Draw #12: Ends 4 and 5

End #4: Once again, we join the game in progress after having little idea what happened with the first four shots. The TSN announcers are convinced that Finland just hasn't figured out the ice the way Martin has. I expect poorer ability (aka execution) plays a more important role. Come on folks, it's not just experience and ice-reading. Ability to make the precise shot is something that really distinguishes this Martin rink from the other teams. Note that Morris's first shot overcurled and his second shot undercurled. hmmmm.

Martin's first attempt to draw around the centre guard is half exposed ("lost its handle" according to Martin, but it was still spinning a bit as I saw it). Kiiskinen tapped it back to lie one, but Martin can pick out the shot rock to lie two. Oops, threw it a bit inside ("curled like a banshee" says Martin). Ray says, "There goes 100% for today" referring to Martin's sterling performance against Norway yesterday. Finland still lies one and draws for two. Canada 7, Finland 4.

Linda notes that this is the first time Canada has given up as many as four points to ANYONE! Did I hear that right? [update: I must have misheard. Canada gave up four to Japan, China, and Germany, but never gave up more than four points that I could see.]

End #5: Finland tries to come around the centre guard but is half exposed; Canada has a rock in the back 8 and taps the Fin rock out. Finland tries to tap out the Cdn rock, but flashes. Martin spends some more time watching play on other sheets. After a few more shots, Canada lies four with the hammer and Finland has just an off-centre-line guard. The major hope for Finland in this end to try to freeze to one of the Cdn stones (preferably the shot stone), but if it isn't perfect freeze, Martin will pick it out. So Kiiskinen opts instead to try for a double, but gets only one. So Martin freezes to his own, followed by a fascinating conversation about which rocks do what. Apparently there are more than minor differences in how the rocks interact with different types of ice. Finland tries a tap-freeze to try to hold Canada to just one, but is heavy and bounces away, leaving Martin with a hit for four. Canada 11, Finland 4.