via the Philadelphia Flyers,

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.