Thursday 25 February 2021

#STOH2021 Power Rankings - Day 6

#BetweenTheSheets: More Questions, Less Answers

Traditional Elimination Day pebbled the ice more than cleared it up



Elimination Day held up to its name. We did eliminate a few more teams from the competition.

At the conclusion of Wednesday's games, we know we will be saying goodbye to Nova Scotia, Northern Ontario, Newfoundland and Wildcard 2. They join previously eliminated teams Nunavut and Yukon.

But only 6 teams eliminated from 18 as we head into the final day of RR action. Quite impressive.

And only 2 teams officially into the Championship Pool. Equally impressive.

Thursday will bring de factor elimination games and high stress for those 10 teams still chasing Championship Pool qualification.

Pool A remains the only pool with official qualified teams: Canada and Ontario. Alberta just needs to win their final game.. And we know NWT vs. WC3 will be a qualification game.

What about Pool B? It was a clusterf**k heading into Wednesday. It remains one heading into Thursday.

Did we get any clarity? Nope, not really.

We know Quebec has clinched at least a TB. And we know every other team, minus Newfoundland and Nunavut, is still jockeying for position.

As the blog stated in the Day 5 Power Rankings: Yowie Wowie!

Speaking of, time to update the Power Rankings. The previous ranking next to each team is based on their position on the mountain after Day 5. You can review those rankings HERE.

These Power Rankings are based on results through the conclusion of Draw 15 (Wednesday night).

#PowerRankings

1. #TeamCanada - Team Einarson (LR: 1): Another day. Another win. Undefeated. 7-0. Ho hum. #1. What else can we really say about the defending champs? They have been able to #DefendTheIce and are the clear front runners for the title come Sunday. Similar narrative to many games, start a bit slow, feel out the opposition, be patient and pounce when the opportunity arises. Tomorrow is the battle for top spot in the pool though vs. Ontario. The 2020 Scotties final rematch in <afternoon> prime time. They were the blog pick to win the title so I am not complaining. Do your thing Kerri!  Up Next: ON

2. #Labelleprovince - Team St-Georges (3): They keep climbing folks. People were starting to expect this team to perhaps slip up sometime right? Yet here they are heading into the final day of the RR sitting 5-2 and one win away from the Championship Pool. They could still win the group too, depending on other results on Thursday. They dominated an overmatched NL team on Wednesday, picking up a 9-4 victory. They scored 3 in ends 2 and 4 and never looked back. There are lots of comparison's to skipper Laurie St-Georges and the movie Frozen...but right now this team is all 🔥🔥  Up Next: NB

3. #CurlON - Team Homan (2): Hmmm, didn't see that upset coming Wednesday morning but credit to #PolarPower for picking up a huge win and knocking Homan from the undefeated ranks. The loss drops them a slight spot on the ranking but not too much of a concern overall. They have their match up with Canada Thursday afternoon where the winner finishes first in the pool. It may not seem like a bit deal but the Pool A winner takes on the Pool B qualifiers in reverse order, starting with the 4th place team. Could be a slight advantage. Either way, revenge and redemption will be on the mind. Up Next: CAN

4. #BuffaloHunt - Team Jones (7): It may not have been pretty but it is another W and all of a sudden Manitoba is in control to claim the top seed in Pool B. Yes, I know Quebec is ranked above them but, should both win their final games on Thursday, Manitoba could get the top seed in the pool based on the H2H win in the opener for both teams (although another team might be a bit GREEN with envy on that comment, more on that below). PEI made Jones grind out the win on Wednesday and, for the majority of the game, it was close. But Jones turned into Jones in the latter part of the game, scoring 2 in 7 and 3 in 9 to pick up another W and continue padding her overall win total. The blog said it earlier, Jones is dangerous when she starts slow and gains momentum. Are we preparing for another Vintage Jones playoff run?  Up Next: NB, NU

5. #TeamGreen - Team Anderson (8):  As Vic says, "The smile from Delisle" is lighting up the ice right now. Ok her stats may not be overly impressive but Sherry Anderson knows how to win. Wednesday was just another reminder. The kept WC1 on their toes, stayed closed and scored 2 in 10 to pick up the W. They are now sitting at 4-2 and in a great position to reach the Champ Pool. If SK goes 2-0 on Thursday, they wrap up the RR with a 6-2 record and would finish in first place in Pool B because they own the H2H over Quebec AND Manitoba. How many called that result? Lets give props to vice Nancy Martin as well. She has been curling great all week. Home pick I know, but I am fully behind #TeamGreen right now.  Up Next: BC, NL

6. #ABStrong - Team Walker (6): Well that wasn't a cute game in the night match vs. Canada but it didn't really hurt Alberta too much either in taking a loss. They are 4-3 with their final RR game against #PurplePower Thursday afternoon. Win and In. Nice and simple. Sure 3 losses is not ideal but it keeps you in the game and right now all you want is to live to fight another day. It will get tricky though if they are upset Thursday afternoon. If they lose, they better hope WC3 wins. If NWT beats WC3 and AB loses to YK, WC3 would get the final Champ Pool spot and AB would go home. This is due to no TB for 4-4 teams. The standings will be based on H2H and WC3 beat AB earlier in the week. But who wants to deal with all that drama? The team will need to pull up the socks and get more consistent once Champ Pool play begins.  Up Next: YK

7. #WC1 - Team Fleuray (4): Sometimes you outcurl your opposition and still cannot pick up the W. Welcome to the mindset of WC1. They looked good against Saskatchewan Wednesday afternoon. It was a back-and-fourth type of game but Chelsea Carey was winning the skipping battle and you had a feeling this team would still pick up the win. Alas, they gave up the deuce in 10 and chalk up a third L on the ledger. They are 4-3 and if they win their final RR game on Thursday, 5-3 should get them into the Champ Pool with no issues. But, the slight stress rises up should they lose. They only play one game on Thursday compared to many of their Pool B competitors playing twice. And they play in the morning so you can expect, regardless of the result, there will be some tense solo scoreboard watching in the hotel rooms during the day.  Up Next: NL

8. #PolarPower - Team Galusha (12): Is this the year? Is this the year we FINALLY see Kerry Galusha in the Champ Pool? While she certainly helped her cause playing a near perfect game Wednesday morning knocking off previously undefeated Ontario. It was also Galusha's first W over Homan. I briefly texted Galusha in between games on Wednesday congratulating her on the win and wishing her good luck in the night cap vs. territorial rival Yukon. She mentioned the fact Yukon derailed her hopes in the past, to which I responded "I thought we were not going to bring that up and pretend it never happened? LOL". Then BOOM, the team dominated #PurplePower to up their record to 4-3 and enter a de facto elimination/Champ Pool qualification game Thursday afternoon against another red hot streaking team, WC3. Literally win and in. It is that simple. If the team does pull off the win, do not be surprised if we see some tears of joy post-game...and well deserving. Up Next: WC3

9. #TeamAcadia - Team Adams (11): Quick, raise your hand if you had New Brunswick winning this morning vs. B.C. in your Pick 'Em Curling fantasy game? I am guessing not too many hands went up. What a game for NB. What a run they are on. Outside of the defending champs, they are the hottest team in the event right now. They are on a 3 game winning streak, with two of those wins against Pool B contenders. The team has figured out the ice conditions. They are mentally stronger compared to opening weekend. And they are right in the thick of things for qualifying for the Champ Pool. The schedule is TOUGH on Thursday but Team Adams is flying the #TeamUpset flag right now and looking good.  Up Next: MB, QC

10. #WC3 - Team Peterson (10): So it is your rookie Scotties campaign. First game out of the hack you end up winning. You follow it up with 3 straight losses. Ugh! Beth Peterson and her squad had two options: fold up camp and enjoy the experience or fight back and go on a roll. They chose Option B. And now they are riding a 3 game winning streak and set themselves into the qualification/elimination game vs. #PolarPower Thursday afternoon. Wow! How many people assumed, come Thursday, WC3 would be the hottest wildcard team in the event? Full credit to them. They dominated Northern Ontario Wednesday morning in their only game for the day and will be very well rested for their final RR battle. Pro or con with all that time off though when locked up in a hotel room? Plus you have to feel for them in a way as they kind of enter the game as the villain or "road team". Kerry Galusha is one of the most loved curlers EVER, male or female, and is playing for her own #HERstory. Peterson wants to reach the Champ Pool in her rookie appearance. To do so, she has to take down a crowd favourite. Here is a perfect example of no fans in the stands playing to one teams advantage. Up Next: NWT

11. #TeamPacific - Team Brown (5): You go on a 3 game winning streak and shoot up the mountain. You suffer one loss and it is a deep slide back down the rankings. Sports are cruel aren't they?! But it is what it is folks. They ran into an equally hot NB team on Wednesday and could not keep up, being completely dominated from start to finish. And, once again, they are left sitting in their hotel rooms trying to figure out how to right the ship. They are still in this of course. They are 3-3 with two games on tap on Thursday. It won't be easy though when your opponents are also right in the hunt. Win both and you are in. Split and you are scoreboard watching. Anything less, they will be leaving the #IceBubble sooner than expected.  Up Next: SK, PEI

