By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
We’ve passed the halfway point of the round robin portion of the World Championships, which means some teams are starting to see if they have a path to the quarterfinals or not.
For the 10 Flyers participating, eight have what appears to be a clear path to the group of eight teams that will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, May 18. For two others, the opportunity remains there, but the final few games of round robin play are crucial.
Here’s an update on the tournament.
Team Canada
It’s been smooth sailing for Team Canada. They have won all four games played in the tournament so far, and rather handily at that, outscoring opponents 20-5.
Captain Claude Giroux has played a big role in the tournament, putting up six points in the four games, including two goals.
Travis Konecny was held without a point in Canada’s last game after posting six points in the first three. It’s still been a strong tournament for the 20-year-old, who appears to have great chemistry with linemates Mitch Marner and Brayden Point.
It may come as a bit of a surprise, but the Flyers top two goal scorers from the regular season have not experienced the same success in the tournament. Wayne Simmonds has one assist through four games. Brayden Schenn has no points in four games.
Sean Couturier has no points in two games played, after missing the first two games with a minor injury.
Canada faces Switzerland on Saturday, Norway on Monday and Finland on Tuesday in their final three games of group play.
Team Czech Republic
Czech Republic also has their sights set on the quarterfinals. The Czechs picked up their fourth win of the tournament in five games on Friday with a 5-1 win over Slovenia.
Jake Voracek left the Czech Republic’s third game of the tournament early after taking a high hit, but only as a precaution and returned to game action for the team’s next game. So far in the tournament, Voracek has one goal and four assists for five points in five games.
Radko Gudas has also been solid in the tournament, scoring two goals and adding an assist for three points in five games.
The Czechs have two games remaining in group play, facing France on Sunday and Switzerland on Tuesday.
Team Russia
Ivan Provorov was held without a point in Russia’s 3-0 win over Denmark on Thursday, but still has three assists so far in four games in the tournament.
Russia is leading Group A with wins in each of their four games. One of those wins came in overtime, giving them 11 points in the standings. Offensively, Russia has been just as solid as Canada, outscoring opponents 21-5 in their four games.
Russia faces Slovakia on Saturday, Latvia on Monday and USA on Tuesday in their final three games of group play.
Team Finland
Valtteri Filppula has had a solid tournament with three points in four games, but Finland is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the quarterfinals.
Finland bounced back with a 5-2 win over Slovenia on Thursday, but had lost their previous two games to Czech Republic, 4-3 in overtime, and France, 5-1.
Finland has seven points in the standings, tied for fourth in Group B. The top four teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals.
The Finns will face Norway on Saturday, Switzerland on Sunday and Canada on Tuesday in their final three games of group play.
Team France
France was in danger of being the first team defeated by Team Belarus in the tournament before Flyers forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare provided the game tying goal with 7:25 to play in regulation. France went on to win in a shootout, 4-3.
France is now at seven points in the tournament, tied for the fourth spot in Group B with Finland and Norway.
Bellemare has two goals and one assist in five games in the tournament.
France has two games remaining in group play, facing Czech Republic on Sunday and Slovenia on Monday.
