MacDonald on schedule, says Flyers' GM; Akeson given opportunity

Even though he hasn't skated this week, defenseman Andrew MacDonald is still on track to return to the lineup on his original four-week timetable, general manager Ron Hextall said on Wednesday.

That means MacDonald should be ready to face Columbus on Nov. 22.

MacDonald, who has missed seven games since injuring his right knee blocking a shot against Pittsburgh on Oct. 22, wasn't making much on-ice progress last week, so the Flyers shut him down this week. "It didn't go as well as we had hoped, so we kind of redirected it," Hextall said. "We just pulled back and continued on other parts of his therapy."

The Flyers are 5-2 without MacDonald, and have allowed a total of 15 goals _ a little over two per game.

Defenseman Luke Schenn (right shoulder) and center Ryan White (chest-muscle surgery) skated for the second straight day on Wednesday. Schenn may be able to return Nov. 22, but White isn't close. Hextall hinted that White could be ready to play in late December or "January at the latest."

"I give you guys timelines, but everybody is different," Hextall told reporters. "The pain threshold is different. The timelines on healing are different."

Akeson's opportunity.  Right winger Jason Akeson, promoted from the fourth line, will play on a unit with R.J. Umberger and Vinny Lecavalier on Friday against visiting Columbus.

"I'm hoping we can get pucks in more and make some plays. Be a little bit better off the rush, and once we do get the puck, he's fast and he can make plays," Umberger said of Akeson. "Hopefully our line can provide some offense."

Hextall said he recently had a one-on-one talk with the struggling Umberger. "Umby was down and I talked to him about playing his game," Hextall said.

Breakaways. The Flyers will be aiming for their fourth straight win Friday; Columbus has lost nine in a row, going 0-8-1…..Hextall said he knew Scott Hartnell was a popular player when he traded him to the Columbus for Umberger and a fourth-round draft pick in 2015. "But it's not my job to judge popularity contests and make moves based on that." He said the cap-related deal was "a move we felt worked for us, and I still feel works for us."…Hartnell said his biggest adjustment in Columbus has been not being able to see his best friend, injured Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen. They were teammates with Nashville and the Flyers….The Flyers will practice in Voorhees at 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.