Center Kyle Turris was declared unavailable for the last contest of a five-game homestand by coach Guy Boucher after practice Wednesday.
Turris, who is third on the team in scoring with eight points in nine games, battled flu-like symptoms to get through the Senators' 3-2 shootout loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday. The defeat dropped Ottawa (4-1-4) to 1-1-4 at home.
"If the bottom of your lineup is missing, it's a lot easier to compensate, but when it's the top, you can't expect to have the same offense," said Boucher, who is also without top-six wingers Bobby Ryan (finger) and Zack Smith (upper-body). "We're going to have to try to find a way just like we did last year because we had situations like that last year.
"Other teams are living it, and right now we're living it. I'd rather live it at the beginning (of the season) than at the end or in the middle."
The Senators returned center Logan Brown to his junior team Wednesday, and they also recalled winger Filip Chlapik, 20, and Jack Rodewald, 23, from their AHL affiliate in Belleville, Ontario. Neither of the call-ups has played an NHL game.
Center Max McCormick, who has 27 games of NHL experience, is expected to make his season debut for the Senators. He didn't record a point in seven games with Ottawa last season.
Declaring himself good to go for the Flyers (5-4-0) was second overall pick Nolan Patrick, who was driven into the boards by Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Wagner on Tuesday during Philadelphia's 6-2 home loss.
"I'm fine," the 19-year-old center said Wednesday. "I just hit my face on the glass. It happened pretty fast. I've just got to protect myself better."
The defeat against the Ducks was a disappointing way to end a five-game homestand.
"To a man, we could have been a lot better," said Flyers goalie Brian Elliott, who allowed six goals on 25 shots. "Starting with me in the nets."
Elliott, a former Senator who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for goalie Craig Anderson in 2011, will be on the bench Thursday as Michal Neuvirth makes his fourth start of the season. Neuvirth has a 4-1-1 career record against the Senators.
Anderson will be making his eighth start of the season for the Senators, who will leave immediately after the game for a meeting with the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Friday.
Anderson has a 10-5-3 career record versus the Flyers.
The Flyers are led in scoring by winger Jakub Voracek (12 points), winger Claude Giroux (11) and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (11).
Pacing the Senators in scoring are center Derick Brassard (10 points)and winger Mark Stone (nine points).
"We're tested, that's for sure," Boucher said. "We've got three top-six guys that aren't going to be in the lineup (Thursday), so other guys are going to have to push and make it happen."
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