The Canadian Press
Gregory Strong
EDMONTON–The numbers are in Brad Gushue’s favour at the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship.
He posted impressive wins yesterday over Jaap Van Dorp of the Netherlands and Japan’s Yusuke Morozumi to extend his unbeaten streak to nine games.
Gushue has outscored his opponents 77-29 overall and games have ended early on seven occasions.
Each early finish will help Gushue and his team stay fresh for the playoffs.
The St. John’s skip, who has secured a berth in the Page playoff 1-2 game tomorrow night, still is bothered by a hip/groin injury so any saved throws are welcomed.
“It’s a huge positive,” Gushue stressed. “The less I can be on it the better, to be honest.
“At this point, I don’t need more reps or more volume,” he noted. “I feel comfortable with the ice and I feel comfortable with how I’m throwing it.
“So if I can keep the fatigue down and be ready come the weekend, I think that’s a positive.”
Gushue’s 8-3 victory in the morning was followed by a 10-2 rout in the afternoon.
Sweden’s Niklas Edin improved to 8-1 with a 10-4 victory over Switzerland’s Peter de Cruz (7-2) last night and has qualified for the playoffs.
Edin was alone in second while de Cruz sat third going into play today.
John Shuster (6-3) of the United States had sole possession of fourth place.
Japan’s Morozumi (5-4) was in fifth place while China, Italy, Scotland, and Norway were in a four-way tie for sixth at 4-5.
The top four teams make the playoffs.
In the early game yesterday, Gushue opened with a three-point first end.
Van Dorp was held to a single in the fourth before Gushue tacked on a deuce in the fifth.
The Dutch scored two points in the seventh but Gushue replied with a pair to wrap things up in eight ends.
Against Japan, Gushue’s five-point fourth end put the game out of reach.
Gushue has posted two six-end wins and three seven-end victories so far.
By only going the regular 10-end length just twice, Gushue has saved 21 ends overall–the equivalent of more than two games.
That’s important for a team still feeling the effects of a long, tough grind at the Tim Hortons Brier.
“When we came in, we weren’t fully recovered,” Gushue admitted.
“So to have a few lighter games, it has certainly been a benefit.”
