#Brier2021 Power Rankings - Day 6

#BetweenTheSheets: All Aboard, The Skipper Is The Captain

And this boat is ready for #MovingDay

Yesterday the Power Rankings focused on the first mate of the ship, the Vice position. 

The rankings looked at the third position players to see which was applying a #ViceGrip to their opposition and which was perhaps sending the team on an unwanted detour.

Time to look at the captain of the ship: The Skipper.

All eyes on me. Who leads this team? As our little buddy above is pointing out, "I do. I am the skip!"

Wednesday is considered #MovingDay at national championship events. Teams are jockeying for position in the standings, trying to move closer to Championship Pool qualification and avoid the early flight home.

At the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier, #MovingDay is going to be quite crowded. There are a lot of ships at sea looking to land on the right side of the dock.

Interestingly enough, there is a scenario where we could see 7 of the 8 teams who reach the Champ Pool have 6-2 records. We could see all 4 qualifiers from Pool A with identical 6-2 records.

We could also see a team from Pool A with a 5-3 record not qualify for the Champ Pool...and not even see a TB game. Just a simple, thanks for finishing 5-3 and have a safe flight home. Wow!

So how do teams avoid the logjam?

They turn to their Skipper. The guy standing in the rings trying to navigate the ship. It is time for the skips to step up their game and, in some cases, steal those wins.

Thus enter the Updated #PowerRankings.

For #MovingDay, lets look at how the skips are serving as "captains" of their team ships and see if they are directing the ship in the right direction.

You can go from GOAT to GO HOME with one final rock released from the hand of your skipper. The pressure is on. 

Which skip can fight off the ice storm heading their way and find clear waters into the Championship Pool? And which skips are struggling to right the ship and facing dark and cloudy skies on the horizon?

These rankings are through games completed as of Monday night.

#PowerRankings

1. #WC2 - Team Koe (1): Kevin Koe (87%) - 5 wins. +5 for the position. Last two games curling 86% and 97%. What more is there to say? Koe is SCARY when he is curling this good and this consistent. The next few games will be a challenge though so he cannot let up. But, right now, he has guided his WC team to the top of the mountain and looks to stay there. First place in Pool B could be decided by the end of Wednesday.  Up Next: SK, ON

2. #BuffaloHunt - Team Gunnlaugson (2): Jason Gunnlaugson (83%) - Prime time battle as the TSN Feature vs. NB for first place. Pressure was on. So what did Gunner do? He showed up, controlled the game from the opening end and was never in doubt. NB got suckered into the MB game plan and Grattan could not match Gunner shot for shot. Look Gunnlaugson is not going to put up perfect numbers. He is going to make some misses but, what he does well, is make those pivotal good misses. His misses are not costing him games or giving up big ends. And, in return, he guides his team through a game and forces his opposition into the tough shots. He is +4 and his team is undefeated after all. Gunner can play kamakaze curling but when it works for him, he is dangerous. BIG game on Wednesday.  Up Next: NOnt

3. #TeamGreen - Team Dunstone (4): Matt Dunstone (86%) - #DunnyIsMoney. #TheSheriff. Call Matt Dunstone whatever you want, he is on fire. Dunstone has been consistent in his past few games and that is what you need out of your skipper right now. He is making the clutch draws and high-profile hits when he needs to, scoring the multi-point ends and helping build leads for his team. When he sat down with the podcast to play a fun game of "This or That" he said he preferred the draw over the hit. And he has backed that up this week. We know he can hit. But now we, and his opposition, should know he can draw. BIG game Wednesday morning vs. WC2, which could decide first place in the pool. Sure seems a bit familiar to last year...and look how that ended up.  Up Next: WC2, PEI

4. #WC3 - Team Howard/Middaugh (8): Wayne Middaugh (85%) - Wayne Middaugh, the Brier ice has missed you. And, more importantly, I think Middaugh missed the Brier ice. Talk about clutch shooting the past few games. We saw the jaw-dropping shot FTW Tuesday morning. How did he follow it up? By making a clutch draw FTW Tuesday night. And he curled 89% in both games on Tuesday. Middaugh is sitting at +3 for the event and has been one of the feel good stories of the Brier, something we all needed. Bigger picture, WC3 is sitting 4-1 and looking primed for a Champ Pool spot. But the big games in Pool A continue for the boys Wednesday afternoon against another #TeamUpset contender. Up Next: NB

5. #CurlON - Team Epping (6): John Epping (82%) -  After curling mid-70's in his first three games, Epping has really picked up his game and is finding his groove. His last two games have been 100% and 88%. His own game is trending up and his team is on a winning streak. Similar to Sasky above, they also draw WC2 Wednesday night which could decide first place in the pool. Up Next: QC, WC2

6. #TeamCanada - Team Gushue (7): Brad Gushue (88%) -  You curl 93%, score the plus over your opposition, and still lose the game? WTF? This is what Gushue was left with heading into Tuesday action. Plus the team was on a two-game losing streak. Do you get frustrated? Upset? No, you go out, stick to your game plan, curl 89% and pick up a much needed W. The schedule "eases" up a bit and a 6-2 record is within reach. Of course never underestimate anyone, especially the much anticipated Battle of the Rock vs. Greg Smith Wednesday night. Up Next: PEI, NL

7. #FearTheMoose - Team Jacobs (10): Brad Jacobs (81%) - There. We. Go. We have been asking all week, "Will the real Brad Jacobs please show up, please show up" and did he ever in a game where it mattered the most, thus far. Sitting 3-2 heading into the night cap battle vs. Alberta, Jacobs needed to right the ship and steer his boys to a W or else see the Champ Pool door starts to close a bit more. Jacobs curled 93%, his best of the event so far, and he picked up a huge W. The team sits 4-2, right in contention, and Jacobs seems to have regained his confidence. He is +3 for the event so we know he can outcurl his opposition. If the rest of the team shows up with him, not leaving him circus shots with his two stones, this team could start becoming VERY dangerous. Blockbuster match up Wednesday afternoon.  Up Next: MB

8. #ABStrong - Team Bottcher (3): Brendan Bottcher (86%) - Tuesday night was not the game for Bottcher and the boys to struggle. Bottcher only curled 79% in his loss to NOnt. After posting back-to-back 90+ games, this was a game to almost eliminate a past champion and position yourself in a good spot for the Champ Pool. It was also the first game Bottcher took the minus. How does he rebound now? The Wednesday game vs. WC1 is big. A win and Alberta goes to 4-2. A loss and all of a sudden you are sitting 3-3 in a top heavy (and crowded) Pool A.  Up Next: WC1

9. #TeamAcadia - Team Grattan (5): James Grattan (81%) - Ok so one glass slider fell off Grattan's curling shoe Tuesday night in a battle for first place in Pool A vs. Manitoba. It happens. Grattan curled 63% in taking the loss. Interesting Grattan is also even with his Plus/Minus after picking up another minus in the MB loss. So you are sitting even yet the team is 4-2 and still VERY MUCH in the Champ Pool qualification conversation. Outside of Tuesday night, Grattan has been very consistent with his numbers though, regardless of the Plus/Minus. If he can regroup for the big Wednesday battle vs. WC3, they can almost solidify their spot in the Champ Pool. One glass slider off is not a big deal but I wouldn't recommend dropping the other. Up Next: WC3

10. #WC1 - Team McEwen (9): Mike McEwen (80%) - Where is the Mike McEwen consistency we have seen at past Brier's and #GSOC events? McEwen is having an up and down Brier. He has been outcurled his past two games, picking up the minus and the losses are mounting up. The team is sitting 2-3 and cannot afford any more losses if they want to keep those Champ Pool, and playoff, hopes alive. On the plus, 80 is the number on McEwen's twitter account and seems to bring him luck (yes, I know it is the year he was born). Maybe he just needed to find his lucky number first? Up Next: AB

11. #TeamBluenose - Team Murphy/McDonald (11): Scott McDonald (75%) - It has been talked about (and talked about and talked about) about how difficult it is for Scott McDonald to take the reigns as skip of a different team. The strategies of both teams are quite different. The shot selection comfort levels are different. The communication styles are different. So yes, it was going to be a bit tough of a Brier. But McDonald is the skipper leading this team and needs to put his foot down at times. He can make the big shots, we have seen it a few times throughout the event. Unfortunately sitting 3-3 with 2 games to play, it might be too late to make a push for the Champ Pool. Up Next: BYE, NU

12. #Labelleprovince - Team Fournier (12): Michael Fournier (74%) -  Speaking of missed opportunities and too little, too late, you have to feel for Fournier and the horses from Quebec. They had not stepped on the ice to compete since the pandemic hit Quebec so it was going to be an uphill battle. Fournier has struggled the past two games, curling 67% and 74% in losing efforts. If Fournier can turn things around, a 4-4 record is possible. Up Next: ON, BYE

