2015 Brier Final: Northern Ontario vs Team Canada tale of the tape

The 2015 Brier will see its champions crowned tonight, as Northern Ontario, skipped by Brad Jacobs, takes on Team Canada, skipped by Pat Simmons. (7pm ET, TSN)

Here is a breakdown of some comparative numbers ahead of the big game.

Jacobs has skipped Northern Ontario to an 11 and 1 record so far, beating Newfoundland & Labrador's Brad Gushue, 7-5, in Friday night's Page Playoff 1 vs 2 game, earning a direct bye into tonight's final. Jacobs' rink has a record of 64 and 18 this season, including this week's Brier results. Simmons has led Team Canada to a 7 and 1 record since taking over as skip part way through The Brier. John Morris had skipped them to a 2 and 3 record in the competition's first five games. Team Canada won two playoff games, on Saturday, to earn their spot in tonight's final, beating Saskatchewan in the 3 vs 4 game and then Newfoundland & Labrador in last night's semi-final. On the season, Team Canada has a record of 24 and 22.

Northern Ontario has outscored its opponents by a total score of 87-45 in the twelve games they've played so far this week. Team Canada has outscored its opponents by a total score of 80-74 in its thirteen games.

Northern Ontario triumphed over Team Canada during round robin play, earning a 6-3 victory on Thursday night, with Simmons skipping for Canada. In their other two meetings this season - with Morris at the helm of Team Canada - Jacobs' crew was a winner both times, 11-6, at the Canada Cup and then again in the final of the TSN Skins Game.

Northern Ontario was second in team shooting percentage through round robin action this week, booking a total of 88% (Alberta was first). In the 1 vs 2 game, Jacobs' team was nearly as good again, at 87% in their 7-5 win. Team Canada shot an 87% during the round robin, jumped to 90% in the 3 vs 4 game, then sank to 83% in the semi-final.

Below, each player's totals for the round robin (Northern Ontario on the left, Team Canada on the right)

Leads: Ryan Harnden, 88% (ranked tied for 6th) Nolan Thiessen, 91% (3rd)

Seconds: E.J. Harnden, 87% (4th) Carter Rycroft, 90% (2nd)

Thirds: Ryan Fry, 92% (1st) John Morris, 88% (4th)

Skips: Brad Jacobs, 86% (1st) Pat Simmons, 84% (tied for 2nd)

Jacobs and Fry both dipped, percentage-wise, in the page 1 vs 2 game, with Fry dropping 8 points and Jacobs 2, each recording an 84% on Friday night. Ryan Harnden rose to 91%, while his brother, E.J., held fairly steady, at 88%.

Thiessen soared in the playoffs, shooting 93% and then 95% in the two games. The rest of Team Canada had good numbers in the 3 vs 4 game, but then dropped in the semi. Rycroft went from 92% to 79%, Morris went from 85% to 78% and Simmons went from 89% to 79%.

Jacobs' rink is the number two ranked men's team in the world, according to the World Curling Tour's Order of Merit year-to-date standings. Team Canada is ranked 31st.

Outside of the Northern Ontario championship, Jacobs' crew - the 2013 Brier and 2014 Olympic champions - has won one major event, and that was back in September when they bested the field at the Shorty Jenkins Classic, in Brockville. They have finished second 3 times, including finals losses in the Canada Cup and the Grand Slam's Masters. they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open, in December.

Team Canada, with Morris at the helm this season and playing a limited schedule, missed the playoffs at each of The Masters, The Canadian Open and The Canada Cup. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals at The National. Thiessen, Rycroft and Simmons are returning members from the team that won last year's Brier, with Kevin Koe as their skip.

Team Canada dodged a few bullets in their semi-final win over Brad Gushue and the team from Newfoundland & Labrador. They will need to up their game tonight as they meet a rink that doesn't make very many mistakes and seemed to get back to its fist-pumping best in Friday night's playoff victory. Team Canada Lead Nolan Thiessen sums it up this way, in a blog he's written on the Team Morris website: