Einarson propels Canada to top spot at women's curling worlds after swapping stone with teammate

Canada's fifth straight win at the women's world curling championship was a lesson in adaptation for Kerri Einarson.

Struggling early with draw weight, the skip swapped a stubborn stone with a teammate at the fifth-end break en route to a 9-6 win Tuesday over Italy's Stefania Constantini.

"I knew my rock was maybe a little slow because I came up light in the fourth end and they liked it out of my hand," Einarson explained.

"It just kind of dug in and then in the fifth, it did the same thing, so I just said, 'Let's get rid of it."'

Canada played its first morning draw at Calgary's WinSport Event Centre.

The rising temperature outside made for a warm building inside. Cheering schoolchildren contributed volume and more heat to the draw.

"It's very warm in here, and I think it's very pathy now that it's kind of warm out," Einarson said. "If you're in a good track, it'll run. If you are outside of that, it is a little bit heavier, and I got caught a couple times.

"We'll know what to expect now that we played a morning game and it is getting a little warmer outside, so we've just got to be able to adjust to that a little quicker."

Canada was alone atop the standings at 5-0 ahead of Japan, Switzerland and Turkey at 4-1 and Sweden at 4-2. South Korea was 3-2.

China, Denmark and Scotland were 2-4. Australia, the United States and Norway were 1-4 and Australia was 1-5.

Einarson was to face Switzerland's Xenia Schwaller at night. Tuesday was the first of three "split" days for Canada playing in the morning and evening draws.

The top six teams at the conclusion of pool play Friday advance to playoffs. The top two earn direct entry into Saturday's semifinals. The medal games are Sunday.

There are no tiebreaker games.