If there is one thing you can count on every four years in the Winter Olympics, it's the US choking in curling.
Wouldn't really call that 3rd game a choke job. Up 1 without hammer in mixed doubles you're more likely to lose than win(52% v. 48% according to our commentators), especially when the opposition is playing their power play, yeah they gave up 6(the maximum) but the extra 4 points didn't matter, strategically once they got off to a bad start in the end and the Swiss had 3 rocks in their behind the guards they had to go all out to get one in there, removing the opposition stones was very very unlikely to keep them to 1(would have needed a triple and a double to be made, or 3 doubles) so giving up 2 would have been just as bad result wise, they lose either way. Indeed they did miss their last shot which gave the Swiss and easy shot for the win(and 6), but I think even if they did make that freeze perfectly(a 1 in 10 shot at best) quarter rock peel would have squeezed it far enough out sideways for the Swiss to win anyway.
I think the mistake was made in the 7th end actually. Given the situation with the Swiss still having their PP, and the USA having an extremely difficult shot for 2 that they were unlikely to make, they probably would have been well advised to give up 1 on purpose(which sounds strange). That way they could have they 52% advantage of down 1 with hammer, and not have to face the power play. I only got a quick glance at the setup before the final rock but I think they had an angle raise possible for 4. Very difficult shot, but they could have missed it and gave up 1 which would have been preferable to taking 1(again which sounds strange). Had they made the shot they tried for 2 that would have been ideal, but that's a 1 in 20 shot at best.
The game against Korea meanwhile, yeah that was just a total clown pounding. Not sure how that happened, they mentioned on our broadcast of the Canada game that maybe the crowd were getting to the Hamiltons?
Interesting standings developing. four 3-1 teams with just one 2-2 team(Korea) who I don't think will qualify. The top 4 now may be the final 4. Surprised USA and China are struggling