Wild Card Three’s Jason Gunnlaugson and Saskatchewan’s Colton Flasch won their tiebreakers Friday and advanced to the playoffs of the Tim Hortons Brier.
Gunnlaugson thumped Manitoba’s Mike McEwen 9-3 to claim the third playoff spot in Group B, while Flasch beat Wild Card Two’s Matt Dunstone 9-5 to secure the final Group A berth.
Gunnlaugson, who needed results to fall his way in Thursday’s final round-robin draw to have a shot at the playoffs, opened with the hammer and scored two in the first end. After McEwen responded with one in the second, Gunnlaugson opened the game up with three in the third.
A steal of two in the sixth end gave Gunnlaugson an 8-2 lead and all but sealed the victory.
Flasch posted a steal of two in the seventh end to take a 7-3 lead. Dunstone came back with two in the eighth before Flasch scored two decisive points in the ninth.
Gunnlaugson was set to face Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs in the first round of the playoffs later Friday, while Flasch was scheduled to face defending champion Brendan Bottcher.
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