Flyers' MacDonald sidelined after hit

Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald might have suffered a concussion when he was slammed into the boards Sunday in a 6-2 loss in Pittsburgh. He will not be able to play Wednesday in a key game in Detroit, general manager Ron Hextall announced Monday.

Hextall would call it only an upper-body injury.

Evgeny Medvedev, a healthy scratch for the last 11 games, will replace MacDonald, who is tied for the team lead with a plus-8 rating and has played well since replacing the injured Michael Del Zotto.

Medvedev will likely be paired with MacDonald's defensive partner, Shayne Gostisbehere.

Midway through the third period Sunday, MacDonald, 29, was off balance when Tom Kuhnhackl knocked him into the boards headfirst. After staying on the ice motionless for a few seconds, MacDonald went to the locker room for medical attention.

MacDonald, a shot-blocking specialist who has seven points in 24 games, is tied with Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn for the team lead in plus-minus rating.

Medvedev, 33, a former star in Russia's KHL who is in his first NHL season, has not played since March 12. He has 11 points, including three goals, and a plus-5 rating in 44 games.

The NHL said there would not be a disciplinary hearing for Kuhnhackl or Wayne Simmonds, who appeared to hit goalie Matt Murray's mask with his stick as he skated by him.

"Another good step moving forward," goalie Michal Neuvirth said after skating and working out Monday with goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh at the Flyers' practice facility in Voorhees.

Neuvirth hasn't played since a 3-2 win over Chicago on March 16 because of a knee injury. He was having an outstanding season, compiling a 17-8-4 record, a 2.28 goals-against average, and a .925 save percentage.

Scott Laughton, R.J. Umberger, Jordan Weal, Medvedev, and Ray Emery were also on the ice Monday.

There is a chance Neuvirth takes part in a practice with the full team Tuesday morning.