Updated

The New York Islanders are sending veteran defenseman Andrew MacDonald to the Metropolitan Division rival Philadelphia Flyers for a pair of draft picks and minor league center Matt Mangene.

The deal was announced Tuesday, one day before the NHL trade deadline and several hours before the Islanders played the Jets in Winnipeg.

MacDonald will bolster the Flyers' defense as they push for a playoff spot. Philadelphia, which also has former Islanders defenseman Mark Streit on the back end, is currently in second place in the Metropolitan, one point ahead of the New York Rangers and two points above the postseason cutoff.

New York is last in the division a season after making the playoffs. The Islanders acquired a third-round pick in this year's draft and a 2015 second-round choice in this deal.