#BetweenTheSheets: Opening Weekend Power Rankings
Olympics aspirations already gone for some teams?
9 draws are in the record books at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship inside the #IceBubble and the standings may look a little unexpected.
We have only one team undefeated.
We have three teams still looking for their first win.
And we possibly have one team already eliminated from Winter Olympic qualification.
What a weekend!
In the event preview it was noted 4 losses probably keeps you safe. 5 losses might get you a TB.
Anything more than 5 losses and you have probably suffered one too many, at least.
Norway is sitting atop the table with an undefeated 5-0 record and looking in a good spot to punch an Olympic berth.
Netherlands is sitting at the bottom of the table with an 0-6 record and will now play spoiler.
The rest of the field?
We have a log jam right below Norway with 5 teams sitting at 4-1.
Our two-time defending champs are outside the Top 6 with a 3-2 record and struggling.
And imagine the eyebrows being raised if Russian Curling Federation continues to shine and qualifies for the playoffs here under the RCF banner.
Time to weigh in on the opening weekend with the first edition of the #WMCC2021 Power Rankings.
Note the ranking listed after each team is their pre-event ranking provided in the preview blog post.
#PowerRankings
1. Norway - Team Walstad (#9): The blog mentioned this team as a #TeamUpset contender and here they are alone in first place and the only undefeated team. The big W over rival Sweden was huge. Sure it came off a mistake from Nik Edin but a win is a win. The schedule will get tough now though. Next Up: BYE, GER, BYE
2. Switzerland - Team De Cruz (#5): They have defeated Sweden, Canada and Japan. All 3 were Top 6 pre-event favs. But they faltered Sunday night vs. USA so that dropped them out of the #1 spot. Perhaps a let up game coming off the victory over Canada earlier in the day as well. Regardless of standings, this team looks like the front runner right now. But they cannot take the top spot when another team is undefeated…can they? Next Up: BYE, ITA, RCF
3. Canada - Team Bottcher (#3): Tough loss to Switzerland but they played well against a front-runner. Overall, this team is exactly where we expected them to be at this point. Slight concern with vice Darren Moulding showing some signs of pain in the afternoon W over Netherlands though. Big North America showdown Monday morning. Next Up: USA, KOR, BYE
4. USA - Team Shuster (#6): A less daunting schedule early on and a loss to Sweden had USA right where most expected going into the night cap vs. Switzerland. But they came on strong and handed the Swiss their first loss. Maybe this team isn’t flying under the radar? Get ready for the CAN-AM Battle in the morning. Next Up: CAN, BYE, ITA
5. Scotland - Team Mouat (#1): Tough opening loss to Canada, a game they probably should have won after dominating the first half. They have since won 4 straight and back near the top of the table. Speaking of flying under the radar, this seems to be exactly where Bruce Mouat wanted to be right now. They may not get a lot of attention compared to some other teams but watch out for silent yet deadly approach from the young Scots. Next Up: SWE, BYE, GER
6. Russian Curling Federation - Team Glukhov (#11): Quite the surprise here. The Russian Curling Federation is 4-1 and could easily be 5-0 after giving Sweden all they could handle. A nice battle back performance in the night cap W over Germany, scoring 3 in 9 and a steal in 10 to clinch the victory. Lets see if they can sustain the momentum as their schedule has them playing some of the favourites next. Next Up: JPN, BYE, SUI
7. Sweden - Team Edin (#2): The story of the event may be Team Edin…and not in the way many might have predicted before the championship hit the ice. Sweden is sitting 3-2 and on the outside of the Top 6 right now. Edin has struggled. The team does not look like themselves…yet. You have to think the two-time defending champs will find their groove…but it better be soon. They get Scotland in their next game too. Could they drop to 3 losses already? Next Up: SCO, BYE, DEN
8. Italy - Team Retornaz (#8): Beat the teams ranked below. Lose to the teams ranked above. It seems to be regular scheduled programming for Joel Retornaz and Team Italy. The loss to Japan will sting though. They had a chance to almost bury a pre-event fav and keep themselves in the bunch at the top. Now, similar to Sweden, they are on the outside looking in. Monday could make or break them. Next Up: BYE, SUI, USA
9. Japan - Team Matsumura (#4): Sweden sitting 3-2 is a surprise but Japan sitting 2-3 is also a bit of a shock. After the 4th place finish in 2019, there were high expectations on this team heading into 2021. To their credit, their losses have come against Canada, Switzerland and USA. Nothing to hang your head about. And they are coming off a nice win over Italy Sunday night. They are still very much in the race but they cannot afford any slip ups right now. Remember this team is playing to represent Japan at the Winter Olympics, not just qualify Japan for the competition. They are literally playing for their Olympic lives. Next Up: RCF, BYE, BYE
10. Denmark - Team Noergaard (#12): The loudest team in the field may also be one of the nicest surprises thus far. Sure they are 2-3 but look at their losses: Canada, Norway and Scotland. And, outside of the game vs. Scotland, they have been very competitive in each game. Plus they had scored ends of 4, 5 and 4 in their win vs. Netherlands. They like rocks in play and like to score. This was a team who came into the championships as a bit of an unknown and have been able to surprise on opening weekend with their great play. Can they keep it up though? Next Up: CHN, BYE, SWE
11. Germany - Team Totzek (#13): When your opening weekend schedule shows Italy, Japan, Switzerland and USA, are you surprised to see Germany start 0-4? These are 4 of the fav 6. And Germany is not curling bad. They are just having bad lapses in games costing them victories. Up 2 without hammer playing 9 vs. RCF and giving up 3 is a perfect example. Give up 2. Force 1. But giving up 3 in 9 is deflating late into a game where you have been playing well. The blog said 5 losses might be one too many. Germany is 0-5. And their next two games are against two more front-runners. Yikes! Next Up: BYE, NOR, SCO
12. Korea - Team Jeong (#14): Ok so it may be a bit "controversial" to have a winless team ranked ahead of this team but Korea did win a Battle of the Winless to get their sole W so bit tough to move them too high up the mountain. The opposition has not provided a nice Welcome Wagon basket to the young rookies from Korea opening weekend. It has been tough. But they finally picked up their first W of the event Sunday night vs. Netherlands and they are on the board. The first win is always the hardest. Can they start gaining momentum and surprise a few more teams? Next Up: BYE, CAN, BYE
13. China - Team Zou (#10): It has not been a good opening weekend for the Olympic hosts. They have just struggled with ice reading and shot selection and execution. They are 0-5 so it is probably a good thing they are not trying to qualify for the Olympics as their dream would probably already be over. But you know the Olympic host member association is watching closely and is going to want to see a better performance this week. Lots of pressure on this team. Best chance at Ws could come with Monday’s schedule though. Next Up: DEN, NED, BYE
14. Netherlands - Team van Dorp (#7): An 0-6 record, sitting bottom of the table and Olympic hopes probably already dashed. And it only Sunday. Tough opening weekend for #TeamOranje. You now play the role of spoiler while trying to at least take some momentum and confidence out of this world championship heading into the last chance Olympic Qualification Event in December. They get the Battle of the Winless Monday afternoon vs. China. Next Up: BYE, CHN, BYE
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