The Canadian Mens Curling team kept their playoff hopes alive this morning with an 8-4 win over Christopher Pleasants' rink representing the United States.
"That was a game we had to have for a number of reason," said team coach Paul Webster. "Obviously, we needed to get back into the win column just to stay afloat for the medal round. We also looked at the US as a beatable team in the draw. There's always a lot to play for when we face the Americans. They don't like losing to us, and we didn't want to to drop a game to them."
The Canadians made a subtle roster adjustment prior to the game, moving Matt Mapletoft to the third-stones in place of Bill Francis at the lead position. The move paid immediate dividends for the Canadians, who control the development of most of the ends in the morning draw.
"We just wanted to get a different look - when it's not going well, you'll try different things to get it back on track," Anderson explained. "Last year the girls started off 0-3 at the nationals and juggled the roster -- flipped the lineup and ended up winning the whole thing. We figured if it worked for them, maybe it'll work for us. Bill's natural position is lead, so it he never saw "
"Matt was awesome today," affirmed Webster. "Of the 18 shots he had, I think had had maybe one and half misses. It really made Mike's job easier throwing last stones when he's got the set-up he needs from the third position."
After opening with a steal of one in the first end, the Canadians fell behind briefly when Pleasants took two points in the second end. The Canadians then restored the lead with a two of their own in the third end, but had things lined up for a much bigger count.
"We probably things in the third end set up for three of four," said Anderson. "We were lying two - he made a come around freeze and tucked it around the corner. I rubbed with my first, he capped it and left me an in-off for three. Give him credit, if he doesn't make the freeze with his first, we're probably going to count at least thee, maybe more."
After blanking the 4th end, Canada stole one more in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead into the break and really never seemed to be in peril from there on in.
The win pushes Canada's record to 4-4, and has them currently sitting in 6th spot - one game back of the Koreans and Swiss.
After getting off to a 3-1 start, Canada has struggled over the last two days, dropping their last three matches to fall back to the middle of the pack. Canada's men understand the burden of responsibility that comes with wearing the maple leaf, but also understood the likelihood of running roughshod over the competition was minimal.
"When you look at our record, it is a little disheartening to be honest - we tried to take the pressure off by reminding ourselves that on paper we're not the strongest in the field. We saw ourselves as a 4th place, 5th place team. We had to knock off the three or four rinks ahead of us to be near the top, and we've only been able to win one of those games."
The mathematics for Canada heading into the final draw of the preliminaries are very straight forward - they'll need a win over the Finns, and both the Koreans and Swiss to lose their last game of the round robin. Korea faces China, while the Swiss will meet Great Britain.
"It doesn't matter what happens on the other sheets if we don't beat Finland tonight," said Webster. "That's the only one we have control over. I think Korea-China will be a good game because neither team wants to give an inch in that one. Switzerland-Great Britain has potential for us, but all we need to concern ourselves with is the one that's in front of us"
"You look at their record, and it would seem like it's not going well for them," said Anderson. "But it's always dangerous to discount a team that's just left playing for pride. We know they'll be looking too prove themselves a bit, and they'd restore a lot of that pride if they can beat us tonight.
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