Ivan Provorov scores twice to power Flyers

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Flyers rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov had a much better time playing the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday than he did in his first game against them.
Provorov scored two goals in 31 seconds, including the game-winner, in a 3-1 victory at Wells Fargo Center.

Provorov set a record for the fastest two goals by a Flyers defenseman; Joni Pitkanen scored twice in 2:42 against the Atlanta Thrashers on Feb. 21, 2004.
WATCH: All Flyers vs. Blackhawks highlights
Provorov also cleared a puck off the goal line late in the second period to prevent a goal.
It was a far cry from when he was a minus-5 in the Flyers' 7-4 loss against the Blackhawks at United Center on Oct. 18.
"Last game a few bad bounces, (I) didn't play my best that game," Provorov said. "But I put it behind me and learned from it. It was a better result tonight."

Brayden Schenn scored for the Flyers (13-10-3), who won their season-high fourth straight game. Steve Mason made 26 saves.
Artemi Panarin scored for the Blackhawks (16-7-3). Scott Darling made 27 saves.
Darling started because Corey Crawford needed an appendectomy Saturday morning and will be out 2-3 weeks. Chicago signed Eric Semborski to an amateur tryout to be the backup goalie. Demborski, 23, played for the Temple University club hockey team, and also works as a coach and instructor for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation.
The Flyers trailed 1-0 early in the second period when Provorov's shot from above the left circle went off the stick of Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and past Darling at 3:02. Then at 3:33, his slap shot from inside the blue line beat Darling to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead.
"Score one goal in a game, that's a pretty good feeling," Provorov said. "And then score two in one shift, that's pretty unbelievable."
Schenn finished a give-and-go with Travis Konecny at 8:37 of the second to make it 3-1.
The Blackhawks thought they scored at 16:38 of the second when Richard Panik's shot from the side of the net hit off traffic in front, but Provorov gloved it out of the goal crease. Video review to check if the puck had crossed the goal line proved inconclusive.
"I came from the left corner and I saw the puck was rolling on [Mason's] shoulder," Provorov said. "I went down and rolled to the goal line, got there as quick as I could and swiped it out."
Provorov, 19, had one goal in his first 25 games but has played at least 20 minutes in eight straight games, including a Flyers-high 20:38 Saturday.
"Provorov stepped up in the second," Mason said. "You come in to a League at a young age, it's not easy and you've got to get your feet under you and we're starting to see that."
Panarin's goal at 3:44 of the first period gave the Blackhawks an early lead, but they were unable to build on it.
"I didn't mind most of the game," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "There were stretches in our own end that coverage was off, especially with their defensemen coming down from their own end."

Goal of the game

At 3:44 of the first period, Panarin slammed home a pass from Artem Anisimov, who had made a nice move to drag the puck around Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto.

Save of the game

Panik shot his rebound off Mason, but Provorov jumped behind him and gloved the puck off the goal line at 16:38 of the second period.

Unsung moment of the game

Blackhawks forward Vinnie Hinostroza was pursuing a loose puck in his end when Flyers forward Chris VandeVedle whacked his stick away and spun the puck deep at 2:50 of the second period, which led to Provorov's first goal.

Highlight of the game

Flyers forward Michael Raffl intercepted a pass by Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane at center ice, carried the puck behind Chicago's net and from the corner found an open Provorov, who scored his second of the game at 3:33 of the second period.

They said it

"I don't think so. I signed some stuff when I came in, but I don't know what it was. Really, I'm happy with a hat and the memories. This is so cool." -- Blackhawks emergency backup goaltender Eric Semborski when asked if he was getting paid

Need to know

Flyers captain Claude Giroux played his 600th NHL game. … Mason's win was his 86th with the Flyers, seventh on their all-time list. He's one behind Pelle Lindbergh. … Panarin's goal was his third in four games against the Flyers.

What's next

Blackhawks: Host the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; SN, CSN-CH, NHL.TV)
Flyers: At the Nashville Predators on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, FS-TN, CSN-PH, NHL.TV)