Flyers take a hit on the blue line ahead of critical game.

The Philadelphia Flyers have taken a big hit on the blue line ahead of what could easily be argued is the most important game of their season thus far.

While both the Detroit Red Wings and the Flyers currently sit in playoff positions as of this writing, largely due to a big last season collapse from the Boston Bruins, make no mistake about the fact that both squads will be going all out on Wednesday night in an attempt to secure two points, and deny their opponents any. The Wings and Flyers are currently tied in the standings, both with four games remaining on their schedule, and Wednesday night's game could be the difference between one of these teams making it in, or sitting on the sidelines come the end of the regular season.

That being said, the injury to defenseman Andrew MacDonald could not come at a worse time for Philadelphia, especially when you consider that the team now must play four games in five nights to end the season, and MacDonald is listed as day to day. The Flyers released an official statement to announce the injury:

General manager Ron Hextall announced Monday that MacDonald will miss Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

MacDonald left Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh just before the halfway point of the third period after he was checked into the boards by Pittsburgh’s Tom Kunhackl. He did not return.

With MacDonald out of the lineup, head coach Dave Hakstol will likely turn to Evgeny Medvedev, who has been a healthy scratch recently.

We assume MacDonald will be evaluated again following the Red Wings game.

[pub]