The Brier: Brad Gushue's 'best shot' clinches win over Alberta

It looked as if Alberta was in position to steal the win. Tenth end. Tied 7-7. Their rock on the button with a mess of other rocks around. Oh, and a guard out front. Newfoundland's Brad Gushue spent a considerable amount of time eyeing up the nearly impossible shot.

Then this: 

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Many in the curling world have been reacting to the shot, including Gushue, who was gushing after the game. 

• Brad Gushue calls game-winning shot best of his career

"That was the best shot I've ever made in my life," he said smiling. "My heart is still pounding."

The win was crucial for Newfoundland, a team that now sits with a 7-2 record and looks poised to make the playoffs.

The loss was crushing for Alberta. Not only the way it happened, but that it dropped the home province to a fourth loss, now with a 4-4 record heading into Thursday.

Olympic connection

I've talked all week about how competitive this field is. Consider this. Key players in this year's Brier have won Olympic gold medals in curling in the past three Winter Olympics.

Gushue threw the last rocks at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. That team won gold. John Morris was third on Kevin Martin's team in Vancouver. That team won gold. Brad Jacob's team won gold last year in Sochi. 

At this point in the tournament all three of these teams, Newfoundland (Gushue), Canada (Morris) and Northern Ontario (Jacobs) sit in playoff spots. 

It seems we're on a collision course to have a Brier final featuring two past Olympic champions.

Final full day of curling

Thursday features a full slate of games and it's the most important day yet. The top four teams after 11 games make the playoffs. Right now the only thing we know for sure is that Northern Ontario will place first or second, ensuring they will play in Friday night's 1 vs. 2 playoff game. Then it gets interesting.

Northern Ontario is still unbeaten at 9-0 and plays Newfoundland this morning. The game will determine which team places first. Team Canada plays Quebec this morning as well. Both teams are 6-3. A fourth loss could spell trouble for one of the teams. 

Alberta plays Saskatchewan this afternoon in a game that the home province has to win. Saskatchewan is 5-3. Alberta is 4-4 and needs to bring the green guys back to the pack. 

The pivotal game tonight features Canada against Northern Ontario in a game the Saddledome crowd will be watching closely.

We'll get a little more clarity on which teams are moving on by the end of today.  

Brier standings