Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes has simply rolled through the field so far at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
She was rewarded for her strong play Tuesday by becoming the first team to secure a playoff spot at the Canadian women's curling championship.
Lawes, who improved to 6-0 with a 9-4 victory over Yukon's Bayly Scoffin, has had only one close game in round-robin play at Paramount Fine Foods Centre. Her Winnipeg-based team has outscored its opponents 58-24 overall.
"They're just trending up," said coach Marcel Rocque.
Canada's Kerri Einarson topped Saskatchewan's Jolene Campbell 10-4 and Ontario's Hailey Armstong defeated British Columbia's Taylor Reese-Hansen 7-3. Nova Scotia's Taylour Stevens posted a 10-4 victory over Nicky Kaufman of the Northwest Territories.
Einarson, a four-time Scotties champion, was in second place behind Lawes in the Pool A standings at 5-1. Armstrong and Stevens were next at 3-2.
The top three teams in each nine-team pool will make the cut for the playoffs starting Friday.
Armstrong has been the only skip to give Lawes a real test so far this week. A game that was tied 6-6 in the eighth end on Sunday turned when Lawes scored a five-ender in the ninth.
The Ontario skip delivered a key victory Tuesday over Reese-Hansen, a victory that gave the home province a valuable head-to-head win in a competition that doesn't use tiebreaker games.
"Our goal coming into it was to make playoffs," said Ontario alternate Lori Eddy. "We knew that was achievable, although difficult. It's a lot of good teams, especially in our pool.
"However, I think if they just keep playing the way they're playing, there's opportunity there."
Lawes, a two-time Olympic champion, picked up the last pre-qualification spot for this event after falling to Pool B leader Beth Peterson in the recent Manitoba championship.
"I think the hard work and the processes that we have put in place are just kind of coming together," said lead Kristin Gordon. "It feels really good."
Lawes and vice Selena Njegovan have both thrown last stone at times this season and throughout the quadrennial. At this event, Njegovan is skipping and throwing third.
Laura Walker is filling in at second for Jocelyn Peterman, who's preparing to play mixed doubles at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Walker has been an alternate and substitute player at times for the team over the four-year cycle.
"She just understands the game," Rocque said. "Watching the girls sometimes from the bench and seeing some of the things make it easier sometimes to bring a little bit of ingredients to the recipe.
"A really seamless transition. It's not often the case, but in this case it is."
Peterson, who didn't play in the first two sessions Tuesday, had the Pool B lead at 5-0. She needed an extra end to complete an 8-7 victory over Prince Edward Island's Amanda Power in the evening draw.
"Amanda made a pistol in the 10th end and we were kind of hook, line and sinkered," Peterson said. "So I think our coach has some conversations to have with us.
"But it's good to get a win where you have to make a lot of really good shots to get the win."
Nova Scotia's Christina Black picked up two victories on the day to move to 5-1. She beat Northern Ontario's Krista Scharf 8-4 and topped New Brunswick's Melodie Forsythe 7-4.
Selena Sturmay defeated Kayla Skrlik 9-5 in an all-Alberta battle to move into sole possession of third place in Pool B at 4-1. Skrlik fell into fourth at 3-2.
The final is scheduled for Sunday. The winning team will represent Canada at the world women's curling championship in March at Calgary.
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