12. #TheIslanders - Team Birt (9): The slide continues for Suzanne Birt and company. The narrative remains the same. Play a team tough for the majority of a game, whether at the beginning or fight back, but having those mental lapses for a few ends costs you the victory. PEI has never really settled into the hack or looked overly comfortable, especially Birt. But, they are sitting 3-3 and still have a shot to qualify. They must win both their games on Thursday AND hope for a bit of help along the way. The door isn't closing on the overwhelming pre-event Dark Horse pick, but the glue factory is starting up the machines.  Up Next: NU, BC

13. #WC2 - Team Zacharias (16): You feel like this team finally was finding their groove, it just came a few days and few games too late. They played great in Wednesday morning, beating the more experienced Team Brothers. And they gave perennial powerhouse Team Homan all they can handle in the evening draw before coming up short. Maybe expectations were a bit too high for the Scotties rookie team. And maybe that got in their head a bit too. They sit 2-5 entering their final RR game vs. fellow rookie and 2-5 team Northern Ontario. If they win, finishing 3-5 at this Scotties, in your debut Scotties, is nothing to hang your head about. This team will be at the Scotties again folks. Count on it!  Up Next: NOnt

14. #TeamBluenose - Team Brothers (13): The only team to wrap up the RR. Nova Scotia has Thursday off and, due to their 3-5 record, will not be advancing to the Champ Pool. It will be a mixed takeaway bag for the Bluenose squad. Some games they looked great, like their final game victory over Northern Ontario. Others they were outplayed. And others they played well but just couldn't pick up the win, like their Wednesday morning game vs. WC2. Consistency plagued them all week and, unfortunately, sends them home. We know this is a good team though and we will probably see them again at a future Scotties. Up Next: BYE

15. #FearTheMoose - Team Burns (14): Not a great day for the Moose. Entering Wednesday the rookie team was still in Champ Pool contention. Being outscored 17-8 in two losses to WC3 and Nova Scotia ended all hopes and leaves the team with a 2-5 record. Their final RR game has no Champ Pool implications against fellow rookie team WC2 either. Maybe both teams can just go out and have fun and enjoy their final game at their first Scotties appearance though. Up Next: WC2

16. #TheRock - Team Hill (15):  The glass slipper has officially fallen off and is hiding somewhere in the snow at Canada Olympic Park. NL had a tough go against Pool B powerhouse Quebec, gave up a few 3's early on and just could not recover later in the game. But it is not all doom and gloom folks. Sarah Hill has made some great shots and the team has played some great games. Remember they are a rookie team here as well. Sure they are eliminated from Champ Pool contention but, worse case, they leave the #IceBubble with 2 wins. Many rookie teams in the past have not faired as well. And they could still play spoiler in the topsy-turvey Pool B.  Up Next: WC1, SK

T17. #TeamArctic - Team Eddy (17): Well you cannot really move up the mountain when you don't touch the ice. And, luckily for you, the only other winless team happened to go 0-2 on the day. So here we sit. Same position as yesterday with 2 opportunities remaining to avoid the 0-for record. They didn't officially drop in the rankings more as credit to Yukon for spirited play on Wednesday to move into a tie for the final spot on the mountain. Up Next: PEI, MB

T17. #PurplePower - Team Eby (18): Credit Yukon with their performance this morning. They caught a still asleep Team Canada early and raced out to a 3-0 lead after two end of play. All points were #StealPants points too. Impressive. But Canada woke up, fought back and Yukon had no counter punch in return. They played rival NWT at night looking to play spoiler but could not muster up much offense and suffered loss #7. They get one last chance to pick up a win on Thursday against Alberta, who is trying to punch their ticket to the Champ Pool. Can they play the ultimate spoiler? Up Next: AB

#StayTuned

Thursday action will be Elimination Day.....OFFICIALLY! For teams clinging to a Top 4 placing, it will be simple: Win and In. For those still in the hunt, you need to win and perhaps hope for a little help.

The big question remains, will we see a TB? Pool A looks set with a de factor elimination game to determine the final spot but Pool B could be interesting with most of the team have a two-game day on the final day of RR play. Again, remember TB games only happen between 5-3 teams. Tied teams with 4-4 records go to H2H results and Last Stone Draw results.

PLUS, the #TwineTime podcast will RETURN with a Special Guest to help hand out some midterm grades. Big Red is back and ready to mark up the ice.

Good luck and good curling....


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