Gushue completes come-from-behind victory, tops Team Canada in extra end
Gushue clinches spot in 1-2 Page playoff with win
It came down to the last shot, in an extra end, but Brad Gushue and Team Newfoundland and Labrador completed a come-from-behind victory on Thursday night at the Brier in St. John's.
After falling behind 3-0 against Team Canada in the first end, Gushue held Canada to single points the rest of the match. With steals in the sixth and ninth ends, Gushue forced Kevin Koe to draw for one in the10th end to send the game to an extra end.
That was after strong shots from the Gushue rink — including a triple takeout in the ninth from Nichols.
NEWFOUNDLAND/LABRADOR WINS <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbccurl?src=hash">#cbccurl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brier2017?src=hash">#Brier2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNL">@CBCNL</a> <a href="https://t.co/1WekrCfa55">pic.twitter.com/1WekrCfa55</a>
—@Devin_HerouxFacing two Canada stones in the extra end, Gushue drew to win the match.
NICHOLS DELIVERS THE TRIPLE TAKEOUT. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbccurl?src=hash">#cbccurl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamGushue">@TeamGushue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brier2017?src=hash">#Brier2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNL">@CBCNL</a> <a href="https://t.co/20zLfYFP4l">pic.twitter.com/20zLfYFP4l</a>
—@Devin_Heroux"That's the loudest roar I've ever heard," Gushue said after the victory. "That was fun."
The win means Gushue has clinched a spot in the 1-2 Page playoff game, according to Curling Canada.
Team NL — made up of skip Brad Gushue, second Brett Gallant, third Mark Nichols and lead Geoff Walker — curled at 88 per cent in the evening game.
With a win, they've moved into a tie for first place with Team Manitoba. The top four teams will go on to the playoffs this weekend.
'Red out' game
The Gushue rink asked fans to wear red in support of the home team for the evening draw.
Newfoundland and Labrador also needed extra ends to beat Team Ontario, led by Glenn Howard, in the day's afternoon game.
Gushue has now won five in a row since a disappointing loss to the Northwest Territories on Tuesday.
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With files from Devin Heroux