FLYERS-BLUE JACKETS PREVIEW

MORNING SKATE : Highlights & Analysis from the Flyers and Blue Jackets morning skate. WATCH HERE

: Highlights & Analysis from the Flyers and Blue Jackets morning skate. 5 THINGS TO KNOW: Flyers-Blue Jackets Game Info 2013-14 FLYERS SEASON SCHEDULE

Just prior to warm-ups at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren announced that defenseman Nicklas Grossmann will miss tonight's game vs. Blue Jackets due to the Flu.This will be Grossmann's first missed game this season, leaving nine players who will have appeared in all 36 games this season, including tonight. (Giroux, Voracek, Brayden Schenn, Simmonds, Couturier, Rinaldo, Streit, Timonen and Coburn)In 35 games, Grossmann has six assists and leads the team with 92 blocked shots this season, which also ranks fifth among all NHL players.Prior to tonight's game at Columbus against the Blue Jackets, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren announced that forward Steve Downie will not be in the line-up.Downie will also be out 7-10 days with an upper-body injury.With Downie out of the line-up tonight, Vinny Lecavalier will return to action.Originally expected to be out 3-4 weeks from Dec. 9 with a non-displaced back fracture, Lecavalier will appear in his first game since Nov. 30 at Nashville. He has missed the last nine games, and a total of 13 games on the year.Lecavalier leads the team in power-play goals with five and is tied for second on the team in goals (9). In his first season with the Flyers he has 14 points (9g-5a) in 22 games.Downie has 12 points (2g-10) in 20 games for the Flyers since coming over in a trade with Colorado on Oct. 31 that saw Max Talbot go to the Avalanche.