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Flyers' Provorov produces his best performance in win over Carolina

Even though he is just 19-years-old, so much is expected of Flyers rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov, selected seventh overall in the 2015 NHL draft.

Provorov had gotten off to an uneven start in his first four games, including a 7-4 loss in Chicago in which he had a minus-5 rating.

His fifth game was a different story.

Provorov had his first multi-point game with two assists and was plus-2 during Saturday's 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at the Wells Fargo Center.

"I think I felt comfortable from the first shift and I had a good game and it helps when the whole team, we played great today, great team game and it helped a lot," Provorov said.

Flyers coach Dave Hakstol shook up the defense for the game. Provorov was paired with Brandon Manning after being with Mark Streit the first four games.

He said he didn't feel the shift in partners was a factor in his strong play.

"I don't think so, I think over the preseason the first couple of games we played very good with [Streit]," Provorov said. "Every defenseman here is a great player. It doesn't matter who you play with as long as you get the job done."

When Provorov didn't get off to a quick start, he said he received encouragement from the coaching staff and his teammates.

"They said don't worry about it just keep going, just keep playing your game and everything will give," he said.

Hakstol said there had been a lot of questions about how Provorov was handling things, but they didn't come from the team.

"We all felt inside our locker room that he has handled things well through ups and downs," Hakstol said. "He was a solid player tonight."

Hakstol said he wouldn't give too much credit for Provorov's performance to the new defensive pairing.

"Sometimes a little change just for the sake of change is a good thing but I think mostly he just came out and played a solid hockey game for us," Hakstol said.

Goalie Steve Mason said that Provorov has handled the early adversity well, especially from the Chicago game.

"You know, I think everybody out there kind of got on him after the game in Chicago," Mason said, referring to fans. " But you know what? It happens to everybody. He's bounced back real nicely, which is great to see."

Provorov realizes that there is a certain degree of patience that needs to be exercised in his first NHL go-around.

"Yeah I mean, it's different here," he said of the NHL. "The WHL is a great league but here is the best league in the world and the best players play here and I'm getting comfortable as the game goes on."