Skip Mark Nichols and Team Gushue move to 3-0 with win over Glenn Howard

OKOTOKS, Alta. – Skip Mark Nichols and Team Gushue are undefeated through nine draws at the Masters Grand Slam of Curling tournament after beating Glenn Howard 7-4 on Thursday night.

Nichols, who is filling in for Brad Gushue while he recovers from hip surgery, broke a 4-4 tie with a grab of three points in the seventh end to improve to 3-0. Howard, from Penetanguishene, Ont., is one of three skips to be held winless so far at 0-3.

Nichols, from St. John’s N.L., also downed Brad Jacobs (2-1) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., 5-4 on Thursday with a point in the eighth end in Draw 7.

Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock is the only other skip on the men’s side to open 3-0 after toppling American John Shuster 9-5 in Draw 8. Scotland’s David Murdoch is 2-0 after a 5-4 victory in morning play against John Morris of Vernon, B.C.

Toronto’s John Epping doubled up Calgary’s Kevin Koe (1-2) 4-2 and Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen beat Scotland’s Kyle Smith (1-2) 6-5 in the only other men’s draws of the night.

Epping, McEwen, and Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers are tied with Jacobs with 2-1 records. Shuster and Morris are at the bottom of the standings along with Howard.

Also, South Korea’s EunJung Kim (3-0) downed Ottawa’s Rachel Homan (2-1) in evening play 6-5 to remain perfect alongside Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg (3-0) atop the women’s standings.

Earlier in the day Kim downed Edmonton’s Kelsey Roque 8-2 while Hasselborg beat Tracy Fleury of Sudbury, Ont., 7-5.

Fleury suffered her second loss of the day in evening play when she fell 7-5 to Winnipeg’s Kerry Einarson. Fleury, Einarson and Roque are 1-2.

Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni is 2-0 after beating 2014 champion Val Sweeting 6-3 in Draw 8. Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones and Calgary’s Chelsea Carey are tied with Homan at 2-1. Edmonton’s Sweeting is 0-3.