Canada set for playoff showdown with Norway at mixed doubles worlds

Canada's Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant won their final preliminary matches Thursday at the world mixed doubles curling championship to finish second in their group and set up a playoff showdown with Norway.

Peterman and Gallant, who were already guaranteed a playoff berth heading into the final day of round-robin games, thumped Australia 10-2 and downed the United States 8-5 to finish second in Group B at 8-1.

Scotland also won both of its matches Thursday to finish atop the group at 9-0 and book a spot directly into the semifinals.

Switzerland moved on to the semifinals, while Sweden and Germany will meet in the other qualification game.

The qualification games and semifinals are scheduled for Friday, with the medal games on Saturday.

Winnipeg's Peterman and Gallant, of St. John's, N.L., took control of the match against Australia with three points in the third end, followed by a steal of two in the fourth and three in the fifth to build a 10-1 lead. The Australians conceded after scoring one in the sixth.

The U.S., playing for the third playoff spot in Group B, opened with a steal of one in the first end against the Canadians. But Peterman and Gallant were up 7-3 after laying three in the sixth end.

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The Americans made a game of it with two in the seventh to cut Canada's lead to 7-5, but the Canadians put the game away with one in the eighth and final end.

The loss to Canada, coupled with German wins over the Czech Republic and England, dropped the Americans to fourth in