 10-3 win, and Manitoba posted a score of 5 in the 6th to defeat Québec... you guessed it, 10-3.

At the moment, the fourth game (NB vs NWT) hasn't finished, but coverage has. I predict NWT will win, although it would be good for Sandy Comeau to get a win, finally.

Only two teams at four losses now, Alberta and Newfoundland. Alberta should almost certainly lose to Saskatchewan this afternoon, but might beat BC tonight (I imagine that will be the feature game). Newfoundland should beat NS (although they might be on such a high after trouncing Ontario)... and then they play Ontario (anyone's guess who wins that one). So we might have LOTS of tie-breakers, or none at all...