Gold medal hope Canadian men's rink stretched their winning streak to eight by trouncing the United States 7-2 in the curling tournament at the Vancouver Olympic Centre Monday.

Canada, skipped by Kevin Martin, met strong risistance from the Americans in the first five ends, leading with just one point ahead at 3-2. But the Canadians scored four more points without giving up any chance to their counterparts.

The host become the first team in the Olympic curling history to go undefeated through a round robin draw since Britain did so at the first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix in 1924.

In other games, Norway assured itself a spot in the medal round with a 9-2 victory over France.

The Canadian women trounced their Swedish rivals in a match-up of the two round robin leaders with a score of 6-2.

Canada, with six wins against one loss to China, edged ahead 5-2 over Sweden in the round robin standings. Canada is assured a place in the semi-finals. Sweden is guaranteed to progress if it wins one of its next two games, against Japan and Germany.

China, world champion last year, was toppled by Russia 7-4. The Chinese rink now stands at third place with five victories and three losses, followed by Switzerland (4-3), and Japan and Germany, both with three wins against four losses.