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Flyers make 10 roster cuts; Konecny, Provorov among rookies still in camp

The Flyers made 10 roster cuts Thursday.

Rookie right winger Travis Konecny was not one of them. Neither was defenseman Ivan Provorov.

The rookies are making a legitimate run at roster spots.

Konecny had a goal and an assist and was the best player on the ice Wednesday, keying a 2-0 exhibition win over New Jersey at the PPL Center in Allentown.

New Jersey used an AHL-type lineup. But when the Flyers play their final four exhibition games - two with Boston, two with the Rangers - they will face teams that figure to be loaded with NHL players as they get closer to the season's opening.

"Every step we take here, the competition slowly gets a little tighter, a little tougher," coach Dave Hakstol said. "But regardless of whether it [was a veteran opponent], guys are fighting for jobs, so you don't want to look too closely at the names on the rosters. Everybody's out there fighting for jobs and fighting to extend their training camps - on both sides."

The way Konecny - and perhaps Provorov - perform in upcoming games will probably determine if they are with the Flyers when their season starts Oct. 14 in Los Angeles.

"I need to step up and make sure I'm playing good hockey and just keep earning another day," Konecny said.

Konecny "played a good hockey game," Hakstol said after the speedy winger, playing on a line with Brayden Schenn and Michael Raffl, seemed to be in the middle of a scoring opportunity on every shift. "He had an impact offensively and did a pretty good job. There were some youthful mistakes, but overall he had a real good night."

With Schenn suspended for the first three games of the season, there is a chance the Flyers will give Konecny a nine-game tryout. If he only plays nine games and then is sent back to his junior team, his affordable entry-level contract would not be started.

If he looks like he belongs, however, the Flyers could keep him and start his entry-level deal.

As for Provorov, general manager Ron Hextall gave a mixed report of his camp. The defenseman sat out Wednesday after logging lots of minutes Monday and Tuesday.

Provorov's first game was "really good and his last one was just OK," Hextall said.

If Provorov makes the team, Andrew MacDonald or Brandon Manning could end up with the AHL's Phantoms.

Besides Konecny and Provorov, defensemen Travis Sanheim, Phil Myers and Sam Morin are among the prospects remaining in camp, and many (all?) could play Saturday night against Boston at the Wells Fargo Center.

Konecny and Provorov are both 19 and they will always be linked. They were both selected by the Flyers in the first round of the 2015 draft. Provorov was chosen seventh overall, while Konecny went 24th.

Maybe, just maybe, they will both make their NHL debuts together this season.