Carruthers downs Bottcher to stay undefeated heading into National playoffs
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers appears all tuned up for the National playoffs wrapping up round-robin play with a 9-2 victory in only five ends over Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher during Draw 8 action Friday.
The 2012 world junior champion Bottcher (4-1) entered the matchup undefeated as well after qualifying for the playoffs for the first time at a Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event.
Carruthers settled for a single in the first but was able to pull away with steals of three in the second and two in the third to go up 6-0. Bottcher broke up the shutout with his deuce in four but shook hands early after Carruthers added another three points in five.
Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock advanced to the playoffs scoring four in the seventh to win 9-5 over Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen. Both teams qualified with 3-2 records.
Hometown hero and reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Jacobs (2-2) kept his playoff hopes alive by stealing one in the eighth to lift his team to a 4-3 win over Calgary’s Matthew Blandford (2-2).
American Heath McCormick (3-2) is also moving on following a 7-4 victory over Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton (2-2).
Charlottetown’s Adam Casey (2-3) scored three in the fourth, stole three in the fifth and two in the sixth during a 9-2 rout over Mark Kean (1-4) of Stoney Creek, Ont.