13. #TeamPacific - Team Laycock (13): Jim Cotter (77%) - You curl 84% and you take the minus and the loss. Welcome to the head scratching going on by Jim Cotter right now. He curled a great game Tuesday night. Unfortunately he was up against Wayne Middaugh, who was having himself a turn back the clock moment all day Tuesday. Cotter is struggling, sitting at -3 and unable to take down his position opposition. The results are showing. The team sits 1-4 and is hanging on to Champ Pool aspirations by a small, small thread. On the positive? Both loses on Tuesday came via the final rock from the opposition skip making their shot FTW. Those. Are. Tough. Losses. Cotter has the chance to turn around the momentum on Wednesday but will it be too little, too late?  Up Next: NWT

14. #TheRock - Team Smith (14): Greg Smith (73%) - After Smith finally found his first W inside the #IceBubble over PEI Monday night, he was unable to continue the momentum on Tuesday in a loss to Ontario. Smith curled 72% in the loss, not a horrible game but also not high enough to play spoiler against one of the top contenders. On the plus, it was a great opportunity to highlight the "If You Can Play, You Can Play" movement of curling inclusion as both skips posed with the LGBTQS+ flag for the post-game. Big games for Smith on Wednesday, with a chance to pick up win #2 in the morning and the provincial rival game at night. Lets hope we get the NL vs. CAN game as the TSN feature. We didn't get it in Regina when the two skips battled it out, lets hope we get it now. It is 2021....we need Greg Smith as a feature. And imagine the excitement for the late (very late) game back home in NL. Up Next: NU, CAN

15. #PolarPower - Team Skauge (15): Greg Skauge (75%) - Lets go NWT. The Polar Power proved mighty Tuesday night as Skauge curled 76% and picked up his first W of the 2021 Brier. He also picked up his first plus. Ok sure NWT is 1-4 and pretty much eliminated from Champ Pool contention; however, this team is curling well. Look at Skauge's numbers the past two games alone: 80% and 76%.  Remember this is his rookie Brier so to show improvement, start curling better and challenging those top, more experienced, teams is a trend in the right direction. They may be playing spoiler but, as we always know, never undersell a team from NWT.  Up Next: BC

16. #TheIslanders - Team MacKenzie (16): Eddie MacKenzie (58%) -  After struggling the past 4 games, MacKenzie was able to put it together and score his first W inside the #IceBubble. PEI defeated Nunavut in a battle of winless teams Tuesday afternoon. But it was not easy. MacKenzie's experience may have been the deciding factor though, scoring 3 in 9 as the difference maker. MacKenzie and his Islanders are in tough on Wednesday against two podium contenders. This team has played with its rotation as well. Could we see the skipper step aside in these tough "spoiler" games and let his vice Tyler Smith get more experience driving the ship? Up Next: CAN, SK

17. #PurplePower - Team Mikkelsen (17): Dustin Mikkelsen (61%) - It has been a tough rookie Brier appearance for Mikkelsen and the boys from Yukon. You know they would have loved to pick up their first W over a territorial rival on Tuesday night but it was not meant to be. Mikkelsen struggled in the Territorial battle, curling 58%. It was more unfortunate because he seemed to be gaining some momentum and confidence, curling 72% in his previous game. But Mikkelsen has now taken the minus in all 6 games. The team has the bye on Wednesday so maybe they can regroup a bit, relax and come back fresh on Thursday to play the role of spoiler.   Up Next: BYE

18. #TeamArctic - Team Mackey (18): Peter Mackey (54%) -  Oh so close to that first win on Tuesday vs. PEI. Mackey and the boys played a great game, arguably their best of the Brier. The game was tied heading to 9 before PEI took advantage to score the 3 and put the game out of reach. Mackey curled 70% in the loss to WC2 on Monday but could not follow up the consistent play on Tuesday, only curling 59%. So close but so far. Question is, can Mackey and the team pull together a complete game and pick up a W in their final three games? Tomorrow will be their best chance. Up Next: NL, NS

#StayTuned

What would your Power Rankings look like? Which team do you think looks like they should sit atop the mountain? Any team you think should be ranked higher? Lower?

Share your thoughts via social media with the #PowerRankings.

Power Rankings mountain will be updated once again tomorrow heading into #EliminationDay.

Good luck and good curling....