Andrew MacDonald Out 4-6 Weeks With Lower-body Injury

A roster spot for Samuel Morin appears to have opened up.

Andrew MacDonald will miss 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall announced Sunday. MacDonald will likely land on injured reserve.

The injury likely occurred midway through the third period against the Oilers on Saturday, when MacDonald blocked a Mark Letestu slap shot with 10:48 left in regulation and 1:44 left on an Edmonton power play.

MacDonald hobbled around on basically on one leg before being able to clear the puck and make it to the bench after 44 seconds. MacDonald blocked a game-high six shots Saturday.

"You just got to get up," MacDonald said after the Flyers' 2-1 win. "If you don't get up, it's 5-on-3. There are other opportunities that can arise from it. Do your best and try to hang in there. Wait for some help. Wait until you clear it. Everyone battles through it.

"You take a shot. You just get up, get back in there and help your guys."

With MacDonald injured, the Flyers now have six defensemen. Brandon Manning was a healthy scratch Saturday while Travis Sanheim drew back into the lineup.

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The Flyers have yet to make a corresponding roster move, but considering Morin nearly made the team out of training camp and hung around for the four-game season-opening West Coast trip, it's a safe assumption that Morin will find his way back to the NHL.

Morin had a goal and an assist for the Phantoms on Saturday night, an assist Friday night and points in all his three games in Lehigh Valley.

If Morin does come back up, the question is will he play?

The Flyers were reluctant to play three rookie defensemen on their season-opening trip and scratched both Sanheim and Morin for the season opener.

Things have changed now, though. MacDonald is third on the Flyers in ice time, averaging 19:36 while playing with Ivan Provorov, who will now find himself with a new partner.

Dave Hakstol could insert Manning into the lineup, which is a strong possibility. How Hakstol draws up his pairings remains to be seen, though it's unlikely he'll break up Shayne Gostisbehere and rookie Robert Hagg. It's possible Provorov finds himself with Manning or Morin, or perhaps Radko Gudas. We'll know more after Monday's practice.

Calling up Morin is not Hextall's only option. The Flyers also have T.J. Brennan in the AHL, who is a better fit as a seventh defenseman.

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