MacDonald will be a healthy scratch Saturday versus New York, Bill Meltzer of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Prior to Thursday's game, MacDonald hadn't dressed since Oct. 13. He'll return to the press box Saturday and Christian Folin will step in to take his place on the blueline.

MacDonald hasn't played since Oct. 13, as he's been a healthy scratch in the last four contests.

EDGE Analysis

There's been a lot going on with MacDonald. He suffered an injury during the preseason that was supposed to keep him out for six weeks, and his wife gave birth to their second child last week, but MacDonald's absence from the lineup is performance based. He has one point in five games this season, and the Flyers have elected to roll with Christian Folin instead.

MacDonald isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Panthers, Bill Meltzer of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

MacDonald suffered a lower-body injury in early September that was deemed to keep him out six weeks, but the 32-year-old blueliner returned after just two. It's not clear if that's related to his surprise scratch, as MacDonald has been struggling anyway with one assist, a minus-1 rating and six PIM through five games. Christian Folin will take his place. More updates should be available by the postgame press conference.

MacDonald has an assist, six shots on goal and six PIM in four games this season.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran defenseman has supplied shots and PIM to owners early this season. However, MacDonald has always been a guy that hovers around 1.0 shot per game and has posted more than 50 PIM just once in his 10 seasons. Feel free to ride this wave of production, but don't expect it to last all season.

MacDonald (lower body) looked rusty in the first period of Monday's 4-3 preseason loss to the Bruins, according to John Boruk of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

EDGE Analysis

As noted by Boruk, the veteran committed an egregious turnover in the defensive zone and then kicked the puck away from allied goalie Brian Elliott when he was trying to cover. MacDonald missed the scoresheet over 18:38 of ice time and he was whistled for a delay of game penalty in the second period, but he reportedly improved as the game wore on.

MacDonald (lower body) is ahead of schedule, as he's now aiming to return for the Oct. 4 road opener against the Golden Knights, Sam Carchidi of The Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

News broke on Sept. 9 that MacDonald would need roughly six weeks to overcome his lower-body injury, but the veteran defenseman is optimistic that his rehab won't take that long. "It feels pretty good skating. I think they're more concerned about getting hit at this point," MacDonald said. "After the next appointment with the doc, we'll see when I get the clearance for contact." A proficient shot blocker, MacDonald redirected 131 shots last season in only 66 games. He also posted six goals and 15 assists to complement a plus-8 rating over that span.

MacDonald suffered a lower-body injury this offseason and will sit out approximately six weeks.

EDGE Analysis

MacDonald posted 21 points in 66 games last season, and he added two goals against the Penguins in the playoffs. The six-week absence brings him to mid-October and will hold him out for around eight games. The Flyers could have to play musical chairs on the blue line if Ivan Provorov (shoulder) isn't ready for the season opener, either.

MacDonald potted six goals and dished out 15 assists while playing in 66 games in 2017-18, going plus-eight and averaging 19:51 of ice time.

EDGE Analysis

When Philadelphia originally traded for MacDonald back in 2013-14, this kind of production was likely what the front office was looking for, and MacDonald finally delivered. The 21-points were the most he's recorded in orange and black and it was also aided by a career high 7.3 shooting percentage, and his 131 blocked shots were second most on the team. The increase in scoring was especially remarkable since MacDonald was handed a career worst 39.6 offensive zone start percentage, but spending the majority of his ice time on the season with Ivan Provorov certainly helped as well. MacDonald will return to Philadelphia in 2017-18, and even with a youth movement on defense, he figures to play a key part of the blue next year once again.

MacDonald dished out two assists and finished with a team-best plus-3 rating during Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

MacDonald has a plus-9 rating over his past five games and this was his second multi-point effort in that stretch. Despite the recent hot streak, he has just 19 points in 59 appearances for the season, so MacDonald's value in most formats remains limited.

MacDonald scored a goal and added an assist during Thursday's 5-3 loss to Columbus.

EDGE Analysis

This was just the second multi-point showing of the campaign for the veteran and it improved MacDonald to only six goals and 11 assists through 55 games. Also, while his two tallies and two helpers through his past five games might stand out, MacDonald hasn't been able to sustain a notable offensive run all season.