Eight Ends is your daily one-stop shop for all things curling with news, notes, insight and analysis through the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Sometimes even twice daily.
First End: The comeback came up just short for Canada against Sweden, literally. Trailing by two in the final frame but holding the hammer, Jennifer Jones had a shot to potentially tie the game and force an extra or outright win over Anna Hasselborg. Jones needed to make a thin double takeout but didn’t get it, missing the back one and only counting a single point for sure. Out came the measuring stick and the second shot went to … Sweden. Hasselborg hung on to win 7-6 in the battle between the past two Olympic champions.
It was a bounce-back victory for Hasselborg, gold medallist four years ago in Pyeongchang, after the skip herself had a dreadful game falling in an 8-2 rout against Great Britain’s Eve Muirhead. Hasselborg’s record improved to 2-1. It’s the opposite story for Jones, who was also looking to rebound from a loss — an 8-5 decision to Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa — but now dropped to 1-2. Canada came close to the comeback but close only counts in horseshoes.
Second End: It almost looked like game over for Canada right in the opening end. Missed shots compounded through the middle of the lineup and things went from bad to worse when Jones’s first skip stone flew right through the house untouched and Hasselborg, who held the hammer, eased in her rock to sit four. Jones is one of the best draw shooters ever and saved the game early by burying her last near the button. That enticed Hasselborg to attempt an in-off across-the-house double and potentially score big, but the shooter rolled under Jones’s rock to give up a steal instead. A huge points swing.
Third End: Batteries not included. Canada not starting with the hammer is one reoccurring theme. Another is the “X” arm sign to indicate the rock’s lights aren’t turning on, which happened with Sweden’s second Agnes Knochenhauer’s first rock. You might think to hell with technology when it’s not used on tour, but when there’s so much at stake like at the world championships or the Winter Olympic Games, it helps keep the players honest and in check that they’re releasing the rock before crossing the hog line while also taking the weight off of the shoulders from the players to call each other out.
Fourth End: The points that got away from Hasselborg in the first came back in the fifth. All tied up 2-2, Jones got caught in a straight path and was unable to eliminate Hasselborg’s shot stone. Another risk vs. reward situation (although not quite as risky) and this time it paid off. Hasselborg split a guard into the house and rolled the shooter in as well to score three points and take hold of the game heading into the break leading 5-2.
Fifth End: You can never count out Jones. After singles back and forth, Jones made a great short raise double takeout in the eighth to score two and forced Hasselborg to have to make a high-pressure draw right onto the button, after flashing her first skip stone, for just one point in the ninth. Although the comeback came up short, Jones’ second-half surge put her team in a great position to almost snatch the victory away from Hasselborg, who looked to be so in control earlier in the game.
Sixth End: Up next for Jones is a bye in Saturday’s evening draw (or morning depending on where you are) with her team’s next game Sunday (1:05 a.m. ET) against two-time reigning world champion Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland. From the Olympic champs to the world champs, who are tied at the top of the table with the United States at 3-0; It doesn’t get much tougher than that. Jones has a 21-6 career win-loss record against Tirinzoni, according to CurlingZone, including a 6-4 victory earlier this season during the Masters women’s quarterfinals. Key will be fourth Alina Pätz, who is much better than the 55 per cent she curled in that game.
Seventh End: While you were sleeping, Sweden completed the double over Canada with Niklas Edin defeating Brad Gushue 7-4. The 2006 Olympic gold medallist Gushue must have felt like he was seeing deja vu following his previous defeat to Peter de Cruz of Switzerland. Canada did not start with the hammer and trailed by 2-0 once again by holding their opponent to a single and giving up a steal.
Even the setup heading into the final frame was identical with Gushue holding the hammer trailing by two points. At least he was able to throw his last shot this time and it looked like he had a chance to win with Edin in a race against the clock and leaving his last rock exposed. Gushue misfired, however, and gave up another steal to slip to a 2-2 record while Edin remains at the top of the table undefeated at 4-0.
Eighth End: Gushue has a two-game day ahead taking on John Shuster of the United States (Saturday 8:05 p.m. ET) followed by Italy’s Joel Retornaz (Sunday 7:05 a.m. ET). Oddly enough, both Shuster and Retornaz also competed in the 2006 Turin Winter Games: Shuster threw lead stones for Pete Fenson and earned a bronze medal while Retornaz skipped and scored a 7-6 extra-end victory over Gushue.
It’ll be a good opportunity for Gushue to steer the ship back on course with Shuster also sitting at 2-2 while Retornaz has struggled at 0-3.
Eight Ends: Canada’s Jones puts late pressure on Sweden, but Hasselborg hangs on
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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