Gushue hands Japan 1st loss, improves to 3-2 at men's curling worlds
Defending champ Niklas Edin of Sweden improves to 5-0 to lead tournament
After an uneven opening weekend at the world men's curling championship in Ottawa, Brad Gushue's Canadian team delivered a vintage performance at an ideal time.
Gushue and vice Mark Nichols displayed their shotmaking mettle Monday and the front end of Geoff Walker and E.J. Harnden also delivered in a 6-3 win over a plucky Japanese side at TD Place.
"I think it was a must-win and I think we're in that position for a little while now," Gushue said. "The next probably two or three games I think are all in that boat.
"You don't want to get too far behind the 8-ball knowing some of the teams that we have left."
WATCH | Gushue takes down Japan:
Canada (3-2) avoided falling below the .500 mark and is tied for sixth with Italy's Joel Retornaz in the 13-team field after seven sessions. The playoff cutline is set at six teams after round robin play.
The so-so start to the nine-day competition has put some added pressure on the host side. Gushue wasn't fazed as he prevented a big score in the second end by freezing against three to force Japan to a single.
"To make it as perfect as we did was definitely a confidence boost," he said.
A tap for two in the third end gave Canada a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Another pair was tacked on in the seventh and a couple of highlight-reel shots came in the eighth to essentially ice it.
Nichols wowed the partisan crowd with a triple-takeout to sit four and Gushue followed with a double that set up a force.
"Two good end-saving shots because we got ourselves into a bit of trouble that end with some of our rock positioning early on," Gushue said.
Japan on the rise
Canada ran Japan out of rocks in the 10th. Five of the eight players — including both skips — shot over 90 per cent.
Vice Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi is the only player on the team with world men's championship and Olympic experience.
"What I'm happy about is they're playing well," said coach Bob Ursel. "We weren't too concerned about the wins and losses, we really wanted to get some experience and play well and that's what's happened."
Sweden's Edin in familiar place on top
After the evening draw, Japan (3-1) is in a fourth-place tie with Scotland's Bruce Mouat and Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller.
Reigning world and Olympic champion Niklas Edin of Sweden won both of his games Monday to improve to 5-0, while Norway's Magnus Ramsfjell and Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller are tied for second with a 4-1 record.
WATCH | That Curling Show — Gushue prepares to face world's best on home ice:
Round-robin play continues through Friday night and medal games are scheduled for Sunday.
Gushue still has to play American John Shuster — the 2018 Olympic champ — as well as both Scotland and Sweden, who met in last year's final at the Winter Games.
Gushue, the world No. 4, settled for silver in his last two world championship appearances. His lone world title came in 2017 at Edmonton.
With files from CBC Sports
