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Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov closing in on 300 consecutive games

The young defenseman has never missed a game since he began his NHL career.

Ivan Provorov leads all NHL defensemen with six power-play goals.
Ivan Provorov leads all NHL defensemen with six power-play goals.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Ivan Provorov cried at the end of his only NHL playoff series. It was in 2018, and the Flyers had just been ousted by the Penguins in six games.

It was later reported that Provorov had played the final game with a Grade 3 separated shoulder, sustained when he crashed into the boards late in Game 5. Had it been the regular season, Provorov might have missed two months.

"As long as my arm was attached to me,” he said, “I was playing.”

It can be debated whether Provorov’s heroism actually was detrimental to the Flyers that particular night, but there is no question that being out there every game and in all situations is important to the 23-year-old defenseman. And to the Flyers.

“It means a lot. I want to be there,” said Provorov, who is 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds. “I want to make a difference, and I want to help the team win in any way possible: PK [penalty kill], power play, even-strength. It means a lot.”

Provorov has led the Flyers in ice time in each of his four seasons. He is eighth in the NHL this season at the break at a shade less than 25 minutes per game, and his six power-play goals lead all defensemen.

Here are the NHL leaders in ice time. All are defensemen.

1. Thomas Chabot, Ott.
Age
23
Minutes
1270
Avg.
26:27
Plus/minus
-18
2. Drew Doughty, L.A.
Age
30
Minutes
1303
Avg.
26:03
Plus/minus
-11
3. Roman Josi, Nash.
Age
29
Minutes
1218
Avg.
25:54
Plus/minus
+23
4. Kris Letang, Pit.
Age
32
Minutes
1080
Avg.
25:43
Plus/minus
+8
5. Oscar Klefbom, Edm.
Age
26
Minutes
1258
Avg.
25:41
Plus/minus
-14
6. Seth Jones, CBJ
Age
25
Minutes
1294
Avg.
25:22
Plus/minus
+9
7. Ryan Suter, Min.
Age
35
Minutes
1247
Avg.
24:56
Plus/minus
-10
8. Ivan Provorov, Flyers
Age
23
Minutes
1245
Avg.
24:54
Plus/minus
+1
9. John Carlson, Wash.
Age
30
Minutes
1213
Avg.
24:45
Plus/minus
+17
10. Brent Burns, SJ
Age
34
Minutes
1236
Avg.
24:43
Plus/minus
-23
Other Flyers defensemen
Age
Minutes
Avg.
Plus/minus
57. Matt Niskanen
Age
33
Minutes
1069
Avg.
21:49
Plus/minus
-4
108. Travis Sanheim
Age
23
Minutes
1007
Avg.
20:09
Plus/minus
-2
200. Shayne Gostisbehere
Age
26
Minutes
734
Avg.
18:21
Plus/minus
-2
252. Justin Braun
Age
32
Minutes
771
Avg.
17:31
Plus/minus
-9
301. Phil Myers
Age
23
Minutes
536
Avg.
16:45
Plus/minus
+16
391. Robert Hagg
Age
24
Minutes
482
Avg.
15:34
Plus/minus
+5

Provorov, the No. 7 overall draft pick in 2015, has never missed an NHL game. He is at 296 consecutive regular-season contests at the break, the most ever for a Flyers defenseman and the most for any Flyer to start his career.

“I think I get it from my dad,” Provorov said with a laugh. “I don’t remember the last time my dad got sick. It definitely comes from him.”

The Flyers’ record for consecutive games is 484, set by Rod Brind’Amour from 1993 to ’99. That mark is safe until at least March 2022. But John LeClair, who is second at 317, is in line to be passed this March — March 15, to be precise.

“He’s been great since the first game he played for us,” said Claude Giroux, who also is on a run of 296 consecutive games played. “He’s a reliable player who plays a lot of minutes in a lot of situations. He’s a guy we rely on a lot.”

(By the way, Doug Jarvis’ NHL record of 964 consecutive games won’t come up in Provorov’s case until at least February 2027.)

