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Flyers shake up all 3 defensive pairings because of Andrew MacDonald's injury

The Flyers' D will have a vastly different look Tuesday vs. visiting Anaheim.

Injured Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald.
Injured Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Andrew MacDonald's injury has caused Flyers coach Dave Hakstol to shuffle all three defensive pairings.

At Monday's practice in Voorhees, this is how the pairings looked: Ivan Provorov and Robert Hagg, Shayne Gostisbehere and Radko Gudas, and Brandon Manning and Travis Sanheim.

It looks as if Manning will be inserted into the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the last two games. Sanheim, a rookie who had been paired with Gudas,  went from the left to right side.

Hagg and Gostisbehere have been a terrific duo. Hagg, a rookie with lots of composure, will go to the top pairing. As far as experience is concerned, Hagg and Provorov might be the NHL's youngest top pairing. Provorov, 20, is in his second season.

MacDonald, 31, who will miss four to six weeks with a leg injury, had been with Provorov.

The Flyers (5-3) will host Anaheim (3-3-1) on Tuesday in the final game of their five-game homestand; they are expected to recall a defenseman from the AHL's Phantoms for their coming two-game road trip, which will start Thursday in Ottawa.

Speedy forwards Jordan Weal and Taylor Leier, each of whom did not play in Saturday's 2-1 win over Edmonton because of injuries, were on the ice at Monday's practice.