Flyers stop Blackhawks for fourth straight win
PHILADELPHIA -- Rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov recorded the first two-goal game of his NHL career Saturday to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to their fourth straight win, a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Wells Fargo Center.
Brayden Schenn also scored for the Flyers, who improved to 13-10-3 and moved into playoff position for the first time since opening the season with a victory.
Goaltender Steve Mason stopped 26 of 27 shots to pick up his third straight victory.
Artemi Panarin scored the lone goal for the Blackhawks (16-7-3), who saw their 3-0-1 streak snapped.
Goaltender Scott Darling (27 saves) suffered his first regulation loss of the season (4-1-1) for the Blackhawks, who were without starting goaltender Corey Crawford and captain Jonathan Toews.
Crawford was hospitalized with an emergency appendectomy before the game, forcing Darling into starting duty and prompting the Blackhawks to sign Eric Semborski to an amateur tryout contract. Semborski played club hockey at Temple University. He participated in warmups and wore Crawford's No. 50, with his own name across the back.
The Blackhawks got on the board first 3:44 into the game when Panarin took a pass from Artem Anisimov and one-timed a shot past Mason for his ninth goal of the season.
Provorov took over from there. The Flyers' first pick of the 2015 NHL draft (seventh overall) tied the score 3:02 into the second period when he blasted a slapper past Darling for his second career NHL goal.
Provorov gave the Flyers the lead 31 seconds later when he wristed a shot that fluttered past Darling's blocker for the first two-goal game of his career.
Schenn gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead at the 8:37 mark of the second period, taking a nice feed from rookie Travis Konecny and beating Darling from close range for his fourth goal of the season.
The Blackhawks thought they drew within 3-2 with 3:22 remaining in the second period when Richard Panik jabbed a loose puck under the legs of Mason. But Provorov reached behind the goalie and swatted the puck off the goal line. After a video review, the officials ruled the replay inconclusive, denying Panik of the goal.
NOTES: Blackhawks G Corey Crawford underwent an emergency appendectomy at a Philadelphia hospital before Saturday's game. "Corey presented this morning with acute appendicitis," Blackhawks head team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement. "... We are anticipating a full recovery and return to play. We will provide details regarding the timeline of his return after we have more information about the surgery." Crawford, 31, had started 20 of the Blackhawks' 25 games, going 12-6-2 with a 2.27 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and two shutouts. ... In need of a backup goalie, the Blackhawks signed 23-year-old Eric Semorski to an amateur tryout contract. Semorski is from Bloomsburg, Pa., and currently lives in Philadelphia. He was a goaltender for the Temple University club hockey team. ... Flyers D Radko Gudas was a healthy scratch for the first time this season and was replaced with Brandon Manning, who missed the previous two games with a concussion. ... Blackhawks D Trevor van Riemsdyk returned to the lineup after missing 23 games with an upper body injury. ... The Flyers will take the players' fathers to Nashville for their game on Sunday against the Predators. ... The Blackhawks return home to face the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.