The US men, with three losses, are now in a must-sweep situation. They get off to a good start against Denmark, stealing a point in the first end as the Danish skip was not very great on his throws.

Update: US skip Shuster isn’t so great in end two, and Denmark takes two points for a 2-1 lead. The US gets the hammer in the third.

One part of the strategy of curling is to try to put stones in the front of the house. That way, if they are hit, they may slide further into the house and become the shot rock. The US did that well early in the end, but the Danes knock those rocks out.

Update: Nice use of guards by the US in the third end, and they take two points for a 3-2 lead. The hammer (last stone of the end) goes back to Denmark.

Update: The US takes two in the sixth end for a 5-3 lead. The should be able to keep the hammer in even ends, and the key now is to hold Denmark to one point per hammer.

Update: The US does the job in the seventh end, forcing the Danes to take one point. The lead is down to 5-4, but the US keeps the hammer in the even ends.

Update: While I was walking home, Denmark stole a point in the eighth. The US is setting up for a big end in the ninth, however.

Update: Five US stones and two Danish stones in the house as the skips start throwing in the ninth.

Update: The Danish skip takes out two US stones, and now has three in the front of the house. US still has shot rock, however.

Update: With his last shot, the Danish skip knocks the US stone onto the button. The US needs a good shot here to at least go up two.

Update: Instead of going for a safe two, Shuster, the US skip, goes for the big score and winds up with one. Denmark has the hammer going to the tenth trailing by one.

Update: The Danish third’s last shot tries to take out the US stone in the house. There is a huge maze of guards up, and he hits one. That causes his stone to miss, and the US skip can now set up another guard. He sent in just a bit too far.

Update: Great shot by the Danish skip. He threads the needle between two US guards and knocks the US stone back in the house.

Update: Shuster makes the same shot, and knocks the Danish stone out of the house. The best Denmark can do is tie.

Update: Denmark does it. They take out the US stone, score one point, and force extra ends. The US has the hammer in the 11th, but that hasn’t helped in the last match.

Update: Skips up in the 11th with the US stone sitting on the button.

Update: Last shots coming up, US still has a stone on the button, two more in the house, and no guards out front.

Update: Denmark’s skip makes a perfect shot to replace the US shot rock. Now, Shuster has to take it out to win.

Update: Shuster missed it again! He hit the Danish stone into the US stone, and it stayed shot rock! Unbelievable. This guy is Barry Bonds in the NLCS for Pittsburgh. It’s very unlikely now the US men make the finals of the tournament.