Provorov’s development is far from complete. He’s better this season than last, but he’s not infallible. At his position, especially, one mistake can change games quickly.

But his ceiling has yet to be established, too. During a recent murderous stretch of games against Washington, Tampa Bay, Boston, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Provorov averaged more than 26 minutes and was a cumulative plus-3. Then there’s that goal he scored in overtime at Montreal in November. Joe Watson told Inquirer sports writer Sam Carchidi that he never saw Bobby Orr make such a move. Watson had played with and against Orr.

Arizona coach Rick Tocchet called Provorov “one of the best young defensemen in the league.”

“He plays with an edge in the sense that he doesn’t play safe. He’s up the ice. He’s not scared the way he plays,” Tocchet said. “He’s trying to win the game. As a young guy, he wants to be in those spots. When I watch him, he wants the puck. I love kids like that. They’re not scared.”

According to his own coach, there’s still room for Provorov to grow.

“He can be more consistent,” said Alain Vigneault, who was a defenseman for his 42-game NHL career with St. Louis in the early 1980s. “I think offensively, knowing when to jump up and when to use his good shot: Those are elements of his game that as he gets more experience, he’s going to improve.”

Most consecutive games/Flyers history

1. Rod Brind’Amour
Started
Feb. 24, 1993
Ended
April 18, 1999
Reason
Broken foot
Games
484
2. John LeClair
Started
April 22, 1995
Ended
March 9, 1999
Reason
Bruised hip
Games
317
t3. Ivan Provorov
Started
Oct. 14, 2016
Ended
Active
Reason
--
Games
296
t3. Claude Giroux
Started
Oct. 14, 2016
Ended
Active
Reason
--
Games
296
5. Rick MacLeish
Started
Oct. 7, 1972
Ended
Feb. 5, 1976
Reason
Knee injury
Games
287
t6. Jake Voracek
Started
March 13, 2012
Ended
Feb. 25, 2016
Reason
Foot injury
Games
286
t6. Jeff Carter
Started
Dec. 19, 2006
Ended
March 21, 2010
Reason
Broken foot
Games
286
8. Ross Lonsberry
Started
Oct. 17, 1973
Ended
Jan. 27, 1977
Reason
Eye injury
Games
284
9. Bobby Clarke
Started
Jan. 2, 1971
Ended
April 4, 1974
Reason
Rest for postseason
Games
276
10. Brian Propp
Started
Jan. 31, 1981
Ended
Feb. 23, 1984
Reason
Grandmother’s funeral
Games
250

It’s been 20 years since a Flyers defenseman was named to one of the two postseason all-star teams selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. That was Eric Desjardins. In the 1980s, Mark Howe was selected first-team All-NHL three times. Barry Ashbee made the second team in 1974. That’s it. Those are the only Flyers defensemen to make those teams, which are the equivalent of being named NFL All-Pro.

It already can be argued that Provorov is the best defenseman the Flyers have drafted since Jimmy Watson — especially since Shayne Gostisbehere’s play has slipped since he finished second in rookie of the year voting in 2016. Stud Flyers defensemen Howe, Desjardins and Kimmo Timonen started elsewhere.

Joni Pitkanen (No. 4 in 2002) and Behn Wilson (No. 6 in 1978) were the only defensemen drafted higher by the Flyers than Provorov.

“You expect to have some growing pains, especially playing D,” said Flyers veteran forward James van Riemsdyk, the No. 2 overall pick in 2007. “That’s a tough position to come in and play at 19 years old. He’s rock-solid back there. I think he takes a lot of pride in the toughness and the grind of playing big minutes and being someone the team can rely upon. It’s definitely an impressive streak.”

Provorov is the only player whose career started in 2016-17 who has never missed a game. Among Flyers with consecutive-games streaks, he’s the only defenseman in the top 10.

“He’s a force for us. He plays big minutes against the other team’s top lines," Vigneault said. "He plays on our power play. He kills penalties. I still think he hasn’t peaked yet. There’s a lot more there. He’s an excellent player right now with still some upside to go.”